230 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



I have kept a debtor and credit account with my sheep for the last six years, 

 and starting with a flock of 150 full blood Merinos, at a moderate price, and 

 decreasing my number soniewiiat as I bettered tlieir (|uality, I have now 90, 

 both old and young, which will sell for not less than from 825 to $30 per head 

 on the average, and tliey have paid for themselves in the sale of stock, leaving 

 me the wool and manure for the cost of keei)ing. Besides this, I feel that in 

 most instances I have also been of benefit to others in a similar proportion. 

 But even if we all cannot do this, they can at least, those who liave low grade 

 flocks, increase their heft of shearing, of equally as good wool, from one to 

 three pounds per head, and get a better carcass tlie first cross with a well bred 

 animal, and. you can gain much by your second and third crosses, but not in 

 so marked a degree. 



I say, farmers of Genesee, keep your sheep better, for although they will give 

 you some annual profit with poor keep, they will readily respond to generous 

 food and care, keep their wool cleaner, at all times, slicar earlier, as one great 

 means of clean keep and health. Improve your ilocks by judicious breeding 

 and proper culling. Interchange ideas witli each other, practice what you 

 preach, and leave nothing undone which will add to the true comfort and value 

 •of your flocks. < 



Mr. N. A. Beecher read the following essay on 



"fruit culture ox the farm."' 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, — As this subject has been widely 

 •discussed in our Pomological Works, and in many ways, I shall be brief in what 

 might be termed the practical part of Orchard Culture. 



Ho20 to Plant and Groiv an Orchard. 



Select a deep rich soil. Should there be any places that are inclined to be 

 ■wet, they must be well under-drained before setting the trees. 



Let the ground be thorouglily prepared, tlien set the trees about an inch 

 •deeper than in nursery, in well pulverized soil, using leaf mould, if you 

 choose, but no manure. Tiie latter, if used, should be on the surface as a 

 mulch. Before setting, cut off all the roots bruised with spade, from the 

 under side, so that the cut will set flat upon the ground. From this cut many 

 little rootlets start out and go directly and naturally into the soil, llcncc the 

 necessity of following this plan. With your hand place all the main and fibrous 

 roots in their natural position. Now let some one sprinkle on tine soil plenti- 

 fully, while you perforate the same with your fingers, seeing that every vacuum 

 is thoroughly filled and made compact about the roots. After this has been 

 accomplished, fill in around tlie tree and pack firmly the soil with your feet, 

 and you will have no trouble in making the trees live. 



Cultivate with some hoed crop four or five years, never letting it lie in a sod 

 more than two years at a time, if you would keep it healthy and vigorous. 



How to PIoiu the Orchard with Horses. 



Have low hame harness; take turrets out of back pad; give horses loose 

 check, or none at all. Length of double whitlletree, 2\ feet; single whiflle- 

 trees, 22 inches. Wind whitlletree next to tree thoroughly with heavy cloth: 

 put a careful man hold of the plow handles, and set him to work with this 

 injunction : " Sooner skin your own shins than bark a tree." A man that 

 cannot harrow in an orchard without bruising a tree ought to be sent to the 

 Agricultural College, or somewhere else. 



