PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 13 



while this is not so likely to be the result from mineral fertilizers. 

 Leached ashes are good for celery or any other crop; but unleached, 50 to 

 100 bushels per acre, are better. Of leached ashes double this quantity 

 may be used. The results from use of ground bone will vary by seasons, 

 as to moisture. More water is necessary to dissolve the bone than any 

 other sort of fertilizer. If trees are making a good growth in July, I 

 would not then apply barnyard manure, but might use the potash salts 

 and bone, which sustain growth and harden the wood. 



L. D. Watkins of Manchester: This theory of double fertilization is 

 right. Trees usually stop growing about the middle of summer and lay 

 up stores for the next season. From these supplies are formed the fruit 

 buds, and from them come the first growth of the next season. 



Prof. Taft : I would make the second application in June or July. For 

 strawberries I would use well-composted barnyard manure, 20 to 40 loads 

 per acre, then 50 bushels of ashes or less, or other fertilizer. Muriate of 

 potash costs $41.50 i^er ton in XewYork. Sulphate of potash is preferable 

 for vegetables. In fruit the muriate makes a less rank growth and acts as 

 a fungicide. 



J. G. Eamsdell of Traverse City: I have used ashes extensively, on 

 all fruits, with great success, but cannot speak definitely of the quantity 

 used per acre. In my vicinity ashes are plentiful while barn-yard manure 

 is lacking. 



Prof. Taft: Application of 100 bushels of ashes per acre, every two 

 years, is perfectly safe and profitable. 



Passing the topic, " New Yarieties," the meeting proceeded to consider 

 that of 



GLUTTED MARKETS, 



the secretary reading first the appended letter from Mr. Walter Phillips of 

 Grand Haven: 



" First, we notice one of the main causes is the placing on our markets 

 of too much fruit at any one time. Second, by not placing on the market 

 fruit honestly packed and in an attractive package. Third, by shipping 

 to market unripe fruit. The latter is especially the case in shipping grapes 

 that are not matured, and will soon cause a dull market in this line of 

 fruit. Fourth, by placing on the market large amounts of inferior fruit as 

 regards quality and general ajipearance. 



" Now, as a remedy for glutted markets, I would recommend, first, that 

 we grow fruits of a better quality than the average fruitgrower is at pres- 

 ent doing. Second, we should not only have our fruit trees and vines in a 

 vigorous, healthy, bearing condition, but we should so thoroughly trim out 

 and evenly distribute the fruit over the tree and vine that the fruit pro- 

 duced will be not only of good quality, but also of good size and of first- 

 class general appearance. Such fruit as this will sell in large quantities 

 in any of our leading markets without creating any glut. 



"Again, I would recommend that in planting fruits, of whatever kind, 

 either the apj)le, peach, pear, plum, or grape, that we plant a succession of 

 fruits as regards their rijDening and coming into the market. In this way 

 we may largely lengthen out the time that we are putting our products on 

 the market, and this alone, if generally observed by all fruitgrowers 

 tributary to our markets, would have a strong tendency against gluts. 



