50 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



in which trees were injured far more from winter freezes in 

 a dry than in a wet soil. The statement was made by sev- 

 eral growers that twigs and buds which are more or less 

 shriveled in winter from lack of water or lack of maturity 

 are almost invariably winter-killed. 



III. 

 What Effect Do Fertilizers Have on Tree Growth 

 AND Hence on Susceptibility to Cold? 

 It has always been held in theory that fertilizers v/itb 

 any considerable amount of nitrogen, as barnyard manure,, 

 cause trees to make a heavy, rank, soft growth susceptible 

 to freezing. The majority of the peach growers consulted 

 in this investigation still hold that such is the case, but a 

 very considerable number of them, and among them some 

 of the best growers in the two states, hold that trees are 

 more likely to sufiEer from cold if underfed than if overfed. 

 Their experiences indicate that vigorous, vegetable growth 

 in early summer can be made of great service in counteract- 

 ing cold, and that half-starved trees, or those which have 

 been allowed to bear too heavily, are apt to suffer most from 

 freezing. Fertilizers properly used do not, in the experience 

 of these growers, necessarily induce a rank, soft growth. 

 By using properly balanced fertilizers, by stopping cultiva- 

 tion at the right time, and by judicious pruning, it was main- 

 tained that the growth could be kept firm, the top of the tree 

 compa'ct, and the branches well set with buds, all conditions 

 favorable to hardiness. In studying the experiences of these 

 men, one cannot but conclude that fertility may be made an 

 effective means of offsetting cold. Practically all of the 

 growers report that late fall growths are susceptible to win- 

 ter injury of both wood and bud. 



IV. 

 Do Cover Crops Protect Trees from Cold ? 

 There were no conflicting opinions on this point. Grow- 

 ers who had planted cover crops, and nearly all had, were 

 agreed as to the value of this method of protecting trees 



