76 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



than anything else. We have cut eight or ten trees that 

 looked as if they had the yellows, because we thought it was 

 better to remove them rather than run any risk. 



Question. What quantity of muriate of potash do you use ? 



Prof. Clark. We put on about a pound of muriate of pot- 

 ash and two pounds of ground bone, and the next spring we 

 put on as much more — from a pound to two pounds of muri- 

 ate of potash to a tree. 



Question. Do you scatter that around broadcast ? 



Prof. Clark. Yes, sir ; simply putting your fertilizer Hip 

 close to the body of the tree does not amount to anything. 

 Throw it out as far as the limbs go, so that it will cover the 

 whole ground. The roots will find it, except right up close to 

 the trunk. I think growing trees in grass is a poor plan. I 

 don't think grass and fruit trees grow well together. 



Mr. Rogers. In regard to the amount of bone-black to be 

 applied, it is put down in the Massachusetts State Report at 

 150 pounds per acre ; at the Houghton Experiment Farm, it 

 is put down at 450 pounds, which is the true quantity ? 



Prof. Clark. The more you put on, of course, the better. 

 You want to give the tree plenty of food to start it vigorously, 

 so that the food will be at hand and it can get all it needs. 

 Give a good, liberal dressing. I don't suppose you will weigh 

 it out ; you can vary a pound one way or the other, and it 

 will not matter much ; but give the tree a good supply of food 

 and it will look after it itself. If you do not head the tree 

 back I think you will not get so good a result as you will by 

 heading back, because when you do not head back you have 

 hundreds, perhaps thousands, of buds to start ; whereas, if you 

 cut off four-fifths you have only one-fifth left, and they have 

 all the roots to grow from and will make a vigorous growth, 

 when, if you do not head the tree back, it makes only a very 

 slow growth. 



Mr. Hale. Is it not cheaper to prevent them by the use 

 of a wash than to dig them out ? 



Prof. Clark. I doubt it. The insect will lay its egg in 



