142 STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



I am favoring the use of rye more as a cover crop because it makes a 

 large growth earh^ thereby enabhng you to plow your orchards early 

 before the moisture is all gone. 



We got just as good results from sulfate as we did from nitrate. Our 

 results from the use of potash are verj^ indefinite as practically for the 

 last three or four years it went out of sight and was impossible to get. 

 There seemes to be less mentioned in regard to the use of potash. When 

 you fertilize with nitrates they have the effect of producing heavy foliage. 

 I am more and more coming to use rye with a heavier dose of nitrates 

 in spring on some of the humus cover crops. That grows very early 

 so you can plow it under early. As to the over-dose of nitrates, I have 

 not yet had any bad results of the over-dose of nitrates and I am going 

 to keep on as long as I see good results. 



Chairman: If there are any questions along this line of Fertiliza- 

 tion this is the time for them. We can take a few minutes. There is 

 a Gentleman right here to answer your questions if you have any. 



Mr. Taft: I want to emphasize the application of these chemicals. 

 The growth of a tree is made early in the season and if you delay the 

 application of nitrate and phosphate until later you will fail to get the 

 effect on the growth of the trees. I would advise applying at least 

 three weeks before the trees blossom and you will then get more moisture 

 to make more effect on their growth. 



I might say a word regarding some experiments we have been putting 

 on the last year on cherry, plum and apple trees. That on the younger 

 trees that have been in cultivation in cover crops and very good class 

 of soil we fail to see any effect in the growth. The cover crops have been 

 improved by the use of chemicals and indirectly you have got to get 

 the results from that. The same is true in the sod land. In the sod 

 lands you have to use some mulch or manure around the roots of the 

 roots of the trees with either nitrate or sulfate, half pound to 5 pounds 

 and upward to larger bearing trees and with practically the same amount 

 of the acid phosphate. We also used with these potash but as yet failed 

 to get any results. 



Chairman: Any further questions along this line, if not we will take 

 up the next topic "Suggestions for Experimental Work in Horticulture" 

 by Mr. Low. 



Mr. Low: Mr. President, Members of the State Horticultural Society 

 I certainly feel unqualified to make any suggestions along this line for 

 two reasons: the first place, I am not a practical fruit grower because 

 I disposed of my two farms the latter part of Deceml^er and the only 

 reason that I did not refuse my good friend Mr. Farrand to do anything 

 along this line is because he never refuses. For that reason I did not 

 refuse. I feel unqualified to make very many suggestions albng this 

 particular line. 



One thing I notice around Farmers' Institutions and our meetings 

 where we have any College men particularly, and I do not refer to any 

 person in particular, they used to refer to this up here as the College. 

 "We do this up at the College." I like to think of this place as our 

 Experiment Station. I have a son at home who may attend college. 

 I like to think the College is for him, the Experiment Station is for my- 

 self and the rest of us who are thrashing our our every day problems. 

 That is just merely a suggestion. 



