STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 57 



Now, then, if there is one formula of truth more apparent 

 than another, it is this, that "whatsoever men sow, that shall 

 they also reap." We, as pomologists and orchardists, are 

 truly and surely reaping what we have sown. Those who 

 have planted their fruit trees and orchards in suitable con- 

 ditions, having all the necessary elements of plant food in 

 yearly sujDply in the soil (the basis of all growth and fruit), 

 and have persistently fought all j)ernicious insects, have 

 gathered good harvests of apples, even during all the years 

 of the prevalence of the caterpillars. I have been young, 

 and now I am old, yet in all these j^ears of experience have I 

 never seen or known an apple tree or an orchard that refused 

 to yield a yearly supply of fruit, if planted on suitable soil, 

 having a favorable location, and careful treatment, (every 

 tree, the tree cared for) — having every element of growth 

 and fruit in yearly sujjply, and nothing to injui'e their physi- 

 cal condition. 



Thus, this s^me truth is apparent, that we reap what we 

 sow, in all the walks of life, and no less so in every branch 

 and phase of agriculture. If we ask our Winthrop friends 

 of the thorough-bred Jersey, how they obtain their gilt-'^dged 

 butter, the reply is, "thought, enthusiasm, action; intense, 

 persistent, intelligent feeding, thus making all the conditions 

 in harmony with nature." Again, if we ask those interested 

 in raising poultry, how they produce roosters that they say 

 are worth from 50 to 150 dollars apiece, but relatively worth 

 50 cents, — or how they supply our markets with more bushels 

 of eggs than farmers having orchards do bushels of apples, 

 the reply will be, "good conditions ; we reap what we sow." 



Thus it is with the farmer who raises 100 or more bushels 

 of corn, 400 bushels of potatoes, 600 of turnips, 600 of beets, 

 or 200 bushels of strawberries per acre. We all understand 

 how such products are obtained. We know it is done by care, 

 thorough cultivation, and intelligent thought ; by supplying 

 the soil with elements suited to each plant, in sufficient quan- 

 tity to produce the above results. 



