STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 53 



I should employ would be the extensive feeding of corn, or any 

 other grain that might be more economical, to sheep and swine, in 

 separate inclosures upon those lands, where I could regulate the 

 feeding and the grazing at will, for the purpose of, keeping up the 

 fertility. From the best information that I have in regard to the 

 matter, I believe that the market product of the animals would 

 pay all expenses, and that the results of the fertilization thus de- 

 rived would be all profit, and that there would be more profit than 

 that even, on that branch of the matter ; and thus the culture of 

 the apple may be carried on to a very great profit, and on a very 

 large scale. If I could so manage my farm operations that I could 

 produce my own corn and small grains for that purpose, I would ; 

 and if I could not do that, I would go where I could obtain it to 

 the best advantage, whether it were in the State, or in Illinois, or 

 elsewhere. 



That is my view in regard to the matter. It is, I know, to a 

 certain extent, theoretical ; but it is a theory which has been 

 demonstrated in repeated instances by practice, on a small scale. 

 T can remember well the period of my boyhood, when I have seen 

 apples more than doubled in their size in a single year by the pas- 

 turing of swine upon the ground where 'the trees were grown, and 

 where they had stood until they had extracted from the soil almost 

 all the fertilizing matter, — the food which sustains the tree and 

 causes it to produce fruit. The result was attained simply by the 

 pasturing of swine, and the working into the soil of the manure 

 which they made. 



The President. If there are gentlemen present who are inter- 

 ested in orchard culture, and who desire to have any question 

 answered by gentlemen of experience, such questions as they may 

 see fit to ask will be entertained. 



Mr. GiLE of Alfred. I would ask if a piece of land that is 

 infested with witch grass is decidedly unfit for orcharding? 



Mr. Prince of Turner. I would like to hear from Dr. Harris of 

 Auburn, who is much interested in the subject of orcharding, and 

 who has a fine orchard under way. 



Dr. Harris of Auburn. I am surprised that the gentleman from 

 Turner (Mr, Prince) should have called upon me. I am a new 

 member of your society, and am a mere novice in orcharding. I 

 came here to gain information ; I am too young in the business to 

 undertake to impart any. I shotild prefer to be excused, and to 

 hear from those who have had more experience than I have. 



