40 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



that the application I made last year was a benefit to the trees 

 this season and they yielded almost double the fruit that the trees 

 did in the middle row where no fertilizers were ever applied. 

 But it did not produce as much fruit by the fourteen barrels as 

 the row did next to it where chemicals were used both seasons. 

 It caused the trees to blossom and set as much fruit as those that 

 received treatment both seasons, but there was a gradual decline 

 as the season advanced in the color of the foliage, the size of the 

 fruit and the thrift of the grass around the trees. 



I am told that Dr. Fisher recommends a light application every 

 year, and my experience teaches me that the same theory is 

 advisable. I also experimented further with chemicals and 

 manure on the trees in the middle row where no fertilizers had 

 been applied. On the first six trees I used the Fisher formula 

 with the same result as last year. Late last fall I spread around 

 the next six trees out a little farther than the limbs extended 

 one-third of a cord of good strong stable manure. Early last 

 spring I took a hoe and pounded the lumps up fine and evened 

 it around the trees, hoeing it in lightly so that it would be quickly 

 incorporated with the soil, but strange to say, I could not see 

 that the trees derived any benefit from the treatment this season. 

 But I shall look for better results next year. We cannot go 

 back on manure if we would, for its reputation is too well estab- 

 lished for that. I used the formula on a portion of the remain- 

 ing trees in the row, and those on which no fertilizer was applied 

 of any sort looked sickly and bore but little fruit. 



I have read and heard a great deal about the benefit of potash 

 to fruit trees, how it will give color and flavor to the fruit, and 

 as I am naturally fond of new things and like to be humbugged 

 a little as it improves one's judgment, thus puttmg him on his 

 guard against larger impositions, but I will not stand too much 

 of it. I purchased a bag of sulphate of potash and went through 

 my orchard promiscuously and applied it at the rate of from five 

 to ten pounds to the tree, selecting the varieties that I was par- 

 ticularly interested to have well colored, as you know that color 

 stands high in a scale of points and the market. I do not believe 

 that the best expert on pomology with a compound microscope 

 could detect the least difference where it was used, either in the 

 tree or the color of the fruit. But I hope for better results from 



