The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-02-15
Meeting Of the Hooking valley HOrti-
cultural soelety.
HoRrlcULrURAL Rooms,
IANcAsrpp pa, IN Icc

I 49, Az, w.
Society met pursuant to adjourn
mont-Prcsident Kinkead in tho Chat,
The minutes of the preceding meet
ing were read and approved.
The committee on Library reporte,
l. progress in the matter of purchasing
books, &c.
Messrs. Daniel Delong and Davit
Hubor were proposed and duly oloctec
members.
BY consent (beforo taking ap tn,
regular question for discussion) Mr.
Black referred to the action of the So
cicty in adopting list Of apples TO b
recommended for general culture, and
asked an expression of views of mem
bers in regard to the Northern Spy, al
his experience with it had not satisfied
him of its claim to place on that list
He thought it well worthy of trial
but that it had hardly been sufficient
ly tested with us to justify its recon.
mendation for general planting-the
chief objection to it was its lateness in
coming into bearing.
A discussion ensued in which Messrs.
Fetters, Black, Denis, Clark, Young,
Boving, Work, Snider, Lewis and the
President participated, the preponder-
ance of views being in favor of retain.
ing the Northern Spy on the list-and
on the motion of Mr.. Clark to recon
slider the whole question of the adop-
tion OF the list recommended, and make
it the special order at future meeting,
the same was taken and lost by q de
cisive vote.
The regular question "Orchard Cul-
turo' was then taken up for discus
sion.
Mr.. Young-Had been engaged for
twcnty years in the business to some
extent Was satisfied that a proper
cultivation Of the orchard requ Tres
moro labor than any other part of the
farm. Good fruit in abundance is not
obtainabc without thorough system
of cultivation, the application of ma
nurcs, &c. Read from writings of Mr..
Pell, an eminent cultivator, on method
of ensuring an apple crop every year.
Thought his plan worthy of imitation
indeed essential in this locality.
Mr.. Black expressed similar views
had observed great difference in
his own experience, in favor of well
cultivated orchard, compared with one
receiving little or no culture.
Mr.. Snidor-W Would like Information
as TO the utility of raising crops among
the trees.
Mr. Black-Would not pursue that
course without taking care to return
TO the soil, in the shape Of manure,
as much of it's necessary clements as
might be taken from it in crops. g.
Mr.. Denis--Naturc's process is mul
ching as is shown by observation Ct
the growth Of forests. The ground
should be kept in q loose condition.
He did not favor clover, as it drow
food from the depths Of the soil, leav.
ing it on tho surface, The ground
could be impoverished by too much
stirring and cultivation without crop.
ping, as much as by growing light
crops.
Mr.. Lewis controverted the last
statement Of Mr. bringing for
ward authorities upon the philosophy
OF growing trees in support ofh views
remarked upon the diverse effects up
on soils of the cultivation of differont
crops, and the benefit derived from
plowing among the trees, in the break.
ing OF portion of the roots, thus
causing an increase in the spungioles,
the direct agents in taking up the nu.
tritlous properties of the soil.
Mr.. Clark advocated the cultivation
every year of somo light hoed crop
instanced the pra2tice in the extensive
orchard of the State Reform Farm, &
its success-the whole body of the
ground should be broken and loosen.
ed 10 moderate depth will not do to
break roots near tho trees without sup.
plying with food--thought it more do
sirablc to have statements of actual
methods of cultivation employed by
experienced cutivalors, and their sue.
cess or failure, than theories suggested
by the philosophy of vegetable
growth,
Mr.. Denis---Rcpoatcd exposure to
the sun and atmosphere has tendon.
cy to destroy the organic matter in
soils. Tho apple treO is remarkable
for the great amount Of soda it con-
tains, which must be artificially sup.
piled where wanting in the soil.
Mr., Fetters--Cultivated his young
orchard every year in somo light crop
was very favorable to clover-had
improved his soil by means OF this
crop. Docs not NOW it-aIows it to
remain on tho ground as a mulch, fin.
ally plowing it under. He believed also
in the beneficial effects Of potatoes and
othcrrootcrops, beans. crops which
require thor breaking and looscning
OF the soil-would not however, advise
plowing more than four inches deep,