PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING 1<3 



■wood as hard and while cUai- through as liirkoiy. So far as tin- life of the 

 tree is concerned. I run not tell anytliiiiji alimit ilmi. I liave ten-year-old 

 trees as soinul as a doHar. When ^\(' liavc occasion to cnl otT a liiiil) of 

 fonr or live years' growth, we hnd it wliite and sound to the heart, and 

 I tind that other trees, grown by the slower methods, withont trimming 

 back, are almost invariably yellow in the center wood. Sonndness is 

 fnrthei- evidenced by the fact that even Ihose old trees, bearing heavy 

 crops, still continue to nuike great terminal growths. I believe that is 

 evidence enough — the method is good enough for me, at least. 



Prof. Tracy: Well, I spoke of that to bring out the idea that in a great 

 many orchards that is not so. 



Mr. Morrill: It has no reference to cover crops. 



Prof. Tracy: And yet, in a great many instances, would not the 

 habitual use of cover crops prevent a late growth which is often injurious? 



;Mr. ^Morrill: Yes. As a cover crop for that orchard I sowed oats this 

 yeav in August, the minute we quit cultivation; sowed it with oats 

 because they would be dead in the spring, bringing to it the same condi- 

 tion as that of which Mr. Fifield speaks. They have protected it from 

 deep freezing, and saved hnmus. I believe it is one of the cheapest 

 methods today for restoring fertility' to our soil, and perhaps the only 

 way available for many people. I believe the sooner we recognize it the 

 sooner we will get monev out of the soil. 



Mr. Slayton: Do you use oats in the peach orchard as a cover crop? 

 A: Yes, sir. 



Mr. Slayton: Plow^ them under early in the spring? A: Yes, sir. 



Mr. Morrill: I agree with Mr. Kellogg, or he agrees with me, as you 

 please, tliat mammoth clover does more good if allowed to lie on the 

 ground and then turned under, than it would if turned under green. I 

 have injured land by doing that, or at least put it in a condition that it 

 would not produce a good crop for a year or two. I had the clover just as 

 thick as it would stand, and put it under green, and it would not pro- 

 duce anything for a year; but by letting it dr^-, and going over it with a 

 disc harrow and turning it under, I got good results. I am not much in 

 favor of green-manuring. It should be handled cautiously at least. 



Prof. Tracy: In ordinary years is there not a time, early in the spring, 

 in most lauds, when there is a super-abundance of water? Any plant 

 which will take that out is an advantage rather than a disadvantage. 

 Will not a cover crop, for instance clover or oats or rye, answ-er that 

 purpose? I think no greater mistake can be made than to let a cover 

 crop remain too long. We did immeasurable damage to our farm at 

 Pontiac by letting our rye grow too big, and ninety-nine people out of a 

 hundred, when they try it, will do that — will let the cover crop stand too 

 long. It should be turned under just as soon as the ground is fit to plow. 



Mr. Kellogg: I had more special reference to blackberries. If you have 

 a cover crop on in the spring, and it grows a few inches, it appropriates 

 the food available for the blackberry or raspberry; and when the plant 

 starts it does not get it. It is true, when it. is turned under it becomes 

 immediately available again. I apprehend that the green stuff soon de- 

 cays and the plant food would be available. 



Mr. Morrill: The suggestion of Prof. Tracy brings out a fact that may 

 have been overlooked. He may figure from one premise and I from 

 another. He has spoken of the advantage of a cover crop taking out sur- 



