24(5 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



from the farm upon which the new School of Practical 

 Agriculture and Horticulture has been located at Briarcliff 

 Manor, N. Y. A peach orchard was planted in May, 1900, 

 in the poorest land upon the farm. I was informed by the 

 "oldest inhabitants" that nothing could be grown upon 

 that land with any profit whatever. The trees were set and 

 cut back to 18 inches in height ; the most thorough tillage 

 was given up to the middle of July ; 3 pounds of nitrate of 

 soda, ground bone and muriate of potash, in equal parts, 

 were applied per tree, at time of setting. At the last culti- 

 vation of the trees, 12 pounds of crimson clover were sown 

 and covered lightly. The trees made a very strong growth, 

 and the same year developed fruit buds. The second year, 

 thirteen months from the time the trees were set, they bore 

 from 50 to 139 peaches. The most of this fruit was taken 

 oft* and not allowed to mature. There are thousands of 

 acres of poor land in many sections of our country that 

 could be made highly productive and valuable when given 

 the right treatment. 



There has been a very steady decline in the condition of 

 apple orchards and in the quality of fruit, and this in the 

 face of an increasing demand for good apples in both our 

 home and foreign markets. This arises from two causes, — 

 the first from the general neglect and want of better care of 

 our old standard varieties of apples, and the second from the 

 want of greater effort to produce new varieties better suited 

 to present conditions. There is need of the production of 

 more apples of finer quality. AVhat is it in an apple that 

 gives the most satisfaction in its use ? It is first of all high 

 flavor, juiciness, fine grain and tender flesh. If these qual- 

 ities can be accompanied by beautiful and attractive color, 

 it adds always to the value of the variety ; but attractive 

 color and appearance alone will not always satisfy the con- 

 sumer. For a time a handsome apple will go first and most 

 readily ; but if appearance is its only good quality, when 

 the fact is learned there will be less satisfaction in using 

 this fruit, the fact will be recognized that the fruit does not 

 taste so well as it used to, and there will follow a less con- 

 sumption and demand for this most desirable fruit. 



