54 STATE POMOLOQICAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. CoRTHELL of Calais. I would like to inquire how for apart 

 fruit trees should be set, upon land that is to be devoted entirely 

 to orcharding ? 



Judge Gilbert. As the question first propounded seems to have 

 the precedence, in answer I beg leave to ask my friend Smith, 

 who sits near me, to give his views in regard to witch-grass 

 again, for I believe that is one of the most important questions 

 there is. I think there are means by which witch-grass can be 

 extirpated. And although I do not think it does much harm in an 

 orchard, except to impede cultivation, I would like to know if 

 Mr. Smith can tell us something about the best methods of extir- 

 pating it, and whether he thinks it ought to be extirpated or not ? 



Alfred Smith of Monmouth. I have had some experience as to 

 the question proposed by the gentleman in relation to witch- 

 grass. While I lived in Winthrop I had some seven acres of 

 orchard, and the land was full of witch-grass ; but the swine and 

 sheep that I pastured there, entirely destroyed it. Sheep will eat 

 it down very close. I think there is no diflSculty whatever, in 

 cultivating an orchard where there is witch-grass, if you pasture 

 it with sheep. I think a great deal of mulching. For the past 

 twelve years I have used some twenty tons in an orchard of about 

 an acre. I keep the grass down well enough in that way. I find 

 that trees sufier more for the want of suitable dressing than any- 

 thing else. 



Judge Gilbert. What is your opinion as to the efiect of witch- 

 grass upon the thrift of trees, if it is allowed to grow in an orchard ? 



Mr. Smith. I don't know why there should be any more diffi- 

 culty with that grass than with any other grass. I have never 

 seen any in my orchard. 



I think there are a great many trees that have good trunks and 

 bodies, that might by proper management and the expense of a 

 dollar, be made to pay five hundred per cent, on that expenditure. 

 Twelve years ago my orchard at Monmouth was as poor as any- 

 thing I ever saw. The ground was so poor that it wouldn't bear 

 a quarter of a ton of hay. The leaves upon the trees were small. 

 The orchard was grafted, and had been neglected, and there were 

 many dead limbs. I trimmed out the dead limbs, plowed, mulched 

 and dressed with the manure that had been made on my place for 

 two years. I raised crops in the orchard, and found the fruit to 

 be very valuable. The trees threw off their old coats, and they 

 now seem to be in their original vigor. I am now raising from 



