WEST MICHIGAN FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY. 131 



to cultivate intelligently and thoroughl}'. The season for cultivation is not 

 long, so the work must needs bo thorough. If continued too late we may get 

 the result now visible — dead trees, especially young ones. If we have thor- 

 oughly ripened wood it will withstand extreme cold. This has been a grand 

 season for getting early growth, but many have waited too long. Cultivation 

 is often equivalent to fertilization. Some growers keep their orchards like 

 gardens while they may cultivate, and such have ripe wood. Even heavy clay 

 may be made mellow and good for trees if taken at the right time. What- 

 ever tools will Avell cultivate corn will do for peaches. In a dry time, on light 

 soil, cultivate late in the day, so as to prevent excessive loss of moisture. 

 Quit cultivating early in August. If trees are heavy with fruit it would do 

 good if later than this, but in such case it usually is not possible. This is 

 why I say cultivate intelligently, for there are many varying conditions, and 

 nothing calls for so much intelligent care as the peach tree. Soil makes a 

 great difference as to value and success of varieties. To sum it up briefly, 

 begin early, cultivate often, quit soon enough. How early to begin depends 

 upon dryness of soil and weather. I sometimes cultivate at or before blossom- 

 ing, sometimes not. In some conditions, such as moist soil or wet season, 

 early cultivation induces frosts and kills the blossoms. You must use your 

 brains. 



Levi Loomis thought the dead young trees this season were due to the late 

 rains of last fall causing new growth, coming as they did after a time of 

 drouth. He does not cultivate after the middle of July. For thirteen years 

 he quit July 1, sowed buckwheat and always got good crops. 



J. P. Taylor: Wherever, last year, cultivation was kept up through the 

 drouth, no late growth came. Stop cultivating in a wet August, but keep it 

 up if dry. It is safe to cultivate as long as drouth lasts, even to September. 

 Intelligent judgment is necessary as to this. As a rule, stop earlier on trees 

 one and two years old than on either older or younger trees, as there is most 

 growth during those years. Last year early cultivation was bad, but this 

 year it is beneficial. Early culture sometimes, when foUowea by cold and 

 wet, promotes curled leaf. 



Then followed a mass of contradictory experience in cutting back new 

 growth late in the season. Mr. Wadsworth, Mr. Manwaring and Mr. Boyles 

 had practiced it with good results, and it is said to be the common way in 

 New Jersey ; but Mr. Loomis and Mr. Gardiner had lost, or known of the loss 

 of many trees on exactly this account. It seemed to be regarded as a bad 

 practice. 



Similar disagreement was expressed as to cultivation, some claiming it could 

 easily be overdone, with bad results from production of unripe wood late in 

 the season. Others maintained that evil results lay rather in the direction of 

 neglect ; that without thorough tillage the present magnificent orchards could 

 never have been produced and maintained. The prevailing sentiment was 

 well expressed by Mr. S. R. Lewis, when he said : '* I believe in the most 

 thorough cultivation, but good Judgment is necessary in its practice. These 

 differing views are due chiefly to variation of soil. We must cultivate bear- 

 ing trees through dry weather until rain conies. Cultivation must be 'clean.' 

 Every weed is a robber in time of drouth." 



