38 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



give up its valuable effect mainly to the first crop. This was 

 nothing against the value of a manure so easily applied ; it was 

 rather a recommendation that one might get full returns in one 

 year, rather than wait five years, just as a certain sum payable in 

 one year was worth more to-day than if it could not be realized 

 except by obtaining a part in each year for five years. Where the 

 expense or trouble of application constituted a large proportion of 

 the cost of manuring laud, it was better policy to have it last longer. 

 He had used the article known as Mapes' Superphosphate with very 

 little if any benefit, and careful analyses have shown that of late 

 this has deteriorated very much ; what was sold last year being 

 really worth only a quarter as much as that which was first put 

 into market under the same name. None of the articles known by 

 this title in commerce are simply superphosphate of lime, but rather 

 composts, containing more or less of this substance mixed with 

 ordinary phosphate of lime, (which is less soluble,) together with 

 sulphate and carbonate of lime, and usually some Peruvian guano, 

 or ammonia in some form, perhaps dried blood, and sometimes a 

 considerable margin of inert matter. 



The report was adopted. 



Mr. Cargill, for committee on the causes and remedies of decay 

 in fruit trees, (the tenth topic,) reported as follows : 



" The subject is one that might be extended back a great number 

 of years ; but we suppose it was not intended to go farther back 

 than 1855. 



Much has been said and written, and many theories advanced 

 concerning the decay of fruit trees since that time. Some of these 

 theories have been derided by those who have given no better ones, 

 and they in turn have been made the subjects of derision. If we 

 succeed in giving a new theory, let no one deride it until he is 

 willing to present one of his own. We ask no one to subscribe to 

 our views until they give them, at least, more than a passing 

 thought. We do not say that we can state accurately the cause 

 or causes that have caused the trees to decay ; but we will venture 

 to give our opinion. 



Your committee are of opinion that tlie ' prominent cause of 

 the decay of our fruit trees' in the year 1855, was the severe drouth 

 which commenced in 1854. The earth being much parclied, there 

 was not a sufficient quantity of moisture imparted to the roots to 

 supply the trunk with sufficient sap, to be thrown out to the 

 branches ; the consequences were, that the branches were feeble 



