136 State Horticultural Society. 



down by heavy crops of fruit. This past spring I have followed 

 grazing my orchards with sheep. They have in some instances 

 browsed the lower branches to a small extent, but the nice condi- 

 tion of the orchard justifies the practice. I have found that stock 

 grazing helps to swell the profits of the orchard, which is very 

 acceptable when the aple crop is short. 



My trees have not borne a full crop, being under age, until the 

 present season. When the limbs are borne down by a heavy crop 

 of apples, too close to the ground to admit of stock, I tnen remove 

 them to a different pasture for grazing. 



Sheep should be well supplied with water while in the or- 

 chard, to prevent barking the trees. I have kept rabbits at bay 

 during the winter months by washing the trees with a coating of 

 the consistency of whitewash, made with skim milk and Portland 

 cement. Put on in November it will remain all winter, and I have 

 never lost a single tree in ten years by such pests. 



DISCUSSION ON ORCHARD CARE. 



Mr. Stephens of Bunceton said the wash is improved by 

 standing over night and sets only when applied. I never fail to 

 have a crop of wheat growing, and if the ground is in the right 

 shape I let the stock in on it, both hogs and sheep. I have let cattle 

 in the orchard where the clover was. The limbs kept flies off of the 

 cattle, and no injury was done to the trees. I have sheep in my 

 orchard this year and can't see any harm. I think this is a good 

 way to keep down the sprouts and weeds where we have let cultiva- 

 tion go too long. I had sheep in orchard all the spring, but take 

 them out at night and pen them up. 



Dr. Green — I sowed orchard grass in half of my orchard. This 

 is a clean, nice grass, and leaves room for clover between. If the 

 fruit fails on the trees I get a good crop of hay ; if I have a crop of 

 apples, I cut the hay and let it lie on the ground. Orchard grass is 

 not a new thing. One of the great benefits is for winter pasture, 

 but the hay is good. Calves will fatten on this grass during the 

 w-inter, and when they can't run on the grass they go to a stalk of 

 the same. I have tried many plans in the orchard. Where an 

 orchard grew up in blue grass and was not cultivated, we had just 

 as good fruit as where cultivated. Mow first in middle or last of 

 May, and again in September. 



Senator Dunlap — We have gi-owers in Illinois who grow grass 

 in their orchard. My observation leads me to say, cut out the trees 



