TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. iiy 



ance between all four, and who does not expect spraying to 

 replace manure, tillage or pruning, or vice versa."' 



I have tried in this paper to give you the results of a 

 rather careful reading of what has been done of late years 

 in the way of accurate experiment and observation of the 

 eft'ects of mineral fertilizers, tillage, cover-crops, sod and sod 

 mulch on the thrift and production of orchards. I have not 

 noted everything, of course, but enough, I think, to touch on 

 all the important points. 



You practical orchardists can apply these facts to your 

 own special conditions better than I. 



But in closing I may hazard some expression of my own 

 views on the matter, not claiming any special weight for 

 them : 



Success in fertilizing orchards cannot be got by hard and 

 fast rules which apply to all cases. There is no receipt book 

 for it. As a sensible dairyman knows that balanced rations 

 and proper choice oi feeds are important but cannot take th'e 

 place of watchfulness and study of his own cows, so, while 

 the orchardist may profit much by the suggestion and experi- 

 ence of others, yet his own land, his own trees, his own re- 

 sources make his case different from any other and call for 

 thought and study in management and very likely for changes 

 in handHng his orchard to suit the varying seasons. 



The cost of fertihzers, the differences in cost and eflfi- 

 ciency of farm help, as well as the scarcity of help, are things 

 which often determine the profit of this or that treatment. 

 What is best for the trees or yields the largest crops of fruit 

 may be unwise practice because, under the orchardist's special 

 circumstances it is not as profitable as another treatment 

 which yields less fruit, to be sure, but of greatly reduced cost. 

 On the other hand, present profit may be made by permanent 

 injury to the orchard and loss of future profits. 



The first and most important element of growth for 

 which we are responsible is water. Piut though it overshad- 

 ows all the rest in importance, it is generally too little re- 

 garded. The spring and summer rains will not supply enough 



