1 88 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



we are subject to these protracted drouths, to stop culti- 

 vation too early. We have had a very dry season for the 

 last three years and are very likely to have a continuation 

 of them. 



Now as to this matter of fertilization. Someone asked 

 me a question about that. I would like to talk a little 

 further on this subject. We have got all kinds and con- 

 ditions of soil on our place. I consider that most any kind 

 of old soil is good enough for peaches, provided you haven't 

 anything better, and provided further, that the drainage 

 is right. I have succeeded on nothing but a gravelly knoll. 

 I have a piece of land in mind on which I never had seen 

 anything of value grow. The peach trees came along very 

 well. The color was all right, in fact, you can get 

 good color most any time with the right kind of fertiliza- 

 tion and proper cultivation. I believe peaches can be 

 grown on most any kind of soil. Do not be mislead by the 

 statement that you must have a sandy soil to get good 

 color. You can get it anywhere, if you only treat your 

 trees right. There is a wrong notion, I think, about putting 

 in a lot of fertilizer for the succeeding year's benefit. Put 

 on your fertilizer each year, and have it where the tree can 

 get hold of it at the right time. If you see an orchard that 

 is not coming up to the scratch, that is not right, give it 

 something that will take hold the next time, and look out 

 for a balanced ration when you put it on. You must be 

 absolutely certain that the essential elements are there, and 

 that they are available. I cannot emphasize that too much, 

 because it has been sadly neglected. That, to my mind, is 

 one of the most important points. It is just as important 

 to make up a proper ration for your peach trees as it is to 

 make up a ration for your cows, or for anything else that 

 you grow on your farm. There is no place where good 

 judgment comes into play to any better advantage than 

 that. It is the easiest thing in the world to knock out a 

 herd of cows by too much protein. You have got to know 



