414 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



starting an old orchard because it is peculiarly effective in rotting 

 down sod and putting the soil in fine physical condition. This might 

 be followed in a year or two with either soy beans, summer vetch or 

 cow peas. 



As to amounts of seed per acre of the different crops suggested the 

 following will be found right for ordinary conditions : — 



Buckwheat, . . . . .1 bushel. 



Rye, . . . . . . -1^ bushels. 



Soy beans, . . . . . .2 bushels broadcast; IJ bushels in drills. 



Cow peas, 2 bushels broadcast; 1^ bushels in drills. 



Summer vetch, . . . . • 1^ bushels broadcast; 1 bushel in drills. 

 Winter vetch, . . . . .1 bushel broadcast; f bushel in drills. 



And lastly there is the question of top-grafting the trees. I have 

 already said that I should consider the necessity of this a strong factor 

 against the orchard, for it requires considerable time, two to four 

 years, and not a little expense, to work over the trees into other 

 varieties. But it frequently happens that odd trees in an orchard 

 are of unsatisfactory varieties, and it is sometimes worth while to 

 graft over an entire orchard where the trees are relatively young and 

 otherwise in good condition. Where this is to be done I believe it is 

 generally advisable to employ an expert grafter or grafters to do the 

 work. There is often a local artist who will undertake the operation, 

 or, if the orchard is of sufficient size to warrant it, a professional 

 grafter can be secured from a distance. In either case it is better 

 business, and more satisfactory generally, to pay by the stub, and to 

 have the grafter guarantee the scions to live. Of course in such a 

 case one must have confidence enough in the man to insure that he 

 will not put in grafts needlessly, but after all it is better to have too 

 many grafts than not enough, and with a little knowledge and super- 

 vision on the i:)art of the owner there is usually little difficulty on this 

 score. If the owner is situated so that he can do so I should strongly 

 advise his furnishing the scions himself, and too great care cannot be 

 exercised in selecting them. They ought to be taken from bearing 

 trees, and if possible from those of known productiveness, and they 

 should be thoroughly well matured and not too long jointed. Let 

 them be selected while the trees are still dormant, and stored in moist 

 soil or sawdust in the coolest possible place ; if an ice house is available 

 so much the better. 



A great many problems will undoubtedly come up in renovating 

 an old orchard besides those which have been discussed, and modifica- 

 tions will have to be made to suit special fruits, such as peaches and 

 plums, but if a campaign along the general lines indicated could be 

 made among the old, and at present profitless, orchards of the State, 

 either cleaning them up or cutting them down, it would certainly do a 

 great deal toward putting Massachusetts fruit on a better footing with 

 both dealers and consumers, and it would make an addition to the 

 income of the farmers of the State by no means to be despised. 



