134 DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



weak condition in the young seedlings, so that the percentages of germina- 

 tion do not represent the value of the experiments. It is concluded that 

 " the use of strong brines on seed wheat cannot be regarded as otherwise 

 than somewhat hazardous. But as the brine needs simply to come in con- 

 tact with the smut to destroy it, the bad effect on the wheat may be reduced 

 to a minimum. If a saturated brine be diluted with one-third water, making 

 a solution of 28 per cent., it may be used with comparative safety. * * 



* * * The popular custom of sifting on the grains, after soaking, lime, 

 ashes, and plaster, is quite a safeguard against the pernicious effect of the 

 brine, from their powerful drying and absorbent properties. ***** 

 Oats are so generously provided by nature with a thick, warm, fibrous cover- 

 ing that no soaking in saturated brine seems to exert any influence. * * 



* * * In saturated brines, grains of barley seem to be even more sus- 

 ceptible to harm than the grains of wheat, an hour's soaking destroying about 

 half; but if the saturated brine be diluted about half, making a solution of 

 18 per cent., the peril is entirely done away with." 



VIII. An Expekiment in Apple Cultuke. — The college apple orchards 

 originally comprising about nine acres, was set in 1858. The original 

 plantings were mostly Northern Spy, Baldwin, Talman Sweet and Seek-no- 

 further. The soil is a strong sandy loam, in some parts inclining to be 

 cold and wet. 



The orchard has received various treatments. For nearly ten years, begin- 

 ning about 1873, careful and valuable experiments in culture were carried on 

 by Dr. W. J. Beal.* In recent years the orchard has received less attention, 

 being allowed to stand in sod. It has borne very few good crops, even from 

 the first. 



In 1885, when the immediate control of the orchard passed into the hands 

 of the writer, the trees presented a discouraging appearance. The previous 

 hard winter had destroyed many of the largest trees on the lower land. Most 

 of these trees were Baldwins, Greenings and Fall Jennettings. In fact, there 

 is only one Baldwin left in the orchard and but two or three Greenings and 

 Jennettings, and all are feeble. Many or all of these trees had been injured 

 by a hard winter some ten or twelve years before. The remaining trees of 

 the orchard, apparently from neglect in culture, were feeble during the year, 

 the leaves presenting a yellow and sickly appearance. Many of them 

 appeared to be dying. All the trees were very much stunted, there not 

 being enough last year's wood on most of them to furnish even a few good 

 scions. Many of the main limbs had died back from the ends and the dead 

 portions were conspicuous in every direction. The trunks were often mossy 

 and rough. The tops were for the most part very thick and low, so that no 

 attempt at thorough culture could be made. Most of the orchard lay in a 

 dense June grass turf. In short, the orchard was in so poor condition that 

 several careful farmers recommended that it be cut down. 



The first work of renovation was to prune the trees. This was done vigor- 

 ously in May, 1885, the tops being made high enough in every instance to 

 allow the passage of a horse in harness. All limbs, irrespective of size, which 

 would interfere seriously with plowing and cultivating, were removed. At 

 the same time the tops of the trees were thinned considerably, though not to 

 such an extent as to allow the sun to beat continuously upon the main 



* For results of these experiments, see Reports State Board of Agriculture, 1873, p. 47, 1874, p. 53, 

 1876, p. 119, 1877, p. 48, 1878, p. 72, 1880, p. 48. 



