Cornell University, 

 Ithaca, N. Y., January 15, 1895. 



The Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhany : 



Sir. — The most important fruit interest of western New York 

 is apple growing, and it is also the one wliieh has been subject to 

 the most disastrous failures during the past decade, J have at- 

 tempted to discover the causes of these failures, and the larger part 

 of last summer was spent in a careful examination of apple orchards 

 in various parts of the Fifth Judicial Department ; and experiments 

 in the fertilizing of orchards were inaugTirated. It was the original 

 intention to present a full account of these surveys, describing 

 specific cases both of failure and success in aj^ple-growing ; but the 

 account would be so voluminous that I forbear, and I now submit 

 the summary conclusions of the investigation. The statement is 

 proposed for publication under Section 87, Chapter 675, of the 

 Laws of 1894. A detailed sketch of spraying exj)eritnents of the 

 year will appear in Bulletin 85. A synoptical guide for the operator 

 will be found in the new Spray Calendar. 



L. H. BAILEY. 



