STATE POMOLOCICAL SOCIETY. 43 



on those trees. Let me say to you that the result was wonder- 

 ful. I was very much pleased with the result I received from 

 the use of those chemicals through the influence of Mr. Dawes. 



^Ir. Gilbert : How did you apply it ? 



]\Ir. DeCoster: About ten pounds to the tree. I threw it 

 right around the tree about as far as the limbs extended. Some 

 of those trees this year raised me fifteen to eighteen bushels of 

 apples. Some trees that I skipped I could see the difference in 

 the foliage, and not only could I see the difference in the foliage, 

 but the difference in the grain, in the grass, you could see as 

 far as you could look. I have considerable confidence in those 

 chemicals. 



Air. Libbey: You didn't cultivate that in any? 



Mr. DeCoster : Xo, it was where I couldn't get to it. 



Question : W^ould it or not be any benefit to cultivate 

 that in? 



Mr. DeCoster: It is always a good idea to let well enough 

 alone. 



Mr. Knowlton : I wish to say two or three words because 

 I want to bring out a point w4iich perhaps Prof. Munson may 

 not dwell upon in connection with this work in the use of this 

 special fertilizer. Before we went to Air. Pope's orchard, the 

 day before, I had the opportunity of visiting Mr. Atherton's 

 orchard at Hallowell. Some of you have been there and know 

 what it is. He very kindly showed me over his orchard and I 

 was very glad indeed of the opportunity to see it. I have since 

 learned that he has a crop of about i,6oo barrels of apples. 

 Well, it seemed to me as w^e went over the orchard that the trees 

 needed something, a large part of them, which they hadn't had 

 this year. The foliage was weak and the apples were very small 

 except in those sections of the orchard where he had used some 

 of his stable manures. From what Air. Atherton told me I don't 

 think he has been stingy in dressing his orchard, because year 

 after year he has been plowing in the old fashioned fertilizer — if 

 I may be permitted to call it so — of wood ashes and more or less 

 bone meal. He called my attention especially to the fact that 

 the trees had shed a large quantity of leaves during the year, 

 and I could see it myself because he pointed them out under the 

 trees. I was verv glad indeed to see this orchard because when 



