No. 4.] FEUIT CULTURE. 139 



over that trouble. The energ^'^ of the tree may be increased 

 by the methods of cultivation, so there will be strength 

 enough for both. Of course this is in a measure a matter 

 of varieties. Mr. H. secures a good crop of apples every 

 year. I cannot tell why there should be crops of apples in 

 the two counties of Dutchess and Columbia that almost 

 equalled the crop of the rest of the State, but such is the 

 case. 



The ground in this orchard is so uneven that he cannot 

 plough it very well, so he cultivates it with the spring-tooth 

 harrow. He keeps it up until the first of July, then sows 

 crimson clover, and there is a mulch all over the ground that 

 keeps the apples growing and the trees in fine condition. 

 Two or three years ago I know he used five hundred dollars' 

 worth of potash and bone on his orchard in the fall. I be- 

 lieve it is the vigorous, healthy condition that he keeps his 

 trees in that causes the production of such apples. 



Mr. HiNES. Were there many apples in those two coun- 

 ties last year ? 



Mr. Taber. There was a very large crop of apples there 

 last year. You cannot easily imagine the difierence in the 

 fruit. While in our markets the apples are coming in from 

 different farmers, showing evidence of fungous growth and 

 insect troubles, the character of his Northern Spys, weighing- 

 twelve ounces and almost a foot in circumference, were just 

 as clean and smooth as could be. He sprays his orchard 

 twice or three times. You cannot get such fruit without 

 spraying. It is impossible to do it. Last year (1896) 

 there was very little difiference between the sprayed and un- 

 sprayed fruit. We did not have the fungous growth, be- 

 cause it was dry. But in 1897 those who did not spray did 

 not get much fruit. Spraying is one thing we have got to 

 do, and have got to do it every year. It is of just as much 

 value when your orchards are not producing as in the years 

 when they are. 



Mr. Pratt. I am interested in that matter of mulching. 

 Does the crimson clover spring up the second year, or do 

 you reseed? 



Mr. Taber. Crimson clover is an annual. It will renew 

 itself if you let it go to seed. But it has to be seeded every 

 year. It does not live over. If you sow it in the spring it 



