PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 131 



for several years; he has tliis year come to the conclusion that it is owing 

 to mulching. He particularly examined two neighboring pear orchards 

 this year, which are well cared for, except mulching, and found the fruit in 

 a sad condition — particuhirly that of Mr. Goldsmith, who several gentlemen 

 here know as a good cultivator. His fruit was not marketable, while not 

 one in a iuuidred of Dr. Ward's was injured. " Now," said the Doctor, "I 

 do not affirm that mulching is a remedy, but it looks like it, and if it is, I 

 want it should be known. At least let others try tlic experiment. I use 

 salt hay, perhaps three tons per acre, spread on after plowing in spring, 

 and my men are at work to-day raking off and stacking the hay for use 

 again next year. Manure will now be applied." 



Mr, Solon Robinson. — As you use salt hay, may we not attribute a part 

 of the virtue of mulching to salt as well as to the shade? 



Dr. Ward — Perhaps. That experiment must be tried. At any rate the 

 mulch is of the greatest benefit; it keeps the ground so loose that it is now 

 very mellow, and it prevents all growth of weeds, which exhausts the soil 

 as much as a crop of grain; and besides, the mulch saves the fruit that 

 drops, from bruises. 



Mr. F. Quiun. — If there was no other benefit in mulching, I would use it 

 for that alone. It saves its cost in the protection to falling fruit. For a 

 crop in a young orchard, I prefer potatoes. Beans will do, and so will car- 

 rots if the land is rich and mellow enough. 



Plowing Under Weeds. 



Mr. George Bartlett. — I once had a piece of timothy killed by the army 

 worm in Illinois. I turned in the hogs to kill the worms, and they rooted 

 up the sod and then there grew the largest crop of bitter weeds, known 

 by some as rag weed, hog weed, and stubble weed. I rigged a plow with 

 an extraordinary high beam, and with three horses abreast turned under a 

 growth that w^as higher than the horses. 



Osage Orange Hedges. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — I must speak of the value of the osage orange as a 

 Ledge plant. I had occasion to visit a farm in Monmouth county, N. J., 

 belonging to Mr. Thomas Bell. I there found the farm fenced entirely with 

 the osage orange. The fields contained about twenty acres each, with a 

 line of gates in the centre. In each of these fields were cattle, horses, 

 sheep, and swine. The fences were perfect to keep the stock separate. I 

 think any person who requires a fence should see that of Mr. Bell's. I am 

 sure they would use the osage orange. 



Dr. Isaac M. Ward. — About 1850 I planted a line of buckthorn hedge 

 and another of osage orange. The first is a complete failure; the second 

 is a complete fence against man or beast. It is not affected by cold. From 

 some recent experiments I am satisfied that I can make a good fence of 

 Norway spruce. For all purposes it is better than arbor vitse. It bears 

 shearing, and the limbs grow so strong that they resist all efforts of cattle 

 to get through, and a fence can be made of this spruce as soon as with 

 osage orange. I would set the plants one foot apart. 



