THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 149 



and make better trees than larger ones with a few large roots which may have been broken 

 or injured in being dug out of the nursery, as is so often the case with large trees; such 

 trees are not in a condition to grow and prove profitable, as the root system is not adequate 

 to support the top. 



I would prefer a nice straight tree, be it ever so small, with none of the buds removed, 

 so it can be started to branch whenever one wishes, to a large tree with the fibrous roots 

 destroyed, and the buds all trimmed off up to the few branches left to form the top of 

 the tree. 



I like the branches started low, not more than 18 inches from the ground; in other 

 words, a low branched tree; the expression "low headed" tree, I consider a misnomer, 

 as the top and not the trunk of a tree, is the head, and a low headed tree, is one that has 

 been kept low by frequent prunings; the combination of the two is desirable, without 

 too much of the head being cut off. 



I hear you say, "how shall we cultivate these low trees?" Until the trees are three 

 or four years old they can be plowed, harrowed and cultivated without much trouble; 

 after that it is not so easy; but with a disc harrow having an extension, you can get as 

 close to the tree as necessary, using an ordinary harrow for smoothing the ground; keep 

 the soil as level as possible in your orchard. 



If you grow a "cover crop" and you must if you expect the trees to live their allotted 

 term of years, you may find difficulty in turning the "cover crop" under close to the tree 

 but you can devise some plan for doing this. I am a great advocate of a "cover crop" 

 to retain fertility in the soil; we cannot afford much expensive fertilizer, but must grow 

 green crops to turn under; the land cannot be so exhausted but that with proper growing 

 of green crops its original fertility can almost be restored; for this purpose, I like winter 

 or sand vetch, as it makes the best crop I can raise on a light, sandy soil, and will do equally 

 as well on heavier land; I have tried the different clovers, but find them difficult to grow; 

 sometimes they germinate, but if the season chances to be dry they kill out, whereas the 

 vetch will lie in the ground until sufficient moisture comes to start it; since the seed is 

 about the size of a sweet -pea seed and very hard, there is not much danger of sowing 

 it too deep; it makes quite a start in the fall and in the spring following makes a splendid 

 growth, and gives a great quantity of humus to plow under; as vetch is one of the legumes 

 its roots are covered with the little nodules the same as clover. 



Usually cultivation in the orchard ceases early in July, and vetch is planted as soon after 

 as conditions will allow; as there has been a rainy spell in July for several seasons past, 

 it is wise to choose this time, thus following the advice of some of the old seed-catalogues 

 that tell us to "sow just before a damp spell." 



The starting of young peach trees in the same soil from which old ones have been re- 

 moved, has often been discussed in these meetings. I know of nothing better to add on 

 this subject than to give you an account of my own success after several failures. 



Last spring after the field had been staked out, and the holes dug large and deep, some 

 good, fresh, virgin soil was hauled from a piece of timber land and about a bushel of it 

 was put at every hole; the trees were set right in the new soil; they started in a very short 

 time and made a splendid growth. These trees were set in a field that had been planted 

 to vetch the previous fall, so after the trees started and the vetch was large enough it was 

 plowed under; the weeds were kept down with frequent harrowing, until it was again 

 time for the sowing of vetch, which in turn will be turned under; it is my belief that the 

 trees will develop finely if the application of vetch is continued, even though the soil is 

 of the lightest sandy texture. 



As to profitable varieties of trees; this is always a perplexing proposition and one is 

 naturally prejudiced in favor of the varieties that he himself has successfully grown. 

 No white peach would find a place on my farm, unless the Lewis Seedling be excepted, 

 it is the best of its kind, but the kind is not of the best; this peach might do for a local 

 market, but if it must compete with the southern yellow peaches which flood the market 

 at the same season, it is not profitable. 



The first yellow peach to ripen in our vicinity, is the St. John; but as it is a xery shy 

 bearer, it should not be set in large munbers. 



Just following comes the Engels Manunoth; to me this is the finest peach grown; a 

 perfect fruit in every respect, except being a little tender for shipping; but if picked at 

 just the right time, it will stand up well; it bears very regularly and you are certain of 

 having Engels if you have a peach on the farm. 



Following next in order comes the Kalamazoo and Fitzgerald; the former has proven 

 very satisfactory with some of my acciuaint ances , but personally I do not know enough 

 about it to recommend or condemn it; the Fitzgerald has not been satisfactory and I will 

 not reset it. 



Very closely following these comes the peach that appears to be the breadwinner wherever 

 it growg well, and it seems to be well adapted to many localities and conditions. No 



