PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 45 



tion of timber belts during the past few years, it seems to me necessary 

 that we become better educated in the science of horticulture if we would 

 become successful fruitgrowers. Taking the above facts into consideration, 

 how important it is that we cultivate, cherish, and protect these delicious 

 fruits which have been placed in our charge and for our use, to refine our 

 tastes, increase our happiness, and' to better prepare us (morally, physi- 

 cally, and intellectually) for the important duties of life. 



Mr. L. W. Wilton said he would not cultiavte an apple orchard after 

 it was ten years old. "One hundred of my trees 1 have cultivated, using 

 a rotation of crops, while the rest have been mulched and supplied with 

 ashes at the rate of four to five bushels per tree per year. I am well satis- 

 fied that it is detrimental to trees to cultivate them after the tenth year. 

 The 100 trees gave me but little fruit, while the others have not missed a 

 crop in twelve years. 



QUESTIONS AJND EEPOETS. 



THE QUESTION-BOX. 



Are coal ashes of use as a fertilizer, or to soften clay soil 9 



Prof. L. R. Taft: They are of no use as fertilizer, if they are all of 

 ■coal and no wood; they contain neither potash, nitrogen, nor phosphoric 

 acid; they do lighten, make porous, clay soils. 



Mr. T. C. Pierce: At a meeting a few years ago, a professor said 

 coal ashes were of no value; but one year ago last spring I put corn and 

 oats into a box containing only coal ashes, and both matured. 



Prof. Taft: There may have been some wood ashes mixed in, or 

 the roots may have passed through the box and into the ground. 



Mr. Pierce was sure that neither of these things were the fact, but said 

 the product was not normal. 



A voice: Would you take home ashes which were two thirds coal and 

 one third wood? 



Prof. Taft: Yes, I would; and they are worth going after two or 

 three miles. 



