1 86 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



tect it from frost. By leaving the bulk of the land un- 

 cultivated close to a big tree, I think it saves it from freez- 

 ing. To illustrate, I might bring up this incident to em- 

 phasize this one point. I had a block of trees, about six- 

 teen hundred Elbertas. I had not done well enough by 

 them. They did not grow as they should for two or three 

 years. I wanted to have them catch up with others I had. 

 I thought I would make them come up to them. The next 

 year they blossomed out in good shape, but within a week 

 or two the trees began to die all through that orchard. It 

 was one of the worst looking orchards you ever saw. 

 About three-quarters of the trees lived, however. I attri- 

 buted that to cultivating around those trees close to the 

 trunks. 



Q. How late in the season? 



Mr. Lyman : We did not cultivate them late. The 

 growth was superb, but it is the root, or the protection 

 of the root that it is necessary to guard. 



Q. Did you ever try refuse salt for the fertilization 

 of peaches? 



Mr. Lyman : I would not have any confidence in it. 



A Member: It is one of the best things you could 

 use. 



Mr. Lyman: There is one thing about it. I want 

 to bring up a point here, and that is the matter of borers. 

 For the first fifteen years or so I did not do much hunting 

 for borers, but now we have to hunt for them every year. 



O. What did you do, wash the trees when they were 

 young ? 



Mr. Lyman : I do not believe that is of much use. 

 The fly will get around just the same. 



A Member: If you put the wash on strong, it will 

 work first rate. You have got to do it twice. You ought 

 to do it alons: a little late in the season. 



