FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 69 



The Cbairman: Mr. Wilson believes in low heading and shallow 

 plowing, 



Mr. Keyes : Shall we, who have only clay land, be kept from trying to 

 raise a few peaches? It has been suggested that dry sandy land was 

 the proper soil ; but several years ago we commenced raising peaches on 

 clay. We have very thrifty trees and promising peaches. 



The Chairman : I think Mr. Morrill gave what he thought was the ideal 

 location. 



Mr. Morrill : I think Mr. Whitmeyer must have been discussing some- 

 thing else at the time I had my paper. I might have gone further into 

 detail, but I did not have the time. You can only determine the value 

 and application of these things by knowing your own land. I have found 

 what my land wants. I have two different farms; what I use on one 

 does not do me any good on the other. 



As far as concerns this gentleman who is feeling it unfortunate that 

 he has clay, I have seen good peaches on clay — a certain character of 

 clay will produce fine peaches, but I read Mr. Hale's "Ten Command- 

 ments" in which he suggests the ideal conditions, and in my observation, 

 that is the ideal location — sandy loam. 



Mr. Keyes: The clay is naturally well drained, but I have had to put 

 in other crops to restrict the growth. 



Mr. Craft: I started an orchard last spring on clay. Would it be a 

 good plan in August to sow rye to plow under next spring? 



Mr. Morrill: I would have no objections to sowing rye if it was plowed 

 in the next spring, but if it was neglected, I would have serious objec- 

 tions. I have had some experience in this and made serious mistakes, 

 and the great trouble with rye is allowing it to grow too late. If your 

 orchard is in bearing it takes the moisture out of the ground and the 

 orchard feels the full effect of the drouth, and that is often a serious mis- 

 take. I don't take much stock in the fertility being replaced in the 

 ground by crops of rye, as some people do, because I haven't seen the 

 results from it that I expected. 



Mr. : I have heard it reported that farmers had tried it. 



Mr. Morrill : Yes, there is lots of it going on and plenty of people like 

 it; it is a good winter covering. 



Q: Is it a good plan to sow it in the fall — about August? 



Mr. Morrill: Yes, but I will tell you what I am going to do. I am going 

 to sow oats. It will make a bigger growth, it will hold the leaves where 

 they fall (and that is very important, I believe), and the oats will be dead 

 in the spring, and won't draw on the land. They can be turned under 

 with a small plow and it is not necessary to plow deep. 



Mr. Stearns: The gentleman who spoke of his clay soil says that he has 

 good drainage and says that he can get as large peaches on clay as on 

 sandy loam. I have both, and find that I get better size on sandy soil. 



Mr. Conrad: I would like to ask if Mr. Morrill cultivates peach trees 

 while they are in bloom? 



Mr. Morrill: I do not. There is an old nption among us, that it is as 

 well to leave trees alone during the period of pollination, and I have 

 always followed that plan, without knowing really why. I simply have 

 followed on old idea. 



