131 



" Phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen are the three constituents 

 which above all others must be put back into the soil if we are to pre- 

 serve its fertility. Plants of certain orders require more of one or 

 other of these than plants of other orders. Some soils are specially rich 

 or poor in one or more of the materials, and consequently in the 

 rational mode of application of fertilizers much intelligence and patience 

 must be exercised. 



That the leaves of the apple trees draw a large amount of food 

 from the soil annually, has been shown. This must be replaced in 

 excess for the vigourous growth of the tree. The leaves of the tree 

 play no unimportant part — respiration and digestion are their two chief 

 functions — which, if they do not perform well, the tree cannot live and 

 bring to perfection its fruit. Therefore, when we feed the leaves we 

 are indirectly feeding the fruit. 



The results of this work seem to point in the direction of mineral 

 fertilizers, and specially of potash, as being more particularly required 

 for the growth of the leaves, and, therefore, for the vigorous develop- 

 ment of the tree, including an abundant crop of fruit. 



A heavy dressing of wood ashes (which may be procured in many 

 parts of Canada at a very low price) or of kainit or other form of potash 

 is, therefore, to be recommended for orchards. 



The value of the leaves composted — a process to be advised as more 

 economical than burning — is also well established by the data afforded 

 by this work." 



:o:- 



LIBPvARIAN'S PvEPOET 1889-90. 



To the Council of the Ottawa Field Naturalists 1 Club : — 



Gentlemen, — I have the honour to report that, as soon as possible 

 after taking office as your librarian, I collected the books and periodicals 

 forming the library of the Club, as well as the back numbers of the 

 Club publications, from those of my predecessors who still had them 

 in their keeping. Through the kindness of the Custodian of the 

 Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society, I have been able to find storage 

 room for these in the lecture room of the society. This has enabled 

 •me, to a certain extent, to classify and arrange ^them, and to prepare in 



