EXPERIMENT STATION llEPORIVS. 157 



required for a crop fully one-third by using arsenate of lead in place 

 of Paris green, but as it is necessary to keep the growing portions of 

 the plants covered with a fungicide to prevent the attack of various 

 diseases, this will make but little difference in actual practice except 

 that the efficiency of the fungicide will be greatly increased. 



Fcrtilkcrs. During the year we have been carrying on a large num- 

 ber of experiments with fertilizers upon apple and peach orchards, 

 vineyards and strawberry plantations. For the most part we have re- 

 lied upon various combinations of nitrate of soda, acid phosphate, dis- 

 solved bone and sulfate of potash. These have been applied to the 

 crops in such a way as to determine the needs of the soils and of the 

 particular crop. Some of the plots received a mixture containing com- 

 binations of three elements while others were given combinations of 

 two of the materials, and still others received the elements singly. 



While the results have varied somewhat with the different crops and 

 upon soils of different kinds and conditions, a mixture containing 100 

 to 150 pounds nitrate of soda, 200 to 300 pounds sulfate of potash 

 and 500 to 600 pounds of acid phosphate has given good results when 

 used at tlie rate of from 300 to 500 pounds per acre. For some crops, 

 such as potatoes, a considerable larger amount has been found profit- 

 able when the soil contains a fair amount of humus. Often with the 

 use of a liberal amount of stable manure the addition of sulfate of 

 potash and acid phosphate has so increased the crop as to give a very 

 profitable return for the fertilizer used. 



Cultural Methods. The experiments undertaken at the South Haven 

 Sub-station to show the comparative value of tillage and mulching for 

 orchards have been duplicated in a number of places. The experiments 

 are generally arranged in four groups, one plot being given clean cul- 

 ture, a second clean culture with a cover crop sown about the first of 

 August, a third plot heavih^ mulched with straw and a fourth plot has 

 a similar amount of stable manure added to the straw mulch. The 

 annual growth of the trees in each plot has been recorded and a record 

 is kept of the crop produced. 



CONSULTATIONS UPON HORTICULTURAL MATTERS. 



Letters are received regularh' regarding the best methods of handling 

 orchards and fruit plantations and various horticultural crops which 

 it is not possible to answer in a definite manner without knowing 

 something of the local conditions. As my work as State Inspector of 

 Orchards and Nurseries and in overseeing cooperative work frequently 

 takes me to different parts of the state, I have made it a practice 

 to arrange to inspect such premises when conditions seem to make it 

 desirable and have thus been able to offer more definite advice. In many 

 instances I have been able to locate troubles that were not suspected 

 by the owners which, of course, would not have been possible had 

 reliance been placed only upon letters received. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



During the year several thousand letters of inquiry, many of which 

 enclosed specimens for examination while others related to the adap- 

 tation of various parts of Michigan for fruit cullure, or asked for advice 



