The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-03-17
ONE GRANGE FARMER
Science and Practice In Farming.
Methods Described.
An Interview With MIR. George T. Pow.
oil Conserving Newer Methods ei
Farming Employed at His Orchard
Farm .. Ghent, N. Y.
ny }. W. DARRow.

A striking Illustration OF the value
OF scientific knowledge aud its appll.
cation IN to be found al orchard farm,
a tract Of close to 800 acres. owned
by George T. Powell, member Of
Chatham IN, " grange. which lies
In the foothills OF the Berkshircs aud
In the valley Of the Hudson IN a
recent visit 20 this farm the following
facts We're obtained In general In.
teryiew IN connection with extended
observations OF the scientific methods
that are inaugurated and adopted
what. in your opinion. 10 the greatest
present need In farmingY" Mr., Powell
was asked
More knowledge of the business and it,
right application There is altogether TOO
limited knowledge OF the soil on the part
OF those who are dependent for support
from It In some OF the older parts of the
world after more than 1900 years OF eul-
ture and production the soil is Increasing
In Its Yield OF crops. while IN our country
In less than 100 years u IN run out or fails
10 support those who have been living on
OF II. when many leave their farms and
go TO the village or city to tind employ
ment II is these farms that can now be
bought at prices varying from $40 10 s2h
an acre that look so attractive 20 the city
man with a family who finds the present
high cost OF living. with no prospective
advance in salary. oppressive and dis.
couraging"
what have been the steps taken IN the
improvement OF the soil OF Orchard farm
More than twenty years ago we began
to plant the present orchards OF apple
trees and have since continued until we
now have 100 acres covered with aboui
10000 trees. We soon discovered that the
trees were not making satisfactory growth
and that there was too much fruit OF In.
ferior quality. A systematic study of the
soil was made, and II was believed TO be
poor IN Its physical condition, was den
cient In vegetable matter humus, ana
steps were taken to change this condi.
ton. We began by giving the soil more
tillage and by sowing crimson clover,
which variety was selected because after
cuItlvating the soil up 20 July | crimson
clover, being an annual plant would
make a much more rapid growth the bal.
ance OF the season than the common red
clover. The first year the effort 10 get
the clover to grow was a failure. but the
next year the seed was sown again, and
the growth, while better. was far from
satisfactory About this time a chemist
in Germany was working upon methods
for producing artificial bacteria 10 intro
ducs into the soil for tie greater nourlsh.
ment OF clover and other legumnous
plants that are capable OF taking the
free nitrogen OF the atmosphere and by
the aid OF the soil bacteria build up
nodules freely upon their roots which IN |
their decomposition enrich the soil with |
the most important but most costly plant |
food element to purchase. The United |
States department took up the inyestiga- |
ton and sent out the manufactured bac. |
terra In cultures that could be diluted |
with which the seed In moIstened and the |
soil thereby inoculated with the same TO |
aid In getting a stronger and more rapid |
growth Of clover This principle has been
extensively used, and as the result with
much more thorough tillage an important
essential. the soil has become SO thor
oughy filled with these essential bacteria |
that everywhere the most luxuriant
growth Of clover IL now obtained. This
Ia plowed In annually. and the soil has
been steadily regaining Its lost humus
and Ia now producing the most luxurious
growth OF trees that can be desired and
fruit that equals In size that OF the irrl-
gated sections OF the west. We consider
that In twelve years OF clover culture and
Iillage the soil has been improved 100 per
cent.
what fertilizer do you use and in what
according TO the ages OF the trees we
ire applying from 1--WE pounds 10 forty
i've pounds OF nitrate OF soda Thomas
phosphate powder tbasic slag) and sui
ohate OF potash per tree In rows extend
ng across an entire field, with n check
'ow unfertilized for study and compari-
ION. All other conditions-the clover TIL.
lge, spraying and pruning-are fle sa me.
"Can the eastern farmers successfully
compete with the west In the raising OF
arm crops live stock and frutf'
"Yes. II they will grow alfalfa and raise
heir own grain and keep well bred cat
lie. sheep and hogs. II will pay to raise
lorses for eastern farmers nj their pres
mt high value for good horses. AZ Or
hard farm we are growing alfalfa with
,reat success. We clean the land first
Il weeds, lime and fertilize the soil In
'cuiate the seed and get pure seed. all OF
which costs thought and effort 10 do. but
| pays. The west has made great strides
n apple culture and has steadily taken
OF the fancy apple trade IN our
astern markets. At Orchard farm we
ave for years been propagating trees for
pecial selection OF sclons and buds from
ypical trees OF known quality for pro
uction. We are Just coming into re-
uits which are most promising. We are
reducing Jonathan apples as large and
me. with equally beautiful color. as those
rom Oregon and other varieties equally
arge az those OF the irrigated states of
he west. With thorough tiliage ana clo-
er culture for cover crops TO be plowed
D we can grow beautiful fruit that no
rought VIII seriously injurc, There nre
housands OF acres In New York and New
.ngiand that can be- bought for so TO SO
n acre that viii produce as fine looking
nd better apples than are grown on the
md IN the west costing $500 an acre for ,
nimproyed and s2.coa 10 f20o9 for BEARING
Have you carried on any experiments
18th view to improving color of sp- {
iesY' ,
I'VE are experimenting with basic flag.
elieving that we can bring out higher
oler IN rnplcs from It's use. Practically