STATE POMOIvOGICAL S0CIB;TY. 135 



Inspectors have dwelt upon these points each year, but there 

 seems to be little inclination to carry them out on the part of 

 some of the growers. 



SPRAYING. 



It is an established fact that a certain amount of spraying 

 aids materially in the development of the young tree. Scale 

 insects sap the strength from the growing tissue in the main 

 limbs and tnmk ; aphis check the terminal growth and curl the 

 leaves by sucking the juices from them. Scab and fruit spot 

 caiuise the leaves to fall prematurely before they have thoroughly 

 completed their function and leaf-eating insects often defoliate 

 the trees leaving them v/ithout what we may term their lungs. 



No young tree can do what it is capable of, if these pests are 

 aillowed free rein and th'e extra expense incurred in their sup- 

 pression will be more than offset in the more rapid develop- 

 ment of the tree itself. 



GROWTH. 



Many trees have been driven too fast, resulting often in 

 winter-killing; others have not had sufficient food, resulting 

 often in canker, which they are too weak to resist. 



Where nitrogen has been used extensively, especially as 

 nitrate of soda, the M^ood has not sufficiently ripened in the fall 

 to withstand tlie severe coid during the winter and the trees 

 have killed back badly. 



Just how fast a tree shbuld grow must be judged mainly by 

 its appearance and not by a set fertilizer formula. Early forc- 

 ing hardly ever pays in the long rtm. In general the orchards 

 that are receiving cultivation, either through garden crops or 

 cover crops, are doing better than those in sod, even though the 

 latter are receiving applications of commercial fertilizer. 



The orchards ingrain suffered more than the others, especially 

 a year ago when the soil became so dry. Oats especially should 

 be planted elsewhere. 



As regards growth, I would say, prune out the branches that 

 are unnecessary to the framework and weaken it; spray so 

 that the tree may be healthy and capable of doing its 'best ; keep 



