TREATMENT FOR OLD ORCHARDS. 67 



the last of March or the first of April, just when other work waits 

 settled weather. 



By the time the tree is pruned its normal condition should be in 

 evidence as a result of the treatment given, and more radical 

 steps can be taken to protect from insect pests and diseases. What 

 nature asks is that we cooperate. Very little can be accomplished 

 by forcing. In fact, lasting injury is almost certain to follow the 

 attempt to spray for either pests or diseases when the tree is in a 

 sub-normal condition. If it has suffered because of neglect the 

 fruit certainly cannot be normal in quality, and this suggests a 

 study of the problem of fertilization to furnish the elements neces- 

 sary for the perfecting of fruit. It may be questioned today 

 whether acid phosphate is the best or proper source of phosphoric 

 acid supply. In some experiments, to remove the w r oody spots 

 in Northern Spys and brown rot in Baldwins, basic slag meal gave 

 results not obtained from acid phosphate and, while the problem 

 is not solved, the line of practice for another year is certainly 

 indicated. The fertilizer to be used on these old trees this year 

 will carry 3 per cent of nitrogen, partly from nitrate of soda and 

 the remainder from bone meal, 11 of phosphoric acid from basic 

 slag and bone meal, and 10 of potash from sulphate of potash. 

 Fifteen pounds should be spread under these full grown trees early 

 in May and raked in, but not within six feet of the trunks. Later 

 all grass will be cut and used as a mulch. The formula for this 

 fertilizer is nitrate of soda 300, bone meal, fine, 300, basic slag meal 

 1000, and sulphate potash 400 lbs. 



Time alone can determine to what extent quality and freedom 

 from disease can be controlled by feeding, but I submit that here 

 is an open field for experimentation full of suggestion and rich 

 in promise. There must be a soil condition favorable to tree and 

 fruit development in the highest degree, else failure will result. 

 The robber system which for years has prevailed, taking all we 

 could and giving little in return, has produced lop-sided conditions 

 in trees and soils. Our first duty is to seek to restore the balance, 

 else success will be impossible. If this calls for study and investi- 

 gation, so much the better for the man. 



Dealing with different soil conditions in different localities it is 

 not possible to establish any definite rule of action. The objective 



