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Horticultural Meeting

Horticultural Meeting image
Parent Issue
Day
6
Month
February
Year
1894
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Improved implements was the leading topic for discussion at the February meeting last Saturday afternoon. Secretary Ganzhorn said that our methods of cultivating orchards and fruit plantations hitherto had been largely experimental. To enable the cultivation to be economically done the right method of planting of different sorts of fruit together was not approved as the cultivator could not then be adapted to the needs of each. To grow each kind by itself might require more space, but in commercial fruit growing it was generally the most economical rnethod. For cultivating peach and apple orchards he had found the two-horse Deering Cultivator a good implement if followed by a spring tooth harrow to pulverize and level the soil. VVhenever possible, fruit should be planted so as to be cultivated both ways. Grapes should be set twelve feet each way and trained to overhead wires as the Caywood or tèlegraph system so as to admit the passage of the horse and cultivator beneath. Raspberries he would plant live or six feet apart each way. Mr. Crozier approved the planting of raspberries and blackbernes so as to be cultivated in both directions, but would plant a little closer in one direction, and discontinue cross-cultivation late in the season after growth has far advanced. Mr. Baur has a Planet, Jr., cultivator, having twelve or thirteen teeth for cultivating strawberries, and found it well adapted to the purpose. President Bird recommended the Rochesler Gang plow for cultivating orchards. It is made in two styles one especially for orchard use ; with the wheels set ia out of the way of the trees. It is made to carry two, three or four plows. The one he used carried three plows and was bought three years ago for $25, but could probably be had for much less now. For cultivating grapes he had found nothing so good as the "wagon grape hoe," which did good clean work and could be easily guided in any direction. Mr. Farnum called attention to the "spading harrow" made at Brockport, N. Y., by the same company. He said he was agent for this implement and one could take his statement for what it was worth. It is made similar to the disk harrow except that the solid revolving disk is replaced by a series of narrow curved plates which revolve in tha same manner and dig up the soil much better. Mr. Buel stated that he used one of these harrows last season and found it the best tooi for the purpose he had ever used. Another implement somewhat similar is made in Connecticut. Mr. J. J. Parshall has one of these for use in his peach orchard and finds it very convenient for cultivating close underthe trees. Fruit packages and outside markets were next briefly discussed. Mr. Almand reported that he would be able to furnish berry and grapè baskets from St. Joseph the coming season at reduced prices. President Bird considered the Diamond baskets from Saginaw poorly made but said that the grape baskets would answer if to be used but once. The Dexter grape basket was very convenient, as nine could be packed into a bushei crate for shipment. Secretary Ganzhorn spoke a good word for the Dexter grape basket, which he understood was to be reduced somewhat in price the coming season. He added that it made a very convenient package in which to ship soft peaches.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News