THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 21 



Mr. Munson; Have you seen any good results? Our soil is a heavy soil. 

 Have you ever tried it on heavy soil? 



Mr. Hale: On all soils. I never saw a place where nitrate of soda would 

 not make trees grow. The trouble is, it often grows them too big and luxuri- 

 ous. It grows them almost too fast and should only be applied early in 

 the season. 



Mr. Greening: We made a practical test. Took a number of rows, 

 using nitrate of soda and working it in. On some of the rows we did not use 

 it, and we couldn't see the difference. The trees were just as big as ever. 

 There was a good crop of trees. 



Mr. Hale: You had fine trees anyway? 



Mr. Greening: Yes. How much would you use? 



Mr. Hale : Our nursery trees we have used 100 pounds at an application, 

 and given sometimes three or four applications in a coarse growing season; 

 but 200 to 400 pounds is an, enormous application per acre. 



Q. You follow it up several times, do you? 



Mr. Hale: Oh, yes. You don't want to put it all on at once. 



Q. Do you make this application all over the ground? 



Mr. Hale: Just immediately around the tree the first year. After the 

 first year, broadcast, on everything. The first year, around the tree. 



"AFTER," IN THE FROZEN DISTRICT. 



(SUPT. F. A. WILKEN, SOUTH HAVEN EXPERIMENT STATION.) 



From the title of the subject you might think this is a talk on Alaska 

 or some place like that, but it is only a crude talk on the case of freeze-out 

 we got along the lake shore last year. The freeze came the 10th of October, 

 and it has temporarily hit us pretty hard. It has killed most of the peach 

 trees and Japanese plums and pears, especially pears and apples, especially 

 in the low places where they made a strong growth; and it has killed back 

 most of the small fruits. As a result of that, our farms there are being 

 left, and the transportation companies have shortened their accommoda- 

 tions and cut their seasons short. But outside of the temporary embarrass- 

 ment, I think the ultimate result of this freeze will be good. 



The freeze itself has of course given us lessons. There is never anything 

 that happens that does not give a lesson ; and it has impressed upon us some 

 important things that have been spoken on already. The main thing it 

 impressed upon us was the importance of location for peach orchards. The 

 only orchards that were left untouched by the freeze were those in the most 

 desirable locations, and they were on the northwest slope, and generally 

 were the highest point between them and the lake. Where there has been 

 an elevation higher than any have been the trees were more seriously damaged. 



Another thing, the importance of fertilizers, was impressed upon us by 

 the freeze. Trees that did not receive enough fertilizer of course were 

 killed, where their stronger brothers were left untouched. Very often we 

 saw in the same neighborhood, in almost the same conditions, with just 

 better care in the way of fertilizing — one orchard would be in good condi- 

 tion and the other would be killed. The stronger trees could stand the 

 effect of the freeze better. Too many, it is known that when they do fertilize, 



