336 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Milhouse: Is the cow pea or soy bean beneficial? 



Mr. Dean: We have tried at one time turning under clover in one 

 orchard and I thinli it produced fungus on roots. 



Mr. : Would you advise stirring soil after fruit is gathered? 



Mr. Dean: Not after first of .July. A tree has to have time to ripen, 

 especially after bearing a full i-roi). Would not advocate late cultivation. 

 Sometimes we run the harrow 1*0 Ivcep the weeds down, but no cultiva- 

 tion is advisable after fruit C(jnimences to ripen. 



Mr. Ilobbs: "The Plum" will be discussed by Mr. W. W. Phelps, 

 of Noblesville, Ind. 



[Abstract.] 



W. W. Phelps finds the ^\\\d goose plum the most profitable variety 

 and considers Abundance the best of the Japanese varieties. He disposes 

 of that worst enemy to pluui growing, the curculio, by feeding young 

 chicks beneath trees. In discussing the treatment of black knot, Prof. 

 S. A. Beach, of New York, stated he had found kerosene an effectual rem- 

 edy, using it to disinfect the wounds made in removing the knots and also 

 the tools used. J. C. Grossman stated that cherries required richer soil 

 than peaches and deeper planting than most fruit trees. The cherry fruit 

 fly, which has become a serious pest in the eastern States, was reported 

 from the northern part of the State. The insect is of recent appearance 

 and there is no known remedy.— (Clipping from Orange Judd Farmer.) 



Mr. Flick: Have you any plums growing near Wild Goose for fertil- 

 ization? 



Mr. Phelps: All of the varieties we have are scattered through the 

 orchard promiscuously, twenty feet apart, insuring perfect fertilization. 



Mr. Milhouse: In thinning I would like to know how close the plums 

 ought to be. How many inches apart? Would like some riile to go by. 



Mr. Phelps: To thin every sort is a pretty hard jolj. If thinned 

 properly only just far enough apart so that they would not tough each 

 other. 



Mr. Custer: Last season I had Burbank and ten times as many on 

 the tree as necessary, and after half grown or little more. I thinned them 

 out so no two touched each other, and they got to be a good size. 



Mr. Hobl)s: If tliey touch soon rotting comes on. and it l)egin.'; where 

 they touch, and if thinned v/ell it will preserve the vitality of tree. 



