PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 99 



care should be taken not to have it come in contact with seeds or 

 plants. 



Mr. D. J. B. Hoyt, Gaines, Orleans County, N. Y. : " How much 

 salt to the acre to kill quack grass ? Will salt enough to kill 

 grass and weeds, injure fruit trees? I have twentj^-two acres of 

 orcharding apples, peaches, pears and plums, 160 trees to the 

 acre, ten years old, and the entire surface soil has become literally 

 filled with the roots of the trees. I desire to keep the ground 

 friable and free from weeds and grass, if possible, without plow- 

 ing. Will the Club allow me and the public in general the benefit 

 of what experience and observation have determined in relation 

 to the use of salt in such or similar cases." 



Mr, Solon Robinson; — We doubt whether salt can be used in 

 sufficient quantities without injuring the trees. Ten bushels of 

 salt to the acre would be beneficial to them. It would make the 

 ground more friable, but Avould not kill quack grass, 



Mr. P. T. Quinn said he had some experience with salt and was 

 satisfied that an}'^ quantity that would kill weeds or grass would 

 also kill trees. He w^ould not apply over eight bushels per acre, 

 and that quantity, he thought, would be beneficial to any orchard. 



Mr. William Hill, Flemington : " We find ashes here on heavy 

 clay land an excellent application both for grass and wheat. Price 

 paid by farmers from 25 to 30 cents per bushel." 



Mr, Solon Eobinson, — Wood ashes burnt in a brick kiln, if they 

 are kept clean and not exposed to the Avet, are more valuable than 

 any burnt in a stove; and ashes exposed to as great heat and thus 

 reduced in quantity, in a kiln for burning pottery ware, have been 

 much sought after here for use on land, and for making lye for 

 soap, at 5c, per bushel, more than ashes made from same kinds of 

 wood in stoves. 



Apricots are Hardy. 

 Mr. H, B. Smith stated that apricots at Westfield, Mass,, have 

 proved hardier than peaches. The buds this year are entirely 

 sound, while those of peaches are all killed. 



Moving Arple Trees. 



Mr. Wm. Cluley, Leadsville P. O., Monmouth Co., N. J. : "I 

 have a few apple trees, probably ten years old, that I wish to 

 move. Can it be done safely, and at what season ?" 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — We would move them in the winter. Dig 

 around in autumn so as to freeze a ball of earth to the roots, and 



