The record-union., 1898-03-19

If it is found on examination that
there is plenty Of moisture and that
fertilization is necessary, the next
question is--What fertilizer is best? It
is conceded that in many cases rank
stable manure is not desirable or. il
used, should be used very sparingly
He wished that those present who had
had experience would give the insti-
tute the benefit of it.
Some manures are too stimulating
Nitrogen is one of these, and must be
used carefully. 1t has been found
that too liberal use of nitrate of soda
! produced puffy oranges When nj
| trogen is applied to grain, it produces
/ a larger growth of straw at the ex-
/ pense of the grain. Potash is not
/ stimulating and grapes Will take a
great deal of il. Most of the Califor-
MIA soils have plenty of potash, but
/ some become exhausted and need re-
neWing. There should be local ey-
pertinent stations, under the supervis-
/ ion of committees of the clubs or as
/ sociations, who arc careful and ac-
curate men and Will pay close atten-
ton TO results. The requirements of
/ locality should be carefully studied in
/ this way. lie hoped to hear from those
! present
/ James Rutter said he was one of the
/ first grape growers in the county. and
/ had considerable experience on one
| portion Of the vineyard he planted he
1 put on liberal coat of wood ashes
when It was new, and received a return
of three tons year. Supervisor Cur
! It's prepared to plant a vinevard by
!
land and the consequence was that
when he planted his vineyard it was
! several years before he got any crons.
and did not do so until the excess of
ammonia had been eliminated. So. too
the late Joshua Bailey planted vine
yard on a Knoll strongly fertilized by
sheep, with the same result.
Z. T. French said he had used barn
yard manure for years and noticed that
it had materially increased the wood
growth, but he had not noticed any
! deterioration of the crops His TWEEN
| ty-year-old vines thus treated are the
best producing ones on his place. He
put on the manure in the winter and
plowed it under in the spring
j. Davies asked as to the best way
of applying barnyard manure, and Pro
/ VI l.
! French's method was an excellent one.
T. Z. Davies said he had a patch of
grapes that he had manured, and for
the past two years the amount OF
grapes was large, but they would not
color.
Mr.. Booth said he thought it all de-
pended on the soil and it was necessary
to first study the nature of the soil and
nn LODI
Mr. Cannon asked as to the best
depth to cultivate the soil, and Profess
sor Wickson answered four to six
inches. He also said. in answer to a
question by Mr.. Cannon, that he
thought we We're using too little water
and that practice was tending to a
| freer use of it.
| George Hack said that the last year
| before Supervisor Curtis irrigated his
vineyard, he sold $500 worth of grapes
/ from it. The next year he irrigated
and sold his crop for 81 800. In regard
! to manure. where it is used and the
straw grows rank, it will not retain
moisture we'll. He had noticed this
where the manure piles had lain for
| some time. He had some land that
yielded very poorly until he had given
| which he received good crops.
COW PEAS.
Mr.. Cannon asked P. H Murphy as
| to the results he got from fertilizing
with cCw peas, and the latter said that
! he had experimental with them, hav-
| ing procured a few and planted them
about three feet apart, because a young
man WhC worked for him had told him
of their immense yield and value. They
| formed perfect mat that covered the
ground, though there was no rain, and
| there seemed to be very little moisture
| in the ground. The beets planted at the
same time were not a success. He had
never used q kind of feed that the
stock would eat up SO clean. They are
excellent for hogs and good for cattle,
| but as for a fertilizer, he did not see
how any one could plow them under, as
| the vines are six or eight 1eet long.
| They will produce more to the acre
than anything else he had ever planted
and he would advise any who had IL
small spot of land to spare to plant il
with COW peas.
He had a patch of blackberries that
he dug up when they Were twelve OF
! fifteen years old, and planted the
ground to grapes. He had manured
the blackberries every year and found
! that the vines on that land were bet
ter than any other in the vineyard. Ma
nure, moisture and cultivation, he
thought, We're necessary for, success
Such land as grows d heavy crop OF
filaree, however, did not need manure
as the filaree when plowed under would
be sufficient in the way of manure.
THE QUESTION BOX.
The question box was opened and
the question as to whether the tap root
or the deep root nourished the tree
most was answered by Professor Wick
son. who said that both nourished it
but in different ways. In regard &c
the benefits to a community from the
! formation of farmers club he said
that it would be a decided benefit il
there was no similar organization in
the neighborhood Several questions or
other subjects were asked and answer
ed. Dry soil or gypsum are better tc
mix with pen manure than wood ashes
or any other caustic, which will SET
free the ammonia and result in it's loss
There was a difference of opinion as
to the best time to spray for codlir
moth Gypsum although not plant
food is an excellent substance to SET
free plant foods in some soils. The
cause of Tokay grapes not eolorine
we'll was thought to be on account OF
weather.
The institute then adjourned until IL
a. m to-day.
Throat troubles. To allay the irrfta-
ton that induces coughing use Brown s
Bronchial Troches." A simple and safe
remedy.