FIB^Y-FIRST ANM AI. HEE»<JRT. 141 



3. We congratulate the Horticultural students on the splendid show- 

 on Exhibition at the Armor.y. 



4. We also wish to express our appreciation to Mr. Chas. J. Brand, 

 Manager of the American Fruit Products Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mr. 

 George L. Comlossy, Superintendent of the Perishable Products Serv- 

 ice, N. Y. Central Lines, for their splendid addresses to our growers. 

 Also, to our own local fruit growers, retiring Secretary Mr. George M. 

 Low, Robert Anderson, Carl Buskirk, W. L. Hamilton, H. E. Flory, E. E. 

 Slater and J. A. Barron who took part on the program. 



Chairman: We w'ill now hear from Mr. Robert Anderson as to his 

 experiences with Commercial Fertilizers pertaining to "Peaches." 



Members of the Horticultural Society: While there are lots of things 

 which might be mentioned in regard to use of Commercial Fertilizers 

 I shall tr}' to describe a few in hopes that more may be brought out in 

 later discussions. 



It seems useless to mention why we should use commercial fertilizers 

 as we all knoAv that with increased cost and scarcity of manure some waj- 

 must be solved for fertilizing our trees if they are to produce big crops 

 of fruit for in the majority of cases in the use of manure the rest of farm 

 suffers or rather it is a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. 



As a peach is a heavy feeder of nitrogen it usually responds to the use 

 of some nitrogenous fertilizer, in increased vigorous growth, richer foliage 

 and better setting of fruits w^hich is of more benefit in years of light 

 crops. 



We aim to supply from two to three pounds per tree of either nitrate of 

 Soda or Sulfate of Ammonia on trees over five years old and from one- 

 half to one and one-half pounds on trees under that age. There does 

 not seem to be any difference in results from either of the above forms 

 of nitrogen although it is claimed the sulfate does not prefer an acid soil. 

 Perhaps the continued use of sulfate may require an application of lime 

 to correct acidity produced. 



One of the main important things as regards to the use of nitrates is to 

 be sure they are appUed early in the season as soon as the leaf buds open 

 or show green. I have never seen as good results when the materials are 

 applied later in the season because it is early in the season before the 

 bacteria in the soil become active that you want the nitrogen applied 

 to give the trees a good start. 



The use of acid phosphate does not seem to give such quick or direct 

 results as the use of nitrate but indirect results through better and in- 

 creased grow^th of cover crops and more annual crops of fruit. We are 

 using from 300 to 400 pounds of acid phosphate per acre spread broad- 

 cast through the rows. Results from the use of potash are not very 

 definite as it was practically impossible to purchase it during the war 

 and the price was also prohil)itive. 



It seems there has been lots of mention made in regard to use of potash 

 for fruit trees as to the coloring of fruit. I have sometimes wondered 

 if there was not some delusion for the reason that in comparing results 

 of plots fertilized with nitrogen against those fertilized with potash. 

 The trees fertilized with nitrogen are usually later in maturing while those 

 fertilized with potash are more mature thereby having more color. I 

 have seen no direct benefits from the use of lime on an orchard except 

 indirectly through the cover crop. With the increased use of nitrates 



