STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 53 
‘buildings regardless of soil or location; often when a first class orchard 
site could be had on some other part of the farm. In many cases it would 
be better to erect buildings where you could raise fruit regardless of other 
‘minor conveniences. By past failures much useful information has been 
attained by intelligent {fruit growers, and from this on, soil and location for 
orchards will be more judiciously selected than heretofore; and then, and 
not till then, will our long cherished hopes be realized—to he able to grow 
all the apples that is needed for home consumption and a large surplus to 
ship to our Jess fortunate neighbor. Light is breaking, the time is not far 
in the future. 
DISCUSSION—Soils. 
Secretary. How can a large class of soils not especially adapted 
‘to, and not especially unsuited to, the cultivation of fruit be best ~ 
prepared for it? 
Mr. Pearce. Thisisa hard question. It is absolutely neces- 
‘sary that wet, sticky, or sour land be well drained. Wet, sticky 
_ soil may do for willows, but not for apples. A great many soils 
are more or less injured by frost. Many times the trees grow, 
but they bear no fruit. Tosome extent, not to acertainty, blight 
can be prevented by late winter mulching. Mulch with straw. 
Don’t let it thaw; keep the trees where they are. There is such 
a thing as holding back the fruit by keeping the ground covered 
‘too long. Mulch ground that is subject to late frost. 
Mr. Harris. Do you believe in chip manure? 
Mr. Pearce. No, I donot. But it holds the frost out longest. 
Mr. Jordon. Ishould plant fruit trees in any soil good for 
‘wheat or corn. I have a piece of land that was very wet before 
I drained it. The slope is southwest. On this land I have 
. Wealthies 5 years old, and my Duchess of Oldenburg are doing 
well. If I can get high land or nothing better than good wheat 
or corn land, I will raise an orchard. 
Mr. Pearce. Would you plant on low land. 
Mr. Jordon. No, sir. I think wedo not give the Jeniton place 
enough; they are a better apple than believed by many. The 
root grafted gave me no apples, but the top grafted did well; in 
‘fact they bear too much, and the fruit becomes small. 
Preparation of Soil—Experience with Varieties. 
My. Pearce. How was that wet land of yours prepared ? 
Mr. Jordon. Soon after I had broken it a heavy flood washed 
out a deep ditch. Where the ditch was too deep I partly filled it 
ap with straw, manure, &., and kept itforadrain. My Wealthy 
