54 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



plioric acid. It also has a percentage of free lime which has 

 a beneficial effect on the soil. In the past, large quantities of 

 muriate of potash have been used in our orchards, but the 

 farmers are not using much of late years, as our soils contain 

 plenty of potash, which needs only cultivation to make it 

 available. I might mention at this point that land of a wet 

 nature must be thoroughly underdrained before success is 

 possible. Trees will not do their best with wet feet. 



Priming. — Most of the pruning is done in March and the 

 early part of April. Our trees are headed out about 3 feet 

 from the ground, and are cut back a little each year so as to 

 form a low-headed tree. A tree that is low headed presents 

 many advantages over the tall slim tree. The former is easily 

 sprayed. The picking of the fruit can be done with much 

 greater care. The tree itself is much stronger, and is not 

 affected by winds. 



Spraying. — The operation of spraying is not a pleasant one. 

 Spraying has become universal in our valley. For a long 

 period Bordeaux mixture and Paris green was the spray used, 

 but of late years lime-sulphur with arsenate of lead as a poison 

 has almost entirely taken the place of the former. 



The black scab or spot is the greatest enemy we have to 

 fight. Spraying should be done while the trees are dormant, 

 with the 1 to 8 or 1 to 9 mixture of lime-sulphur; then before 

 the blossoms open, with lime-sulphur 1 to 40, and 2 pounds of 

 arsenate of lead; and again after the petals have fallen, with 

 the same mixture; and if necessary, after another period of 

 ten days. Fine, thorough spraying generally does the work. 

 The operation must be thoroughly done and every part of the 

 tree must be reached. Power sprayers are used in almost 

 every instance. 



Question. What variety of vetch do you use? 



Mr. WooDWORTH. Just the common vetch or tares, not the 

 hairy vetch, which is more expensive. The vetch we use costs 

 $2 a bushel. 



Question. How much do you seed to the acre? 



Mr. WooDWORTH. One bushel. Have your land in a good 

 state of cultivation, then just go over it with a smoothing 



