188 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



destructive to my plum-trees, I will state that I have one 

 still standing that I planted when I first began fruit-culture, 

 thirty years ago, that I bought of the lamented A. J. Down- 

 ing, the nurseryman, at Newberg. It is still left upon my 

 grounds, although large limbs had to be cut otF on account of 

 the black knot. But by planting others, from year to year, 

 in place of those I have been obliged to destroy entirely, I 

 have been enabled to secure a full su[)ply. 



With the peach, I have met with no measure of success 

 upon our hills; but I have shown my faith, in the hope that 

 I may yet be successful, as some have been in other localities, 

 by planting two hundred trees last spring, to test the question 

 pretty thoroughly, upon a locality that I thought as likely to 

 escape the effects of our severe winters as any other that I 

 possess. 



Question. High or low land ? 



Mr. Gold. High land, sir. My elevation is twelve hun- 

 dred feet above the level of the sea. 



Question. North or south inclination? 



Mr. Gold. It has a south-west inclination, sheltered from 

 the east and north winds by woodland, but a high elevation. 



Question. How about the yellows ? 



Mr. Gold. Well, sir, I said I have had no success with 

 the peach. I have known some orchards to be abundantly 

 successful. But that is a disease that is beyond our knowl- 

 edge, I think, as to the manner in which it spreads, and our 

 power to avoid it. I am unable to give any advice upon that 

 subject, having had little practical experience. 



With regard to the apple, I have planted several orchards, 

 and have sought to place them in different locations upon my 

 farm, and under different conditions, that I might have fruit 

 every year. I have not resorted to removing the blossoms or 

 the fruit-buds, as it is a somewhat recent suggestion of our 

 fruit-cultivators that that will give us fruit every year ; but I 

 have resorted more to a liberal feeding of the trees, and to 

 planting a considerable number of varieties in different 

 exposures. With trees planted in that way, I have secured 

 a very fair and uniform crop of fruit from year to year. I 

 am called to account for it, to know how it is done. I have 

 no secret at all in the matter. I do not know myself, except 



