FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 105 



as much as specific scientific knowledge. All this is well illustrated in 

 the replies w^hich are now given to questions respecting fertilizers. There 

 is no one fertilizer which is best for all plants, nor even best for the 

 same plant on all soils or for the same plant in different years of its life. 

 A man must determine for himself what fertilizers are needed by actual 

 experimenting on his land. The teacher will tell him how to experiment 

 and he will guide him in such a way that the experimenter can arrive 

 at results several years sooner than he might without such guidance. 

 It is now known that the fundamental thing in the growing of fruits, as 

 in anything else, is tillage of the soil. Fertilizing is at least only sec- 

 ondary. One can never till well, however, unless he knows the reasons 

 for tilling, for every soil and every season will vary the requirements. 

 The speaker explained the importance of mixed planting to insure pol- 

 lenation; outlined some of the principles of pruning, and discussed the 

 principles which underlie the selection of varieties. In the selection of 

 varieties every man must be his own guide. He must first determine 

 what he wants his fruits for. If he wants them for market, for canning, 

 for distant shipping, for export, these facts should have much to do in 

 determining the choice. The lists of varieties are, at the best, only 

 suggestions. Each man must work it out for himself. 



LESSONS OF THE YEAR IN SUGAR PRODUCTION. 



DK. H. W. WILEY, WASHINGTON, D. C. 

 Reported by Michigan Sugar Beet. 



The subject upon which I am to speak this afternoon is one inter- 

 esting to agriculturists of Michigan to a great extent. I was entirely 

 ignorant of the subject upon which I w^as to speak until after I had seen 

 the program, being in this respect like George Francis Train, who, 

 appearing before an audience for the purpose of lecturing, suggested 

 that he would speak from any subject they might propose. I have, 

 however, the permission to say a few. words on another subject just 

 as important as the one assigned me, and this I will do at the close of 

 the present talk. 



In treating this subject I will confine what I have to say to my own 

 observations. It was my privilege to spend a large part of last summer 

 in the state of California, and I wish to say to you this afternoon a few 

 words relative to what has been accomplished in this important in- 

 dustry out there. The conditions of cultivation in California are, to 

 say the least, unique; and are occasioned largely from the fact of the 

 very slight rainfall peculiar to that country. Beets grown in California 

 are grown without irrigation, depending upon the moisture that is in 

 the soil and air rather than that which may be supplied. As I said, the 

 conditions here are unique, as compared with those of other localities; 

 and this is due to the fact that the cultivation of the surface is so care- 

 fully conducted. This, together with the fact that the snow melting in 

 the mountains supplies water which percolates through the soil, thus 

 supplying it to a large extent with moisture which in other localities 

 is applied in a different manner. This "permits the beets to receive the 

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