DISCUSSIONS AT SOUTH HAVEN. 375 



seeded, then cultivated cropped and seeded again — making several rotations in 

 the twenty years. The trees iu the seeded part done the poorest a few years, 

 but since have improved until they are now as good as the others. Soil, sand, 

 gravel, and clay loam, mixed. His apple orchard here has been tilled three or 

 four years and then seeded. He thinks this is the most profitable way. 

 Standard pears have also done well in the adjoining land, but peaches with this 

 course have "played out." Apples in another orchard here have been a portion 

 cultivated, and a part iu grass, and are about the same — could see no difibreuce. 



Mr. Dyckman asked if they were not more affected in the grass by the 

 drouth. 



Mr. Hurlbut said that while young they were. In cultivated ground he has 

 cropped. 



Mr. A. S. Dyckman stated that he had no experience in seeding orchards. 

 Was opposed to it in theory and practice. Thinks apples and pears when 

 young, say for ten years, need cultivation. 



Peaches he is sure should be cultivated. Knows it is a great benefit in 

 drouth. 



Mr. Windoes remarked he had little experience in seeding orchards. After 

 cultivating four or five years he had seeded to clover. On the following spring 

 he had the clover under the trees as far out as the ends of the limbs turned 

 under with a potato digger, and in June had a swathe cut around each tree and 

 thrown on the ground under the trees. He thought it a great benefit. Apple 

 orchards in New York State were seeded and occasionally plowed under, and 

 considered a success when they were not cropped. 



Mr. Morse believed in generous cultivation. Thought orchards should never 

 be neglected to show stunt. More orchards were damaged by seeding than 

 otherwise. If seeded, the trees should be mulched. Trees should make a good 

 annual growth, at least a foot. 



Mr. Hurlbut remarked that where the soil was wet it should be cultivated. 

 His was dry. 



Mr. Monroe said it was customary to seed orchards after eight or ten years. 

 If left in grass, he thought the trees should be mulched. 



The Secretary said he believed in deep cultivation before setting, and during 

 the entire growth of the orchard; the deeper and oftener the better, as growth 

 begins in tiie spring, until the first of September, leaving only time in the fall 

 to ripen the wood and buds. Thought the older the trees became the more they 

 needed cultivation, pruning and manuring. Had more faith in either of these 

 than in grass. The object of deep and constant cultivation was to induce the 

 roots to go deep so as not to be affected by the extremes of temperature. 

 Seeding induced surface rooting, which was easily influenced by the heat and 

 drouth, especially at the south, and by wet and cold at the north, so as to cause 

 early maturity and decay. 



Mr. Nagle exhibited fine specimens of green Newtown Pippins, and the 

 President handsome Baldwins; the Secretary, Croton, Eumelan, Diana, and 

 Ion a grapes. 



Mr. Hurlbut proposed for the next meeting, " What is the proper hight to 

 start the heads of trees ? 



