LEONARD METHOD OF ORCHARD PLANTING. 205 



and other garden vegetables were planted in one orchard, all of which 

 made a good average yield. The corn was as good as the average corn 

 of a good season, the potatoes made a yield of 150 bushels per acre, 

 and cabbage, beets, tomatoes, melons, and beans were fully up to the 

 average of our best seasons. During this season this orchard has not 

 shown as much moisture, but had enough to make a good crop and to 

 keep trees up to a full average growth. During September the corn 

 and potatoes were harv^ested and the orchard cultivated. A two-horse 

 cultivator would throw up an abundance of moisture that could be 

 seen the full length of the orchard. The condition of this orchard 

 January 1, 1896, was found to be thoroughly moist to within one-half 

 inch of the surface. Of eighty-five trees set in the spring of 1895, 

 three Ben Davis and one York Imperial and two Jeiferies perished 

 in the hot winds of September. These trees were badly dried out 

 when planted and made a late start. Others of the same varieties 

 passed through the season in good condition. 



This experimental work is in its third year and they have been three 

 of the hardest consecutive years ever known to the state, and yet trees 

 planted when two years of age now stand eleven feet in height and 

 nine and one-half inches in circumference one foot from the ground, 

 and some of the trees now measure nine feet from tip to tip through 

 the top. Many of the trees set their first fruits in 1895, some up to 

 as high as 150 apples, but were whipped off when about the size of 

 walnuts by sand storms in June, also many leaves. 



East European plum trees have attained the heights of ten and 

 twelve feet and have a circumference of seven to ten inches one foot 

 from the ground. Communia, Dame Aubert, Moldavaka, Richland, 

 Hungarian Prune, Arab No. 2, and Orel 19 and 20 have borne their 

 first specimens of fruit. The first four named have, I believe, special 

 value. The fruit is of excellent quality and thus far wholly free from 

 the attacks of curculio and gougers. The last two named are a small 

 blue plum not larger than Blue Damsel. Native plums, Wyant, 

 Wolf, and a variety that came to me labeled Weir 49, but which is 

 said to be by nurserymen the Weaver plum, is a freestone and of ex- 

 cellent quality. The Wyant is a great bearer, freestone, and of good 

 quality. The Wolf has no value above the Miner. 



East European cherries have borne their first specimens of fruit, 

 mostly running smaller than Richmond. Abbesie appears to be slow 



