iNDIANA HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 291 



t*rofessor Latta: You spoke about its drying out and dying; I think 

 the secret of that is too early sowing, in that case. 



Professor Fulton: I should think that might be the trouble; sandy 

 lands are inclined to be somewhat dry anyway. The upper two inches 

 of the soil becomes very dry, and there would be a liability that it might 

 dry out, if it is not sown deep enough. Where crimson clover is grown 

 and a good stand obtained, you ought not to wait until it begins to blos- 

 som. I know it looks very beautiful, one likes to see it in that condition, 

 and it almost seems too bad not to leave it, but it is fatal to the best 

 results of the orchai'd that season because it draws upon the moisture 

 which the trees ought to have. I think it pays better to work it under 

 when the plant is small, or as soon as the ground is in good condition to 

 work. Where we sow oats they freeze out during the winter, and there 

 is no trouble from them in the spring, and upon the other hand they an- 

 swer the purpose all right. 



Member: What time would you sow oats? 



Professor Fulton: That depends upon the season. Quite a number 

 of growers had sowed their oats when I left a Aveek ago. No doubt, after 

 these rains, they will be busy sowing oats as quick as they can get ready, 

 those who have not already sowed. About the first of August is the usual 



time. 



» 



Professor Latta: What is the average life of the peach orchard, under 

 such care as you have given? 



Professor Fulton: With good care and thinning— I think I said nothing 

 about thimiiug— the length of 'the life of the tree depends to quite an 

 extent upon thinning of the fruit. Where trees overbear they break down, 

 and all the' best growers make a practice of thinning, and where given 

 care such as I have spoken of, they will usually last twelve years, and I 

 know of some orchards sixteen years old which are still fruiting well. 



President Hobbs: Last summer I went into Mr. 's orchard 



at Benton Harbor, Michigan, and he pointed out to me trees thirteen years 

 old, and they had borne for a number of years, I don't know how many 

 good crops of fruit; and with his system of tillage and fertilization and 

 thinning he had so preserved the vitality of the trees that they were in 

 perfect health, making a tine growth that season and supporting six or 

 eight bushels of fine peaches to a tree, showing the possibilities of the 

 peach tree when properly fed and cared for. 



Mr. McMillan: I wish to ask if we can depend upon securing a good 

 peach by planting seed, or do you depend entirely upon grafting? 



Professor Fulton: We depend entirely upon budding. There are two 

 or three I know of indirectly in Michigan, which have given very good 



