No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 505 



MR. ROBERTS: Not the best, but it does not hurt young trees 

 much. It takes the moisture in September at a time when the trees 

 can stand it. The trouble with the other grains is, they take all the 

 moisture in June or July, and that is a very serious disadvantage to 

 the tree. 



MR. ELDOX: Would 3'ou have any objection to sowing wheat 

 in an apple orchard? 



MR. ROBERTS: It is all right as a cover crop, but I would not 

 let it mature if I valued my orchard. 



MR. ELDON: Would it be an advantage to sow some kind of 

 grain with grass seed. 



MR. ROBERTS: It is our custom to start grass alone. Where 

 we want to grow grass, we don't sow grain with it any more. If 

 you want big yields of hay, leave grain out entirely. 



MR. C. A. GRIEST: How far apart do you plant asparagus? 



MR. ROBERTS: The rows are about six feet apart and about 

 two feet apart in a row. We try to keep the land busy with some- 

 thing or other between the rows the first year. 



MR. GRIEST: How soon after planting can you get returns from 

 asparagus? 



MR. ROBERTS: One year. 



MR. GRIEST: What age plants do you put out? 



MR. ROBERTS: One year. 



Member: How long do you plant potatoes in an apple orchard? 



MR. ROBERTS : I have one I planted for about five years. 



Member: Do you mean five years in succession? 



MR. ROBERTS: No, I wouldn't put it in the same crop twice in 

 succession. 



Member: How much fertilizer do you put on? 



MR. ROBERTS: That is something, in our soil, which we have to 

 be pretty generous with. Sometimes a half ton and sometimes a 

 larger dose. I have often been able to buy fertilizer a little off color 

 at a low price so I could afford to throw on a ton to the acre. I 

 put the ammonia right in with the potatoes in the form of tankage, 

 fish or King Crab. 



Member: Then you use phosphoric acid from South Carolina 

 rock? 



MR. ROBERTS: Yes. 



Member: Do you use sulphate or muriate? 



MR. ROBERTS: I prefer the muriate for potatoes. I cannot go 

 entirely by my own results but I depend on these experiment men 

 for those things. That's what they are for. We don't sell potatoes 

 for quality. We get a larger yield from muriate. I think all the 

 experiments will bear me out. Isn't that right Prof. Stewart? 



PROF. STEWART: I cannot say from ray own experience but I 

 think the yield is about the same, but the muriate is profitable be- 

 cause it costs only one and a quarter cents a pound for the K20, 

 and the difference in yield will probably not amount to anything. 



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