60 STATE rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



means to cultivate the trees, and raise something so as not to lose eutirelj the 

 use of the land while waiting for the fruit. It would he much better to culti- 

 vate tlie ground "witli no crop but the fruit trees, and direct our whole energy 

 and uttention in that field to that alone. But we must take things as we find 

 them. Ninety-nine out of every one hundred men do crop their orchards. If, 

 then, these men can increase their crops by the drainage of the fields so as to 

 pay for the cost of drainage wliile tliey are waiting for returns from their fruit 

 trees, the benefits the trees receive will be gratuitous. 



But does drainage so pay? In a late number of the Country Gentleman was 

 the report of a convention of farmers in Ohio at which the subject of thorough 

 drainage was discussed. Several men gave their experience in regard to it. 

 Two or tlirec said they were paid by the second crop. Several others were con- 

 fident that they were paid for all the time, trouble, and expense by the first four 

 crops. 



Now if drainage will so increase the capacity of the land to produce so that 

 a man can pay for his drains from the increased produce in seven years (at 

 which time his orchard will begin to bear), he has made a capital investment. 



A writer in rural affairs says that in his own experience drains paid for them- 

 selves in increased productiveness in three years, and that, too, on land that 

 superficial observers would say needed no draining. We will notice, then, sec- 

 ondly 



THE EFFECT OF DRAINAGE OIT FRUIT TREES. 



We will take as our first position, then, that trees should have a steady growtli. 

 Too frequently has it been in the past tluit fine trees have been obtained from 

 the nursery, set comparatively well, started vigorously for two or three years, 

 and then suddenly appear checked in growth, the result of the roots having 

 appropriated the available space, and the after growth to be made by thrusting 

 the roots into cold stagnant water, or into soil saturated with water. It is now 

 ]iretty generally known that crops will not thrive in such places, and people 

 should think that trees, and especially fruit trees, need to have care exercised 

 in this direction. 



There are various theories in regard to this, but it is not our purpose to enter 

 into a discussion on that point. Lindley says that "no ])erson has seen good 

 fruit produced by trees grown in lands imperfectly drained." 



I have but to present you an example of the apple orchard of the College 

 farm, which was nearly at a standstill as regards growth and fruit, ""until it was 

 drained by putting a two-incli tile between each row of trees at a depth of three 

 to four feet, and the trouble was entirely remedied. Tlie trees sprung into 

 luxuriant growth, and also fruited well. They have done more in two years 

 since drainage than in five years before. 



This brings us to the second position, which is that drainage makes trees 

 healthy. We think of this perhaps when we put out an orchard, but stop all 

 efforts in that direction immediately after, — i. e. we take care perhaps in set- 

 ting trees, to look after the roots, and perhaps manure, mulch, and water the 

 first year, and then leave the trees to take care of themselves after that. The 

 result is that they make a year or two of good growth. The farmer tlien wants 

 to seed down his field, and does so to the detriment of his orchard. He should 

 keep a steady growth for liealtli by first draining his land to the depth of four 

 to five feet, then he should cultivate his field in such crops as will best promote 



