84 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Due. 



thinning it very much, to get some exhibit specimens. In 

 not one case in ten did I get a show apple, pear or peach. 

 The best specimens were all up in the high branches. 



Mr. Powell. I am very glad to have these questions 

 come out, as it is the only way to get at things truth- 

 full}^ I appreciate what the gentleman said in regard to 

 these low limbs, and I know it is a fact that if they are 

 grown as we usually grow trees, there will be a lot of poor 

 fruit on these lower branches ; but my idea is this, that we 

 have got to do more pruning of oiu* trees. We must let the 

 sunlight throuoh on a low-branched tree, but it will shine 

 right through that tree upon the ground, under my system. 

 That means taking out a good deal of the wood ; it doesn't 

 mean letting all the wood grow that we have on our stand- 

 ard trees. 



Now, in regard to my Kings. They were started 41^ 

 inches from the ground, and they are all on the ground, 

 covered with fruit. We start our cultivation earl3^ I don't 

 believe in keeping up cultivation too long. Simply in the 

 spring plow in this clover, then give your ground a few 

 harrowings, and seed right back again, — that is, according 

 to the season. This season dry weather struck in, and we 

 kept up our cultivation as long as the dry weather lasted. 

 We kept it up six weeks longer than we otherwise would, 

 because there seemed to be a promised continuation of dry 

 weather. The result was, we brought our fruit through, 

 fine size, beautiful quality and splendid color. 



Question. Have you any clover for next year? 



Mr. Powell. We have clover 16 inches high under 

 those trees to-day. That is where this system of cultiva- 

 tion has its value. This practice of frequent cultivation 

 puts your land in the Hnest tilt. It increases plant food, 

 so, if you sell your fruit early or late, you are sure to get a 

 profit, I haven't failed in sowing clover seed in ten years, 

 and even in this period of drought I never had a finer stand. 



Another point is our spraying. We spray underneath 

 the trees. The general spraying is on top ; it is good as 

 far as it goes, but it isn't enough. We want to put our 

 sprayer underneath and spray the lower branches, and when 



