The Question Box. 265 



heard Mr. Willard say that it is better to trim when the tree is at 

 rest. It were well, however, to trim a little each year, so as not 

 to have to cut off large limbs, and all trimming should be done 

 closely. Do not leave the '' stubs " sticking out far enough to 

 hang hogs on when butchering day comes. When they are cut 

 closely, if the wounds are painted over, they will soon heal. 



Last year our orchard in this vicinity was treated as follows: Buck- 

 wheat was sown early and plowed under, then sown again and the crop 

 taken oflf. It is proposed to plant to corn. Is it right? 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — I question if it is the best plan for the or- 

 chard. It may be best for the other purposes mentioned, but we 

 want to get the most out of the orchard we can. So we ought not 

 to grow any crops that will take away fertility or moisture from 

 the tree. If we are to do that, we must feed both the trees and 

 the crop sufficiently, and I know of no better crop to grow in the 

 orchard than corn, because we can give both the crop and the 

 trees cultivation. 



FERTILIZERS AND FERTILIZING. 

 Why does land plaster fail to benefit our meadows, as it formerly did? 



Mr. Woodward. — As I understand it, land plaster is only a 

 stimulant, and, after the soil has been stimulated to a certain ex- 

 tent, such stimulants fail to act. 



Mr. Cook. — I would not draw land plaster from my depot, if it 

 were given to me. I would buy South Carolina rock, instead. It 

 costs but 111 per ton, and there are in it 240 pounds of phosphoric 

 acid, worth five cents a pound, in a ton of it, thus giving us the 

 plaster, or sulphate of lime, practically free. There will be about 

 1,200 pounds of plaster. 



Is it economy to top-dress new meadows with barn or stable manure? 



A Farmer. — I top-dress my meadows. Have meadows from 

 which I get a ton and a half of hay from an acre, and they have 

 been mown continuously twelve years. 



Which is the best way to use nitrate of soda in a garden? How much 

 will it require for the plants if placed around the roots? 



Mr. Cook. — I would not care to say how much will be required 

 to injure the roots, but I know that it will injure the foliage of 



