Thus, il appears that this effect of the Nitrate oi' Soda 

 had continued over to the second year. 



At present, all things considered, the best results 

 liave been obtained by using- a mixture made up as fol- 

 lows: 



Nitrate oi" Soda 200 {)ound.s 



Caustic Soda 25 i)ounds 



Water 200 ^^allons 



In preparing this solution the recjuired quantity of 

 water was placed in the spray tank and the agitator 

 started. AVhen the water was in motion, the required 

 weight of Nitrate of Soda was added gradually. Any 

 large Imnps were first broken up into pieces about the 

 size of hen's eggs. The caustic soda was then added, 

 and in about 15 minutes from the time the preparation 

 was begun the mixture was ready for applying. 



The trees were veiy thoroughly spra^'ed on all 

 sides, so that all of the small twigs were drenched. The 

 best results so far obtained have come from the spraj^- 

 ing applied about the 1st of February". Of course, 

 weather conditions must be taken into consideration. 

 A rain immediately following the application will wash 

 much of the material off of the trees, and it is probable 

 that at least a week of clear weather should follow the 

 spraying, in order to insure good results. 



In all of this work on sprajdng a solution of Nitrate 

 of Soda on the trees a considerable quantity fell to the 

 ground, and the question will be raised as to whether the 

 various effects observed have not been simply the re- 

 sult of the fertilizer action of the Nitrate on the soil. 

 About 7 gallons of the solution were used in spraying 

 each tree, and if the whole of this had gone on the ground 

 it would have amounted to about 7 pounds of Nitrate of 

 Soda per tree. The single tree in 1912 that had the 50 

 pounds of Nitrate applied to the soil, therefore, received 

 over seven times the total quantity applied to any single 

 sprayed tree. As has been previously stated, this single, 

 excessively fertilized tree bloomed no earlier than nor- 

 mal, produced no increased crop, and showed no 



