736 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



used almost, if not altogether, as successfully in the eastern part 

 of the country as on the Pacific Coast, notwithstanding the adverse 

 conditions of heavy, driving rains during the season when applica- 

 tions should bo made. An application of this mixture carefully 

 applied not only effectually controls the scale louse, but proves one 

 of the best and most valuable fungicides. It can be applied without 

 any fear of damage to tree or fruit buds. 



FEEDING. 



While this is done by some in a systematic way, the great mass of 

 fruit trees are not receiving any special attention as to the feeding. 

 Often the orchard is to produce crops in the farm rotation, with only 

 about as much plant food as the rest of the farm receives. This is 

 better than no feeding, for the trees will appropriate to themselves 

 at least a portion. Too often orchards get about the same attention 

 as forest trees. 



Many of the correspondents say that stable manure has proven 

 the most satisfactory. This may be due to the fact, that by the use 

 of it both humus and plant food are given to the soil. There may be 

 soils in Pennsylvania so rich in plant food that fertilizing would be 

 wasteful, but they are unquestionably rare. Heavy crops of fruit 

 are a severe drain upon the fertility of the soil. Full crops are the 

 ones that make fruit growing profitable, and unless the fertility is 

 maintained exhaustion will follow and the result will be unproduc- 

 tive orchards, and of course unprofitable. The soil may be likened 

 to a manufacturing plant. In each case raw material is used, with 

 labor added, to turn out the finished product. Give to the soil such 

 plant food as is required for the development of the plant or tree 

 and the fruit and the feeding question is solved. 



In this connection, it should be said that soil rich in all the ele- 

 ments of plant food, but deficient in humus or neglected as to cul- 

 tivation will not bring the desired results. To supply humus and 

 fertility, nothing excels the leguminous plants. 



TILLAGE. 



As to tillage there is a diversity of opinion. About all are agreed 

 that the orchard should be cultivated up to bearing age, and peach 

 orchards all the time. Some assert that an apple orchard in sod 

 will do as well, if not better, than when cultivated. This is likely 

 true if the matter grown on the ground is left to decay and supply 

 humus. Many are agreed that larger fruit can be grown in culti- 

 vated orchards, but question the keeping qualities. 



It is asserted that if a sufficient quantity of mulch or cover-mater- 

 ial were available it would be jireferable to cultivation for apple 

 orchards. 



