150 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fertility to the soil. Some thought vetch too slow. Barlev was 

 mentioned as germinating with less moisture than other crops, and 

 the advantage with barley is it kills down, while rye and clover 

 must he ploughed under. The advantage of clover as a cover crop 

 lies in the nitrogen derived from it when ploughed under. Com- 

 mon field peas were great nitrogen gatherers, and adding 200 lbs. 

 of plaster per acre very materially increases the pea crop. Success 

 with peas depends somewhat with the variety, Scotch green being 

 a very good variety. In sowing, plant three inches deep and pack 

 soil well over them. 



Secretary Bassett, from Michigan, was introduced, giving a 

 short speech, wherein he thought the average horticulturist should 

 be possessed with active brains. He knew of no occupation that 

 developed it as fast. Had discovered that we can give too clean 

 cultivation, thereby taking the humus from the soil. 'Cover 

 crops retain leaves and moisture. 



Secretary Latham advocated clean cultivation with a constant 

 dust mulch clean up to time of freezing of the ground in the fall. 

 It conserved the moisture, he thought, better than a cover crop. 



The paper to have been prepared by L. G. Kellogg on "Imple- 

 ments for Orchard Cultivation" was called, and Mr. Kellogg said he 

 had not prepared any paper, and the subject was taken up by dis- 

 cussing the various implements in use. Mr. Hatch spoke of the 

 new expanding harrow as well adapted to orchard cultivation. It 

 was arranged so it could be widened to cultivate under the 

 trees. The Acme and cutaway harrows, also the California orch- 

 ard harrow, were spoken of as doing good service. The expand- 

 ing disc harrow was reversible, plowing to or from the trees. 

 Those with the most modern ideas of orchard cultivation are using 

 the disc or cutaway harrows, followed by a light smoothing har- 

 row, or Breed or Hallock weeders. These tools were working- 

 great economy in the management of orchard and farm crops. The 

 essential feature in all classes of cultivation is to vary the tools to 

 the soils used. The lS-inch disc pulls easier, but it was thought 

 the 13-inch disc does finer and better work. One recommended 

 an eight-foot cutaway going each way, chipping the soil, leaving it 

 in chunks; would work equally well in dry or wet soils. A 

 new disc harrow bung on wheels with a dropping attachment was 

 a candidate for favor. The ordinary turning plough should have 

 no place in the orchard only as a matter of necessity with blue 

 grass sod. Trees in that condition have the roots near the surface, 

 when it injures them to plow. It was suggested the better plan 



