HORTICULTURE. 1041 



Methods of apple cultivation on light porous soil, R. Goethe 



and E. JuN(iE {Her. K. Lclwdn-sf. Ohst^ Wc!i> u. (r(i/'teu/jau, Geisenhelm^ 

 1899-1900, j>P' 13-15). — The soil in this experiment was so porous 

 that week-long continued rain was not sufficient to make it too wet. 

 The orchard was divided into sections and treated as follows: (1) Irri- 

 gated ■!: times with kitchen slop water; (2) the surface soil cultivated, 

 thoroughh' forming a loose mulch; (3) blue lupines grown, wdiich 

 were mowed during the summer and left on the ground for the pur- 

 pose of preserving soil moisture; and (4) soil removed 3 cm. deep over 

 an area of 13 square meters and piled in a ridge al)out the tree form- 

 ing a dam for the preservation of all snow and rain water. No other 

 cultivation was given. Another parcel was seeded to vetch. The 

 control plat was spaded in the sj^ring and hoed once during the sum- 

 mer, as is the custom in the locality. 



Trees on parcel 1 made a good healthy growth and the fruit devel- 

 oped well. Equally as good results were secured on parcel 2, where 

 the moisture was retained 1)}' thorough cidtivation. On plats 3 and 5, 

 which were seeded with ])lue lupines and vetch, respectively, the tree 

 growth w^as poor and the fruit remained small and dropped early to 

 the ground. The small amount of snowfall did not permit of a 

 thorough test of the value of the earth dam about trees in parcel 4. 

 The trees on the control plat were behind the trees grown on parcels 

 1 and 2 in every respect. 



The essentials of peach culture, J. H. Hale {Rural Neto Yorker^ 

 60 {1901), Xo. i2G6S, pp. 1, 2, Jig. 1). — The soil and the tree and its care 

 are considered. The author advises the use of trees 5 to 6 ft. high and 

 f in. in diameter for planting. The top is unimportant, but there 

 should be a heavy root and a strong cane 15 or 18 in. up. The author 

 has been most successful in planting trees 13 ft. apart each wa}^, or 

 less. Such close planting requires much pruning and for general 

 planting 18 to 22 ft. apart each way is advised. In the South closer 

 planting than in the North nia}' l)e observed. Catch crops should not 

 be planted in the young orcliard, but instead 12 to 15 good cultivations 

 given. 



During the iirst 2 years, after a month or 6 weeks of thorough cultiva- 

 tion, cowpeas may be seeded over two-thirds the space between the rows, 

 leaving space each side of the trees for single-horse cultivation for 2 

 months more. The pea vines should be left in the ground over winter 

 as a mulch. After the first 2 years, the whole space between the rows 

 should be cultivated up to the last of July or first of August, and then 

 seeded completely with 15 or 20 lbs. of clover for winter protection of 

 the peach roots. The clover shovild be plowed under in the early 

 spring before much growth takes place. 



In pruning a light open head is desired. The first season's growth 

 should not be shortened too much, but the second season all the strong- 



22065— No. 11 4 



