Winter Meeting. 295 



of great importance; (3) potash may be quite generally present 

 in considerable quantity, but methods of conserving this and of 

 rendering it available should be constantly borne in mind; (4) the 

 soils in this section of the country (generally) may be deficient 

 in phosphorus, and the greatest care should be taken to conserve 

 this element and to look after a future supply; (5) magnesia seems 

 to be usually present to a sufficient extent in the soils of this region, 

 but, where lime is in excess, the application of magnesia for agri- 

 cultural purposes should be considered v^orthy of attention. 



DICUSSION ON PLANT FOODS. 



Secretary Goodman — What is the value of unslacked lime? We 

 can get car loads for the loading of it. 



Prof. Duggar — It has much value, but not as much as fresh 

 lime. If used to excess, it might do some injury. Two tons is the 

 amount generally used in the black soils of the south. In Missouri 

 we have not yet determined just how much is the best to use. The 

 air slacked is valuable, but not immediately, and therefore, should 

 be applied some time before you expect results. 



Secretary Goodman — What is" the value per ton? 



Prof. Duggar — I am not prepared to answer that definitely. 



Secretary Goodman — We have used ten to fifteen cars. We 

 drive through the orchard and throw it out by the shovelful in the 

 tops of the trees — one big scoopful in each tree. 



Question — How can we get phosphoric acid the cheapest? 



Prof. Duggar — From phosphoric rock. 



C. C. Bell — I want to ask a question which is indirectly con- 

 cerned in this discussion. How shall we protect trees from the 

 ravages of mice? They have done much damage in my orchard 

 (shows specimen). This tree was two years old when the meet- 

 ing was at Farmington. Mr. Von Schrenk said then I had better 

 pull and burn my trees. Had two thousand of them, and over half 

 are still here. Those which died didn't die from this disease, which 

 he called root gall. I want to enter a protest against making state- 

 ments which they are not sure of. Now these trees, I cut the root 

 gall off of them and planted them, and the trees are living yet, 

 though the professor said to burn all of them. But it's the mice 

 that are troubling me. We are expending a great deal of money 

 at the Station, but I want information which will do us good. I 

 am a kicker when things are wrong, and want to know how to 

 poison these mice. The scientific men should find a wash that will 

 kill the mice and not injure the tree. I want the mouse killed if he 



