Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-03-21
FRUIT GROWING AND
POUL TRY RAISING.
Useful Topics Discussed At The Farm
ers' Institute By Experts.

Hc fAluIudA L oAhASAo AASSAS~o>
its session in Town Hall last Thursday
morning. This being about the middle
of the sale season and sale that MORN
ing near town, the attendance was small.
In the absence of w. L. Amoss, direct
or of Farmers Institutes, E. Ingram Os-
valid, his assistant, was in charge. Mr..
Amoss is ill with gastritis at hospital
in Easton.
J. T. Campbell, practical farmer OF
Hartstown, Pa, gave talks on potato
culture and poultry raising. He advoca-
ted spraying the potato vines, early and
deep cultivation, the Use of large potatoes
for seed and the use of 2-horse cultiva-
tor that will cultivate two rows at time.
Prof. Watts spoke on fruit culture
from a commercial standpoint. Fruit
growers have not recognized as they
should the individuality of the tree. The
greatest care should be taken in the Sc
lection of stock. Only few nurseymen
r@cogniz. The Importance Of the individu-
atty of the tree. One nurseyman is now
growing pedigree trees, which are far
more profitable than ordinary trees de-
rived from stock whose ancestors are not
known. The orchardist should know
something about the history of the stock
they plant. Most nurseymen who get
their stock here and there pay little at
Ito this important feature. Farm
lastly learn the art of grating
trees. In this way they are able to get
young trees they know something about,
if they are good bearers, bear perfect
fruit, are hardy, etc. Fruit trees should
be planted in the Fall. Winter apples
are more profitable than summer apples.
The Ben Davis, while not a very good
apple, is a profitable apple to grow. 1t
is a good seller on most markets, but Is
not good eater. Some markets are
now demanding an apple of better
quality. The Northern Spy, while an
apple Of splendid quality, is not very
profitable because the trees do not begin
to bear until they are II Or 10 years Ole.
The York Imperial is an apple OF coed
quality, an early ripener, looks well and
hangs on the tree. This is profitable
apple to grow. The Albermarle Pippin,
a fne-A favored apple, shipped from Vir-
ginia to supply the table of the King of
England, is yellow at'ple, and yeliew
apples never sell as well as red apples.
Successful apple growers follow three
things-till, feed, prune and spray. The
largest trees have been produced by
mulching. Mulched trees produce the
largest apples. Tomatoes are one OF the
best crops that can be grown between
the trees when the latter are growing
Spring blowing in orchards should begin
early SO as not to njure the tender roots.
Crimson clover should be used as a cover
crop. In feeding trees the stunted ones
should have barnyard mature and the
healthy ones potash and similar mineral
elements. AS to pruning, authorities
differ. In New York one successful plum
grower trims his trees and keeps them
low. Another trims little and let's the
tree grow about IS nature intended i.
He has been just as successful as the
grower who trims. Dead limbs and limbs
that rub should come off. Air and sun
light must be admitted to the tree and,
therefore, pruning is necessary. Prof.
Watts at come length spoke of the vari-
GUS methods of pruning and he also OBJ
tanned the views or many of those pres
ent as to the methods they used in prun-
ing trees. Some cut off the branch quite
close to the limb, without making large
wound, while others did not trim Oft the
branch so close to the limb. The neces-
sity of spraying fruit trees was empha-
sized.
At the afternoon session the attendance
was much larger than at the morning
meeting. MIR. f. Ingram Oswald opened
the meeting with talk on the selection
of seed corn. This was followed by
talk by Mr.. B. D. Eiggs whose subject
was dairying.
Prof. r. l.. Watts, Johnstown, Pa,
talked on practical Plant Feeding.'
He advised the farmers to be saving with
their manure and explained how valuable
it was. He did not advocate discontinue
ing the use of commercial fertilizers, but
urged the liberal use of manure. He ad-
visod rulver;aing South Carolina rock and
sprinkling it on the manure in the stable,
which fixes the ammonia and the phos-
phoric acid in the rock is rendered avail
able and is worth as much as the rock
treated commercially, which sells for So
to S. ton in carload lots. He also ad
vocated the home mixing of fertilizers SO
as to get fertilizer that will be suitable
for the crop intended to be raised. Some
lands are rich in nitrogen. These lands
do not need fertilizer that is rich in nj
trogen. He also spoke of intensive farm
ing as it is followed in many parts OF the
country now. BY frequent fertilizing
larger and more frequent crops can be
raised. He advocated the planting of
cowpeas, crimson clover, alfalfa and
other leguminous plants, which store nj
trogen in the soil. Mulching the land in
winter to retain the fertility of the soil
was recommended.
J. T. Campbell, who is practical poul-
tryman, having TOO single-comb White
Leghorns on his farm, Hartstown, Pa,
spoke on CONSTRUCTION of the Poultry
House and Fixtures. He emphasized
- "a In