institute; papers. 115 



other agricultural lines, Nature seems to be waiting to help the 

 man who is willing to help himself by improving the opportuni- 

 ties offered. 



Some years ago the State Pomological Society held a field 

 meeting on the farm of S. H. Dawes in Harrison. The year 

 before Mr. Dawes had applied to some of his trees a fertilizer 

 new to the State. The results were so favorable that he was glad 

 of this opportunity of having his neighbors and others see the 

 trees for themselves, so the fruit growers in large numbers were 

 his guests for the day. It was a pleasant surprise to those in 

 attendance. To make sure in regard to results, Mr. Dawes had 

 left check rows through his orchard without the fertilizer, and 

 as far as the eye could reach the difference was apparent. The 

 foliage was a darker green and on closer examination the trees 

 were making an extra growth. As we were talking over the 

 situation Hon. Z. A. Gilbert, whose life has been spent largely 

 among the apple trees of the State, said to the writer : "Do ap- 

 pearances deceive us, or must we admit the effects of this fer- 

 tilizer? The scientific men have been teaching us to use phos- 

 phoric acid and potash and have fought shy of the nitrogenous 

 fertilizers. It is clear to my mind that Dawes' trees take to 

 the nitrogenous fertilizers instead." 



So it was from that meeting conclusively taught that J\Iaine 

 fruit trees needed more nitrogen, and many others have applied 

 this same fertilizer with good results. One orchard near the 

 writer's home has received an annual dressing every year since. 

 His trees have grown and borne fruit every year. In 1909 the 

 owner and his wife spent the winter in California, and this year 

 he says he has money enough from his orchard to go there 

 again. It may be that more potash and prosphoric acid are 

 needed in that orchard, but he is about the only man in town 

 who has had fruit every year. Although this formula has been 

 in print several times and some of the fertilizer manufacturers 

 have it all mixed, the formula is here given, believing that there 

 are some who would be glad to have it. 



