PROCEEDINGS OP THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 197 



manufactured into starches and sugars and carried back to feed the tree. 

 And I say again, Mr. Berwick, that you are wise in part of the year 

 cultivating as deep as horse flesh can cultivate, at least eight inches, 

 not deeper, and I find this, that it is mighty hard for me to reach even 

 eight inches. If you went into my orchards where I said I put it in 

 eight inches and took out your rule and put it down you would very 

 likely say, "How is it, Mr. Mills?" It is pretty hard to get men to 

 sweat their horses. You have got to be there all the time. Therefore, 

 don't misunderstand me. I cultivate deep at the proper season; I do 

 not at the improper season, as I understand it. 



MR. BERWICK. Then you encourage a temporary root system to 

 supply a temporary need, and destroy that system later on ? 



MR. MILLS. If a man faints with heart trouble you will apply 

 quickly the strongest possible stimulants to revive the action of the 

 heart, and after it is revived you will apply that thing which will give 

 him constant returning strength. I say again, that when the 

 atmosphere is cold and the soil is warm only on the surface, warm 

 enough to encourage activities, fertilizer becoming available, then I do 

 not try to destroy the activities that are there working for my benefit 

 through the tree. Now, I may be wrong. Am I wrong ? 



PROFESSOR WICKSON. I think you are right for an evergreen 

 tree. 



MR. ROEDING. I would like to know from Mr. Mills what cover 

 crop he used prior to using the clover? 



MR. MILLS. In our locality I find that the vicia has given me the 

 best result. I find that the Vicia sativa has given me the best results 

 of any of the vicias, and I would encourage in every possible way the 

 growth of the seed up here in the north, so that we may get it at a 

 reasonable price. 



MR. ROEDING. Your soil is of a heavy nature. 



MR. MILLS. The great majority of our soil is rather light. It 

 grows magnificently. 



MR. ROEDING. How many pounds do you seed to the acre ? 



MR. MILLS. Fifty pounds this year. 



MR. ROEDING. What is the method of seeding? 



MR. MILLS. The regular seed drill. 



MR. ROEDING. In seeding with the drill do you arrange the seed 

 in such a way that you can get furrows through the rows so you can 

 irrigate ? 



MR. MILLS. I hang my furrowers to the axle of my drill. The drill 

 works through the orchard, drops the seed in the soil five inches deep, 

 then the furrowers come right along and make the furrow. 



MR. ROEDING. The plow is attached to the drill? 



