70 American Horticultural Society. 



reganKd a- a public (mumiiv. Thirfy years ago the Mohawk rivt-r 

 was almost a navigable stivam ; now fears are seriously entertained 

 of its drying up. This is due to the great destruction of the forests. 

 The state authorities have at last begun to realize the danger, and 

 have wisely set aj)art a large tract in the AdirondaeUs to be re- 

 served in forests. 



Mr. Blowers, of Caiil'oniia — Mineral elements in water are es- 

 sential to its worth. Alfallii, iirst supportetl by the water, brings 

 to the surface, through the absorbing functions of its roots, these 

 beneficial mineral elements, and thus our soils, fairly dealt with, 

 continue to grow more and more fertile. 



Mr. Wilco.v, of California — The Santa Clara valley soil is almost 

 inexhaustible. In sinking artesian wells in this valley but very 

 little change is noticeable in the quality of the deposits in going to 

 a depth of five hundred feet or more. Five crops of alfalfa may 

 be taken from our soil, annually. Eighty-five bushels of wheat 

 have been harvested from a single acre in this valley. Fruit-grow- 

 ing is now known to be so much more profitable that wheat farm- 

 ing, even with such crops possible, has been in a measure abandoned. 

 I have produced one thousand pounds of onion seed from two acres 

 of ground. 



Mr. Wheeler, of California — Scarcely one-tenth of our state is 

 fertilized or irrigated. Orchards and vineyards often require irri- 

 gation until they are fairly started, \yhen it may be dispensed with. 

 As for fertilizers, they are so little needed and so little used that I 

 was forced to abandon the traffic in them, which I once followed. 

 Californians do not regard fertilizers as necessary in these rich 

 valleys. 



Mr. Munson, of Texas — Nature teaches the best lesson respecting 

 fertilization. The trees flourish for centuries without artificial help. 

 Certain plants flourish without connection with the soil. The great 

 redwood trees have comparatively small roots. An open or porous 

 soil is generally preferable. Water percolates through such soils, 

 leaving its valuable properties to be aj)propriated by the plant. 

 Water finds its way into tile-drains through openings formed in clay 

 soils. Such soils become porous after having been tile-drained. By 

 the passage of water through the soil in this way, certain alkaline 



