86 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



There is oue thing more in connection with my mode of cultiva- 

 tion that I consider quite important. As soon as we get through 

 the picking season, we find the ground covered with a thick mat of 

 vines that we want to get rid of, and how shall we do it? "Plow 

 them up," sa3^s one. I should like to see you do it. If you had a 

 good crop of berries your ground is a solid mat of vines and run- 

 ners, and I should as soon think of trying to plow a side of sole 

 leather as to plow them with one of our common plows. But it is 

 very important to have it done at once after the fruit is picked, and 

 the way I do is to run them over with the mowing machine, and 

 then rake them up with my spring tooth horse rake, cart them off 

 and put them around my apple trees. They make an excellent 

 mulch, and it pays to do it, and leaves the ground so that you can 

 plow it by having one man follow and clear the plow. Now the 

 importance of having this done immediately after the crop is har- 

 vested is two fold. You prevent the weeds from going to seed, 

 and during the hot weather in the latter part of summer, all the 

 remaining vines and runners that were plowed under become 

 thoroughly decomposed, and you get entirely rid of them. I also 

 sow on about two barrels of refuse salt every other season, just 

 before plowing. I don't think it amounts to much as a fertilizer, 

 but it makes the plants healthy, and is obnoxious to insects. The 

 first time I plow it I go round the piece, and when I plow it again, 

 as I always do just before the ground freezes, I plow just the 

 reverse, and that leaves the ground level and upsets the winter 

 quarters of the grubs. I now cart on about ten loads of barnyard 

 dressing, spread it evenly on the surface, harrow it in, and the 

 ground is all ready to set j^our plants the next spring, except culti- 

 vating and harrowing. 



The worst obstacles I have had to contend with have been the 

 weeds, the winter killing caused by the ice, and that detestable pest, 

 the white grub. I wonder if they infest the grounds around the 

 State College? If they do not, I would like to send them a few 

 samples to experiment with. They are a more conspicuous target 

 to shoot at than the codling moth or the currant worm, and it does 

 seem as though they ought to be able to hit them, even if they do 

 fail to extirpate the deadly microbe and trypeta. I can handle the 

 weeds if I take them in season, prevent the winter killing in a 

 measure by a suitable winter protection, but the white grub is more 

 than a match for me, and I will turn him over to the experimental 

 station. 



