240 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



our State Society with the apples gathered from around this lake. And 

 while I do not think our small lakes that freeze over during the winter 

 time have the same effect that larger ones do that do not freeze, they 

 certainly must affect the atmosphere, giving apples color and preventing 

 frost. 



In localities exposed to the sweep of winter winds, belts of ever- 

 greens or deciduous trees will be found of great service. In all instances 

 where the side of an orchard is exposed to prevailing winds, it is less 

 successful and productive than the opposite side. Proof is afforded that 

 shelter would be beneficial; belts, especially if of deciduous trees, stand- 

 ing too near fruit ti-ees, have, however, rather injured than benefited them. 

 The orchard should be beyond the reach of their shade and roots and be 

 well exposed to sun and air. 



The soil for apple orchards should be of good quality. Whatever 

 will produce a vigorous growth of corn, wheat and potatoes will, in gen- 

 eral, be the best for fruit trees. Sterile soil is unfavorable for both, 

 doubly so for the latter, for while it only lessens the growth of farm crops, 

 it lessens the quanity and gi-eatly injures the quality of fruit. Land that 

 grows the sugar maple is counted good orchard land. As a general rule, 

 soil which is dry, firm, mellow and fertile, is well suited to this purpose. It 

 should be deep to allow the extension of the roots; dry, or else well 

 drained to prevent injury from stagnant water below the surface; firm 

 and not spongy, to preclude injury or destruction from frost. 



Few soils exist in our section of the State which could not be much 

 benefited for orchards by enriching. The shallow soils should be loosened 

 deeply. A quick method of deepening soils for the free admission of the 

 fine fibrous roots is first to loosen it as deeply as practicable with the sub- 

 soil plow, then with a trench plow. While there is no doubt that the 

 clay soils which have such a combination of sand and gravel as will ad- 

 mit of easy cultivation is our best, yet we have orchard lands in our 

 county a sandy, gi'avelly soil that is underlined with iron mineral, upon 

 which we find some of our best orchards, 



DISCUSSION. 



John Tilson: Mr. Hobbs talked of the red clay. I want to know 

 what's the matter with white clay. We have no red clay in our section. 

 He don't seem to think white clay is good for orchards. 



C. M. Hobbs: I would class along with red clay, the white and yellow. 

 There is a white clay, that soil that extends across this State from Illinois 

 that is very well adapted to apple growing, both in this State and Illinois, 

 but as a rule I think you will notice from our State Fair exhibits that 

 the larger and finer varieties are found in these red clay regions. It is a 

 fact, well proved by experience, that where there js proper proportion of 



