lU 



STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



gathered after each rain and analyzed. The contents of the three boxes 

 were weighed and analyzed, and the results of the three kinds of exposure 

 are given in the following table: The results of simply keeping the 

 manure, or conversion of "long" into "short" manure are exhibited in 

 the changes in the contents of the box under shelter. 



Results of tceathering stable manure for five months, June 29 to November 23,1894. 



* Gain. 



Conceding the great value of stable manure, we must yet face the fact 

 that the supply falls short of the demand, and the fruitgrower must look 

 for materials from other quarters to make up the deficiency. The cheapest 

 and best supply for the mineral elements of manures, for vegetable growth, 

 is wood ashes, which furnish potash, lime, magnesia, and phosphate, and 

 in the proportions in which they existed in the leading component plants, 

 woody fibre. No words can express too strongly the value of wood ashes to 

 the fruitgrower. Potash and phosphates are especially concerned in caus- 

 ing vigorous and healthy growth, since the ash of feeble and stunted plants 

 is deficient in potash and phosphoric acid, while strong plants have a large 

 amount of phosphate of potash. These chemicals make firm, hard wood, 

 short joints, and early ripening of twigs in autumn, while excess of nitrog- 

 enous materials causes a sappy growth, and leaves the terminal buds in 

 autumn soft and immature, fit for winter-killing. Wood ashes in the 

 proper proportion aid in the formation of trees of good constitution and 

 hardy growth. They may not prevent yellows and fire-blight, but they 

 place the trees in the best condition for resisting these insidious diseases. 

 Leached ashes differ mainly in the loss of a good part of the potash con- 

 tained in fresh ashes, but they are of great and permanent value for the 

 orchard. Coal ashes have very little value as manure. 



If ashes are not available for supply of potash, we must turn to com- 

 mercial salts, such as the German potash salts. Here are specimens — the 

 sulphate and the muriate of potash. These contain from 40 to 45 per cent, 

 of real potash. The sulphate is preferred to the muriate, These salts can 

 be applied in doses from 200 to 400 pounds per acre, when potash is 

 needed. These salts are very soluble and liable to be washed away in 

 drainage water. It is best to apply them when the plant is taking on 

 active growth in the spring, so as to be appropriated by the plant. 



For an extra supply of phosphate we use bones, broken and divided 

 or ground into bone meal, powdered phosphate rock from South Carolina 

 or Florida, or the various superphosphates in the form of commercial fer- 

 tilizers, of which many excellent kinds are now in the market. The law 

 of 1885, requiring an analysis and license for their sale, has driven some 



