STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 37 



falls and wormy apples, and in this way are very valuable aids to 

 the orchardists. From an orchard pastured with swine last year he 

 has raised a good crop of apples this year. There are fewer worms 

 when the apples are used up in this manner. He seemed to think 

 the apple trees needed potash more than an}' other fertilizer. 



Professor Munson added that potash was the fertilizer most 

 needed by bearing trees. Hard wood ashes are perhaps the best, 

 as they contain both potash and phosphoric acid. Ashes and ground 

 bone applied together make an admirable fertilizer, and the potash 

 gives the fruit the most delicate fla,vor. Some one asked if salt was 

 good, and the professor replied that salt of itself had no fertilizing 

 value, but its mechanical influence is of en beneficial in causing the 

 soil to give up fertilizing material for the plant. Eight to ten 

 bushels to the acre will be a sufficient quantity of salt to use. 



W. P. Atherton of Hallowell told the mistakes he made in setting 

 trees too near together. Somehow he was unable to look ahead and 

 see how large the trees were going to be. He referred to Dr. Hos- 

 kins, who advocated setting trees thirty by fifceen teet and then cut- 

 ting out ever}' other row, after the branches begin to meet. In 

 fertilizing he had used all the manure of the farm. He had tried 

 sheep and swine. He was much pleased with the work done in the 

 orchard this fall. He was going to put on some bone meal and 

 ashes, and harrow both in wtll. 



Reference was made to the subject of pruning, and Mr. Pope, in 

 response to several growers, said that for growth he would prune 

 before the leaves start, but for fruit, prune in the summer. Large 

 limbs he preferred to cut off in April or May. Wounds caused by 

 pruning at this season will begin to heal over at once. Cutting limbs 

 in summer gives the tree a check which tends to the formation of 

 fruit buds. Wjth young, healthy trees, it makes very little differ- 

 ence what the season is, but he thought pruning was often carried 

 too far. 



In the matter of spraying. Professor Munson stated that he was 

 willing to go on record that spraying with the Bordeaux mixture 

 would control the apple scab. Possibly there might be a question 

 as to the best time in which to apply it. The ravages of the Codlin 

 moth are very much reduced b}^ the use of Paris green. Use one 

 pound to 250 gallons of water. Spray after the blossoms have 

 fallen. 



