WESTERN NEW YORK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 403 



that has been in grass eighteen years, and continued thrifty, bearing good crops. 

 Had a dwarf pear orchard that had been sixteen years in grass, and yielded 

 fruit that amounted to from 1500 to $1,000 per acre annually. Manures his 

 trees every fall with lime, ashes and muck. His pear trees are ten feet apart 

 each way, and he plows, in the fall, three or four furrows midway between the 

 rows, both ways, which he drags down in the spring, the grass growing upon 

 them during the summer. This leaves a square around the trees from six to 

 eight feet across, that is never cultivated. Mows the grass, sometimes taking 

 it off, and sometimes using it as mulch around the trees. Would cultivate 

 young orchards three or four years, and then leave in grass. 



Mr. Saunders, of "Washington, had managed in this way, and exhibited at 

 Eichmond pears as large as from California. 



Mr. W. 0. Berry thought the grass theory East differs from that practiced by 

 Dr. Sylvester. He plows between the rows of pears, and that was not growing 

 in grass. What we want to knew is whether it is better to cultivate, or let 

 them alone. 



H. E. Hooker had been interested in the grass theory. Had noticed that 

 trees about the door-yard, hen-yard, calf-yard, and other out of the way places 

 where the plow had never been, produced the best fruit. They had been 

 manured by the animals, and the ground near the surface was full of roots. 

 You can not keep up the fertility by plowing without manure. Has known 

 trees checked by plowing. He thought the great end gained by manuring and 

 not plowing, is that the roots grow near the surface, where the best conditions 

 of growth exist. Nature manures upon the surface. You can not waste 

 manure by spreading it upon the surface. Has found that trees set deep did 

 not grow as well as those planted more shallow. 



Mr. Thomas would call attention to the fact that Mr. Sylvester plows just 

 where the young roots are that supply the trees with nourishment. The roots 

 extend as far on each side as the height of the tree, often more, thus forming 

 a circle of roots whose diameter is twice as great, and sometimes three times as 

 great as the height of the tree. 



Mr. Harris believes, theoretically, in cultivation, but practically allows his 

 orchard to remain in grass for convenience in pasturing his Cotswold sheep. 

 Believes that cultivating is manuring. Does not see how grass can benefit an 

 orchard. Has some trees cultivated that bear as well as those in grass, 

 manured. 



Mr. Barry believes the advantage claimed for grass is, that it keeps the 

 ground cooler. 



W. B. Smith thought that keeping orchards in grass is more expensive than 

 cultivation. The heavy manuring, cutting the grass, mulching, etc., cost more 

 in labor and money than cultivation. 



Mr. W. 0. Barry saw Mr. Yeoman's pear orchards last year, and noticed that 

 they made but little growth. Trees did not appear vigorous, although loaded 

 with fruit. Believes orchards kept in grass will run out. 



A gentleman said that he had known Mr. Yeoman's orchard from time of 

 planting to the present, and since they have been in grass, they have increased 

 in bearing. Thought the small growth referred to caused by bearing a heavy 

 crop the previous year. He mulches in fall from six to eight inches in depth, 

 and allows it to remain. 



Mr. Quinby thought, from his experience, that peaches should always be 



