264 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



SAUGATUCK AKD GANGES POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



OFFICERS FOR ISSO. 



President — Kev. J. F. Taylor. 



Vice Presidents — Alexander Hamilton, Levi Loomis, Y. H. Banelli, Wm. 

 Corner, P. Purely, N. W. Lewis. 

 Secretary — Byron Markham. 

 2'reasurer — J. S. Owen. 

 Directors — J. P. Leland, S. K. Lewis, A. Hamilton, H. L. House. 



Felruary Meetinrj. 



At the February meeting of the society Mr. William Corner read the follow 

 ing essay on 



LIME, SALT AND ASHES FOR PEACH TREES. 



I am aware that the subject we have before us is of vital importance to every 

 fruit-grower in the land, and, strange as it may seem, it has been under con- 

 sideration for at least one hundred years. It is unfortunate that you should 

 have chosen one who has so little experience with lime, salt and ashes for the 

 peach tree, but what little I have had I will try to relate. 



First, Lime I consider one of the very best things for any fungous growth, 

 or disease produced by fungous plants. 



For instance in the years 1856,-7-8, our wheat was badly affected with smut. 

 The remedy was to put the seed on the barn floor and wet it with water and 

 salt, and then dry it with strong lime. I never saw any wheat sown in 

 England without the same process, and it has been effectual in destroying 

 smut there and here. 



Now in regard to fruit trees I have never used it on the peach tree, but 

 wlien I was about sixteen years of age the man with whom I was living went to 

 the city and left me working in the garden. I noticed an apple tree in the 

 center of it that was covered with moss. The tree was about four inclies in 

 diameter but not making any growth. I thought I would try an experiment 

 upon it. I made a pretty heavy dose of lime and soil, mixed and spread it on 

 the ground about as far out as the limbs extended, spaded it in and said 

 nothing but watched the effect. The first year the moss was gone and the 

 tree made some growth. The second year tlie foliage looked rich, and it made 

 a heavy growth, with some fine fruit. One day the owner and myself were 

 walking through the garden when he exclaimed, ''What has happened to this 

 tree?" When I told what I had done. I proposed to use it the coming summer 

 on my peach trees. And now as to the mode of using it. I would make up 

 my mind how much I would put to each tree. Then put enough for four 

 trees in one pile, cover it up with the soil and let it slake, then spread it under 

 the trees as far as the limbs extend and cultivate or work in with the spring 

 drag ; never plow in. Now in regard to using it in the foliage ; I would get as 

 good lime as I could find, slake it, put it in a pail, and with a small tin scoop 



