PfiBTlLIZEfiS AND FEUIT. 7 



the bushes and ran a cultivator arouad them until all was level. This 

 dose was to feed both currants and strawberries." 



"It ought to do it, but isn't that very heavy feeding? " 



"It is heavier than usual with us, but heavy feeding pays with 

 small fruits. One of our neighbors once had a rule of putting ' aU the 

 manure he had left ' on an acre of strawberries. He never could grow 

 a profitable crop on this basis. Finally he changed his plan and put 

 all the manure on half an acre. Then he began to grow profitable 

 fruit, and that is a good illustration of the wisdom of giving short 

 lived, quick growing fruits an abundance o£ food." 



"How about raspberries ? " 



"We manure them much the same as for currants. Sometimes 

 in the spring we put a handful of fertilizer around each bush— not 

 being very careful to avoid taking more than a handful. Our apples 

 and pears are among the currants." 



"What food for peaches ? " 



" For young growing trees we use stable manure, but when they 

 begin bearing we use fertilizers entirely. The fertilizer gives a thriftier 

 bearing tree and better color and flavor to the fruit. We use a big 

 handful of fertilizer (say about li pound) scattered around the tree, 

 increasing the space around the tree over which it is spread, as the tree 

 grows older. The trees are set 15x15 feet. The fertilizer is put on in 

 the spring— from the middle of April to May 1. There can be no doubt 

 that fertilizers give fruit of best quality." 



" You do not grow strawberries ? " 



" No, it is too dry for them here. In fact, as I have said, that is why 

 we grow so many grapes— this fruit doing better in this dry section 

 than any other." 



The value of Mr. Williams's experience lies in the fact that his 

 fruits are noted everywhere for their fine quality. He sent some mag- 

 nificent grapes to the World's Fair, and always commands the highest 

 market prices. He does not hesitate to say that this excellent quality 

 is largely due to the fact that he uses fertilizers alone to grow the crop. 

 Stable manure is very useful as a mulch on small fruits or to grow 

 wood in the early life of the vine, but for the fruit he will use nothing 

 but fertilizers. 



"iVo Use for Stable Manure." 



At Marlboro, N. Y., I met Mr. J. F. Wygant, who has made quite a 

 reputation as a grower of fine fruit and also as a buyer. He has a cold 

 storage room and is a.n expert in collecting fruit and holding it for 

 shipment. From what follows it wUl be seen that Mr. W. is a thorough 

 fertilizer farmer, and the fact that he has been able to observe the 



