416 Transactions of the American Institute. 



The Future of Apple Trees. 

 Mr. G. W. Soutlnvick, Madison, Indiana. — This is the oldest 

 settled part ot the State and formerly we nsed to have abundance of 

 all kinds of fruit, apples included, but for the last few years apples 

 have almost uniformly failed. The soil is a heavy yellow clay, and 

 back from the river tolerably level, apple trees seem thrifty enough ; 

 make and mature wood well enough but the fruit fails to appear. 

 Now I would like to inquire what renovating fertilizers we can use 

 or what other means we can employ to give us back what for some 

 years we have not had, good fall and winter apples. 



Mr. T. C. Peters. — After the roots of the forest decay some land 

 becomes very hard and thorough drainage will be a great help. Fifty 

 years ago when I was a small boy I held the trees of an orchard 

 which my father planted. A few years since they began to decay, 

 but giving them cultivation and applying a few bushels of ashes and 

 chip manure to each tree, they were restored to their former product- 

 iveness. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — Draining is not a remedy for I have tried 

 it. I have no doubt but that the cause of failure lies in adverse 

 atmospheric influences. Of course insects do much damage but when 

 the season is favorable, and the blustering east winds do not prevail 

 we have fair crops. I am decidedly of the opinion that after a while 

 the former fruitfulness of our orchards will return, and I think we 

 should have faith. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — All through the eastern States many have 



taken great pains, have fertilized and cultivated, and even planted 



new orchards, but so far from finding a remedy the trees have died. 



Everywhere our apple trees are decaying, and they seemed doomed. 



This is the most important subject that can engage tlie attention' of 



the American farmer, that, if possible, the most valuable fruit growing 



in any latitude may be saved. 



A visitor suggested that orchards be planted on new land, and that 



leaves and leaf mold be used as a fertilizer. A timber belt as a 



protection will be important, then the orchards will be in the condition 



they were when the country was first settled. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — I can show an orchard fifteen years old, 



planted thirty feet apart, and with the limbs interlocked, and more 



thrifty trees cannot be found. This does not look like dying out. 



Again, I say, in a few years our orchards are likely to return to theii* 



former fruitfulness. 



