NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 21 1 



We ought to look after that and replenish the condition of 

 the soil, put it in condition necessary for growth of the tree, 

 if that is what is required. So then, first get the soil right, 

 get the water out of the soil, so that the air can get into it, 

 get the right mechanical conditions, and then we can get the 

 right chemical conditions. 



I believe in mulches. I do not believe that we as farmers 

 keep the soil shaded enough. Mr. Lyman said here this 

 forenoon, that bacterial action takes place in the soil that is 

 shaded. Many of you, no doubt, have been to the southern 

 states. I spent three years in North Carolina. The soil there 

 is destitute of vegetable matter. Any ordinary rain will wash 

 great gullies in it. What we want to look after is to getting 

 this vegetable matter into the soil and keeping the soil light 

 and loose. If we do that, we will not have these great 

 changes in our plant production, in my opinion. I asked 

 Professor Gulley, when I came to the Connecticut Agricul- 

 tural College, where his black raspberries were. I said to 

 him one day that I did not see where his plantation of black 

 raspberries was. He replied that he did not have any. I said, 

 "Why not?" "Can't grow them here. We are so badly 

 troubled with Anthracnose it kills all the plants." In look- 

 ing around the premises of the Connecticut Agricultural Col- 

 lege I found three localities where black-cap raspberries were 

 growing. It was not out in the field where they were culti- 

 vatd. Last year I picked some splendid berries off of these 

 bushes. Those I found the first season that I was there. 

 Now I know of three places where these are growing under 

 practically the same conditions. I know of one plant, and I 

 will defy you to find a spot of anthracnose on it. It is due 

 to too much cultivation. That is the trouble. It will kill the 

 raspberry. 



Now as to mulches. I said that I believed in mulches. We 

 can secure mulches in various ways. Those of you who have 

 the stock sufficient, of course, can get a mulch from your 

 grain. Even buckwheat straw makes a good mulch for fruit. 



