86 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



used. To show the effect of the fertihzers check rows were 

 omitted when the fertihzers were appHed. You could see the 

 difference in the color of the foliage. One plot was dressed 

 with barnyard manure and it seemed to me the chemicals showed 

 better results, especially those containing nitrogen. The 

 expense jn the different experiments was nearly the same. A 

 portion of the orchard had been pastured with hogs and wher- 

 ever they got in their work good results were apparent both in 

 foliage and fruit. 



It appeared to me in the orchards I visited that the continued 

 use of commercial fertilizers, sown or spread upon the grass 

 ground will cause the grass to become root-bound and hard and 

 you do not get the results sought. Cultivation aids the chemi- 

 cals so that better results appear than when omitted, and when 

 cultivation without the application of any fertilizer has been 

 employed both trees and fruit have been improved. 



Solon Chase who raises from $250 to $750 worth of Northern 

 Spies every year uses no commercial fertilizer but uses the plow 

 and the harrow. He applies what home made dressing he 

 makes on the farm and raises corn and potatoes among his trees. 

 His trees were healthy and growing well. 



Mr. Chas. S. Phinney of Standish is making a great success 

 in growing fruit on commercial fertilizers. He uses the Bowker 

 fruit fertilizer and sows at the rate of 500 pounds to the acre. 

 He supplements this with cultivation. His trees look well and 

 show good care. 



Mr. A. S. Ricker, who is one of the largest producers of fruit 

 in the State, believes in cultivation. He applies all the barn 

 manures of the farm and supplements it with commercial ferti- 

 lizers of some kind. 



The result of my observation is that the orchardists who are 

 getting the best results are fertilizing and cultivating their 

 orchards. Some are doing it in one way and some in another. 

 The neglected orchards in the State show what the absence of 

 fertilizers and cultivation is doing and the contrast is so strong 

 that one may read the lesson every day as he drives about the 

 country. Many are profiting from these lessons, but the slug- 

 gard learns slowly and sometimes turns about indifferent to all 

 he sees. The wise man,, the thoughtful observer is not so and 

 therein comes the great value of the several orchard meetings 

 we have held in the State. 



