98 



JOURNAL OF THE KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Cheal : I went through some experimental farms in Canada, and 

 I can bear out much that Mr. MacKinnon has said about their value to 

 cultivators in general. I think we may learn much from young Canada. 

 Ever since I came home I have advocated the desirability of having 

 experimental farms, or gardens where results could be carefully recorded, 

 and information given to all who desired it. I have been particularly 

 interested in the discussion, as showing not so much what we ought to do 

 as what we ought not to do. As to the grass under trees, it is not stated 

 whether it should be allowed to grow to its full extent, or whether it should 

 be mowed. This would have given us some idea as to the bad results of 

 grass compared with cultivated land. It strikes me it might have been due 

 to the extraordinary radiation from grass compared with cultivated land. 

 I do not know whether there are any here particularly acquainted with 

 the results of radiation. I have in my own experiments found between 

 cultivated land and grass land a difference, not only in the evening but 

 through the night, of from 6 to 8 and 9 degrees. I think if that is the 

 case it plainly shows that it is not for the want of manure, but because 

 one is warmer than the other. The difference of six degrees on the 

 surface of the ground must be an immense advantage to those trees that 

 are not covered with grass. I think, therefore, it would have been most 

 important if Mr. Pickering could have made some experiments in this 

 respect, as they would have shown more clearly why the trees which he 

 has been kind enough to show us did so badly under grass. 



Mr. Pickering : You will find all the data. Eleven degrees was the 

 maximum difference. 



Mr. Cecil Hoopee : What should be the size of these experimental 

 orchards ? It would often be of great assistance, at any rate to small 

 farmers, to have experimental demonstrations in spraying for different 

 pests. 



Mr. Martin (Toddington Orchard Co., Glos.) : We are experimenting 

 daily, but I maintain that we are at present like gleaners, picking up 

 every straw of information from our neighbours, and we do not get any- 

 thing like enough. When these experimental stations are started I hope 

 there will be one in Gloucestershire. 



The Chairman : Several members would like to hear about your 

 experiments in attacking and defeating frosts ? 



Mr. Martin : Our experiments are not yet complete. As usual, we 

 must go to America. In California, where they have frosts which kill not 

 only the crops but the trees, they place 100 specially constructed lamps to 

 the acre. Each lamp holds a gallon of oil and burns four hours, and one- 

 third of the lamps are lighted at a time. I experimented on one acre this 

 year when I found there was a 9-degrees frost. I raised the temperature 



contrary to the generally accepted views on this subject, that he wishes to offer the 

 following suggestions as an explanation of these very unusual results. Mr. George 

 Bunyard says : "The Pears were on the Quince stock (Apples on the Paradise stock 

 would be under similar conditions). These two stocks have the power of forming 

 roots at the nodes, or eyes on their stems, and possibly, as in Mr. Pickering's case, 

 could exist, and ilonrish ; but had the Pears been on the free stock, and the Apples 

 on the crab stock, the probability is that they would have died, as these are budded 

 one foot from the soil, and have not the power that the Quince and Paradise stocks 

 have of reproducing roots. Therefore it is best to advise planters to adhere to the 

 recognised system."— Editor. 



