92 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



M. Augur, State Pomologist of Connecticut. In a single experi- 

 ment, however, with night-soil as a top-dressing, Mr. T. S. Gold 

 obtained an abundant crop of fruit, of rare beauty and flavor. 



But are the orchardists of Maine using ashes, lirae and bone- 

 dust, in suflScient quantities ? 1 think they are not. The degen- 

 eration of our orchards, the small size and poor quality of much of 

 our fruit confirm this opinion. A soil with only a trace of potash 

 will make but a feeble growth, and we may as well try to run 

 machinery without steam or water as to run our orchards with- 

 out the necessary fertilizing matter. 



Plaster has been used to a considerable extent, but lime only in 

 limited quantities ; and as for ashes, many of our farmers do not 

 think them of sufficient value to retain and use them on the farm, 

 but sell them to the soap manufacturer, who, having made his 

 soap or potash, re-sells them to be shipped out of the State for the 

 benefit of those who know how to value them. In this way 

 thousands of bushels of ashes are annually shipped abroad, which 

 ought to be kept in the State for the benefit of our orchards. 

 These ashes are of great value, and it is to our shame that we do 

 not appreciate them more highly. 



Again, bone material is not sought after or used generally ; I 

 doubt if many of our orchards have ever received the slightest 

 application of the same, either in bone dust or superphosphate of 

 lime. It is known that some farmers and gardeners have used it 

 occasionally, but the majority of them have not. No doubt hun- 

 dreds of tons of bones are thrown away or wasted every year, 

 which might be saved and ground, or reduced in some way, and 

 used in the orchard to great advantage. Here, then, within easy 

 reach, are three sources of fertilization. Our State abounds in 

 lime rock from which is manufactured annually a large amount of 

 lime, and this can easily be obtained by the farmer at a reasonable 

 price. We can save our ashes instead of selling them, and if we 

 need more for use in the field or orchard, can purchase them at 

 the village or soap factory. Bones we can save and use and also 

 buy bone-dust, fish guano and superphosphate. All these mate- 

 rials can be used separately, or in combination with muck or other 

 vegetable manures. They should be applied liberally and fre- 

 quently, but not to the exchmon of animal manure, for all plants 

 and trees as well as man, require a variety of food. Having 

 studied the nature of our soil and planted out that variety of trees 



I 



