No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 541 



really add to the sum of the land's fertility. It is true that these 

 crops use moisture in proportion to the success of their growth, 

 but no maker of figures has yet come forward to tell us how much 

 more moisture they use than is wasted from bare land even when 

 covered by the most orthodox dust mulch. The latter cannot pos- 

 sibly add anything to the fertility store of the land, it can only ar- 

 rest the action of capillarity; the former can do as much while fur- 

 ther enriching the soil actively and potentially and contributing that 

 quality of humus to the land, so more moisture will be absorbed and 

 held for plant use. 



It is true that in the discussion of such a topic as this we cannot 

 get beyond the realm of theory and speculation, for climatic and 

 soil conditions are as changeable and variable as orchards and 

 fields are numerous; but it is my deliberate opinion that the most 

 logical methods of conserving moisture for the orchard, is by the 

 agency of a growing crop, to be finally worked into the soil. 



MR. HIESTER. — What shall I sow in stony mountain land in 

 order to get more humus into the soil? 



MR. McSPARRAN. — I would first try to ascertain whether the 

 soil needs phosphoric acid and potash. If deficient in these mineral 

 elements I would supply them and sow about a bushel of cowpeas 

 per acre. If the ground were not reasonably fertile I would experi- 

 ment at least with artificial bacterial inoculation. 



The peas should not be sown until the ground is warm — say the 

 latter part of May or early June. In the fall this crop should be 

 plowed under or disked into the soil and the land sown to sand vetch 

 and rye too, in turn, be plowed under the following spring. 



Collecting a large amount of humus on stony, hilly or mountain- 

 ous land is a difficult matter and I think on such land devoted to 

 fruit culture, my prescription might profitably be continued in use 

 indefinitely. 



DR. MAYER. — What variety of peas would you plant? 



MR. McSPARRAN. — Any of the ordinary vining kinds. There 

 are endless names for them. The Whip-poor-will is usually an erect 

 grower, but makes a heavy growth. New Era and Red Ripper are 

 good trailing kinds. I have had good crops from sowing mixed 

 varieties, the seed of which can usually be bought somewhat 

 cheaper than pure seed. Unless bacteria are present in the soil, artj 

 ficial inoculation is desirable, as only by these agents it is supposed 

 legumes can get, use, and store atmospheric nitrogen. 



Mr. Peters of special committee on new fruits on exhibition, sub 

 mitted the following: 



Mr. President: The Committee on New Fruits reports as follows: 



There were 21 plates of new fruits, consisting of apples in the 

 main; of these 21 plates, we found 11 plates to be varieties of known 

 names, which probably were not known in the community in \^hich 

 they were raised, and we have i)laced the names on the card on each 

 plate. 



