134 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



CULTIVATION AND FERTILIZING. 



Inquiry was made of Mr. Stearns as to what fertilizer lie uses. He 

 replied that he never allows a particle of barnyard manure near the vines, 

 but every three or four years gives them a dressing of salt and ashes, 

 cultivating thoroughly, using cultivators mainly for this purpose, but 

 sometimes plowing shallow, not over two inches. He uses all the ashes he 

 can get, with salt, at the rate of 200 pounds per acre. The salt is used on 

 very light soil, and for the purpose of helping preserve moisture in time 

 of drouth. It is equally good on such soils for other fruits than the 

 grape. He applies the salt very early, so soon as he can get upon the 

 ground, being careful not to touch with it the trees or vines. The salt 

 used is refuse salt obtained from Chicago, which contains more or less 

 fertilizing substances. He had never known the use of salt to increase 

 or cause mildew in damp seasons. 



Mr. Lawton asked Mr. Stearns as to cultivation, the latter having 

 once advocated deep plowing. "I favor shallow cultivation," said Mr. 

 Lawton. 



Mr. Stearns: I recollect the occasion referred to. My talk at that 

 time concerned an old orchard, long uncultivated, and I said I would 

 plow it even though I had to cut many of the roots. But, ordinarily, I 

 would not disturb the roots if I could lielp it. 



Mr. Barnard of Illinois described the vineyard in his state already 

 referred to by Mr. Garfield. The vines are on very light soil, a sand hill, 

 in fact, set six feet apart in the row, the rows twelve to sixteen feet apart, 

 the trellis of a single wire and on such poor poles as the vicinity afforded. 

 But the owner has some secret of fertilizing by which he produces the very 

 finest of grapes, such as command premiums wherever exhibited. He says, 

 however, that he can not produce them for less than thirty cents per basket, 

 and whenever he can not get that price he turns them into wine. He uses 

 no barnyard manure whatever, and grows asparagus between the rows, 

 sending the same to Chicago, where it ranks as the very best. 



This closed the discussion, the hour for adjournment having arrived. 



Messrs. Lawton and Lewis, of the committee to examine the finances as 

 reported by the treasurer and secretary, reported the same correct in every 

 respect. 



