96 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



promises to be most valuable cover crop for Michigan. The Delaware 

 Experiment Station found that in four months from seeding, the winter 

 vetch would store up 121.2 pounds of nitrogen per acre, which is equiva- 

 lent to 757.5 pounds of nitrate of soda, 27.2 pounds of phosphoric acid 

 equal to 194 pounds of acid phosphate, also 85 pounds of potash equal 

 to 171 pounds of muriate of potash. If the winter vetch seed is sown 

 broad-cast, about 25 to 30 pounds of seeds to the acre is required and it 

 should be harrowed in. If drilled in, 18 pounds per acre will be sufficient. 

 It has often been found desirable to sow a bushel of rve or oats as a 

 "catch crop" since the vetch does not make a large growth in the fall. 

 The ideal time to sow the cover crop is at the last cultivation of the 

 season, allowing it to remain upon the ground until the first working 

 of the soil the following spring when it must be plowed under before it 

 dries out the soil enough to affect the trees. Various factors will in- 

 fluence the management. No difficulty will be experienced in plowing 

 under any of the cover crops if done at the proper time and a rolling 

 coulter is used on the plow. Fruit growers who have not tried any of 

 the cover crops are especially urged to do so as it is the most economical 

 method of fertilizing the soil and keeping it in good tilth. 



CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. 



J. POMEROY MUNSO'N, GRAND RAPmS. 



In the discussions at our State Horticultural meetings, for several 

 years back, the major topic has been apples. We have been shown how 

 to select apple varieties and soils, plant apples, cultivate apples, fertilize 

 apples, thin apples, prune apples, spray apples, pick apples, pack apples 

 and market apples. In fact it has been shown conclusively that with 

 average conditions, the possibility of a person who has some acres in 

 Michigan's favored fruit district to become independently wealthy by 

 raising apples, is decidedly rosy. A well grown bearing apple-orchard, 

 is indeed an attractive proposition. 



But, unfortunately, there are some of us, wishing an apple orchard, 

 who perhaps do not have our land paid for, or perhaps need some in- 

 come producing crop to depend upon, while the apple orchard is develop- 

 ing. To such as these, the early maturing small fruit may prove de- 

 sirable. Gooseberries and currants, for several reasons, seem to be 

 peculiarly adapted to such use. They do well with the high fertilization 

 used on young fruit trees, and succeed with the partial shade when 

 planted among the trees. They mature early, and bear well, and the 

 ])icking is not laborious nor the season long drawn out. The markets of 

 late years at least, have been good and prices remunerative. 

 Gooseberries and currants, have long been highly regarded as a dessert 

 fruit in England and Holland. Their varieties groAv large and sweet. 

 Here, gooseberries are regarded wholly as culinary fruits. 



In the early horticultural development of the U. S., both Currants 

 and Gooseberries were found growing wild in many regions of the 



