136 STATS POMOLOGICAIv SOCIETY. 



Prof. MuNSON : I do not consider this practice best in New 

 England. I think it has not been tried here to any extent. The 

 method has been followed in the South with very good results. 

 We need more surface from which roots shall start out, here in 

 New England, so I favor leaving the young roots. 



Mr. Merrill: Mr. Phinney has had practical experience in 

 reclaiming old orchards and I should like to hear from him. 



Mr. Phinney: I bought in the spring of 1891 an old 

 orchard of about two hundred trees which were set out about 

 twenty-five years ago. Of these about a hundred and twenty- 

 five were what you might call fair trees, the rest were past 

 redemption. The previous owners of the orchard had never 

 got more than forty barrels of apples a year from them and 

 thought that no more could be got. That spring of 1891, I 

 pruned all the trees, ploughed up the ground, and planted a crop 

 of potatoes, using fertilizer liberally. The next year I sold four 

 hundred dollars' worth of apples from this orchard. I have cul- 

 tivated the orchard every year, except one; that year I let the 

 grass grow, then turned the sod under. I have used a commer- 

 cial fertilizer every year and pruned moderately. My fertilizer 

 is made up of about 3% ammonia, 8-10% phosphoric acid, 

 10-12% potash in the form of muriate. I give to every tree 10 

 to 20 pounds of fertilizer every other year, depending, of course, 

 on the size of the tree. In 1898 I planted a crop of potatoes in 

 among the trees, not for the potatoes I might get, but to culti- 

 vate the trees. In 1899 I did not plough, but cultivated with a 

 spring-tooth harrow, about ten times, I should think There 

 has never been a year but what I have got a fair crop, this year 

 I believe I got two hundred and seventy-four barrels. 



A Member: How did you apply your fertilizer and what 

 is the cost ? 



Mr. Phinney: I sow my fertilizer broadcast. It costs 

 about a cent and four-fifths a pound. Or $28 a ton. 



A Member : Do you spray your trees ? 



Mr. Phinney: Yes, I have sprayed every year with Bor- 

 deaux mixture and Paris green and have had no trouble from 

 insects. I do not believe there is the least need of being troubled 

 by the caterpillar. 



Mr. Merrill: How long did it take you to get your trees 

 into shape by pruning? 



