70 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



plant-food out of the soil as it would to produce a dollar's 

 worth of apples. 



Fruit farmers have been using too much commercial 

 fertilizer and not enough of tillage in their soil to bring 

 out best results. More frequent and thorough plowing and 

 constant stirring of the soil, with tools most suitable to the 

 purpose, will produce a vigorous tree and plant, and a 

 beauty and quality of fruit not to be obtained in any other 

 way at so small a cost. 



The tendency of the times is toward fruit of greater 

 beauty and higher quality, and yet fruit growers must not 

 look for any higher prices in the future. Other productions 

 of the farm may increase slightly in value during the next 

 few years, but fruit, having always sold higher in propor- 

 tion to cost, is not likely to reap the benefit of any pres- 

 ent or prospective reaction. If there are any increased 

 profits in the business they must come through more in- 

 telligent and cheaper production, rather than from higher 

 prices. 



Insect pests and fungous diseases continue to increase, 

 but the scientific knowledge given out by the experiment 

 stations and the practical work of the more progressive 

 growers indicate that with right spraying, intelligently and 

 frequently applied, there will be little trouble in keeping 

 ahead of most of these pests. Since the repeal of the 

 peach yellows law, the disease has continued to spread in 

 every section of the state, especially in the smaller orchards 

 and private grounds, as there is no known remedy for the 

 disease, and it spreads rapidly where neglected. 



The only safety is to pull out and burn all diseased trees 

 as soon as discovered ; and as the state has ceased to give 

 the protection it ought, we must fight it out among our 

 neighbors as best we can. It is hoped and believed that 

 legislation will again take the matter in hand and accomplish 

 good work, as is being done in Michigan and some other 

 states, through compulsory destruction of the diseased 

 trees. 



The cold wave of January 2d caused more damage than 

 was first supposed. Careful investigations all over the state 

 showed that a large percentage of the buds of sweet cherries 



