262 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



gated from buds or scions from good, strong, healthy trees, with 

 a good root system, and which bear fruit of the most perfect type. 

 We often find a very marked difference in the shape, color and 

 flavor of the same variety of fruit, made so by propagating the 

 trees from inferior stock, those which had drifted away from the 

 original type. 



What is the benefit of applying salt to quince bushes? When, how and 

 in what quantities should it be applied? 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — The quince, like the cabbage, likes salt, and 

 I think the same is true of asparagus. Salt also creates moisture, 

 but I would use it in moderate quantities about the quince tree. 

 1 would put a quart, scattered about the trees as far as the roots 

 extend. On very large quince trees, perhaps more may be used, 

 but I would not apply it oftener than once in two or three years, 

 and it will be found best on light soils. 



Should we trim our pear trees the same as we do our apple trees? 



Mr. Fenner. — No, sir. I have several hundred pear trees, and 

 prune them but very little. Sometimes I cut out some of the in- 

 gide branches that interlock. Pears ought not to have too much 

 sunlight. They should be grown in the shade, then picked before 

 they are thoroughly ripe, and left to ripen in the fruit house or 

 cellar. 



What is the best tool with which to cultivate the orchard? How about 

 the disc harrow? 



Mr. Smallwood. — I cultivate the orchard the same as I do any 

 other field, with the spring-tooth harrow. 



Mr. Cook. — We use a heavy disc harrow in place of the spring- 

 tooth. 60 that quack roots will not be dragged all over the field. 

 The harrow is heavily weighted and four horses hitched to it. 

 You don't want a light disc harrow, but a heavy one, that will 

 chop up all quack or other roots. Remember, quack roots make 

 just as good humus as do any other plants; but I can kill it dead 

 as a hammer, every time, in the way I say, first having sown a 

 crop of oats and peas thickly, followed by one of winter wheat, 

 seeding with clover the next spring. 



