8o 



which can in any way modify our previous conclusions as to the 

 intensely deleterious nature of this effect, and we can only repeat 

 that no ordinary form of ill treatment — including even the combina- 

 tion of bad planting, growth of weds and total neglect — is so harm- 

 ful- to the trees as growing grass round them. " * The evidence 

 which we shall bring forward will, we believe, be sufficient to dis- 

 pose of the views that the grass effect is due to the interference with 

 either the food supply, the water supply or the air supply of the 

 tree, and that it must in all probability be attributed to the action 

 of some product, direct or indirect, of grass growth which exercises 

 an actively poisonous effect on the roots of the tree." I do not put 

 forth the statement that grass poisons the apple as one having been 

 proved but I say that it may be so. 



In conclusion you are warned that particular cases do not 

 warrant general conclusions. The Auchter experiment is in man}' 

 respects a particular case and the apple grower must bear in mind 

 that under other conditions, his own perhaps, the trees might have 

 behaved very diff'erently. The Auchter orchard was selected as 

 being typical of Western Xew York conditions and the results ob- 

 tained may therefore be regarded as especially applicable to this 

 region. But there are peculiarities of soil and location which 

 might change them e^-en in Western Xew York, and no doubt they 

 would be more or less changed in Pennsylvania. It is a simple 

 matter for an orchardist to plow up a part of a sodded orchard and 

 cultivate it for a few years : or as easy, for one who has a tilled 

 orchard to lay a part of it down to grass, cutting the grass as a 

 mulch, and in a few years he can see what happens. We want more 

 experimenters among fruit growers and these are good experiments 

 to try when a man becomes dissatisfied with the crops of apples he 

 is getting. 



The opportunity of giving another warning can not be lost. 

 The sod-mulch method is heralded as the cheap-and-easy method. 

 But some men can not stand cheap-and-easy methods. If they be- 

 gin by applying it to tillage they are likely to look for a cheap-and- 

 easy way of planting, the Stringfellow vray for instance, a cheap- 

 and-easy way of pruning and a cheap-and-easy way of spraying 

 Some will disembarass themselves Avith the necessity of taking care 

 of their trees at all and in the end will wind ud as ornery, no-account 

 apple growers. I do not mean to sav that all will but some of them 

 will. You remember no doubt in Pilgrim's Progress how Bunyan's 

 characters had their natural associates. Thus the young lady whose 

 name was Dull chose as her companions. Simple, Sloth, Linger- 

 after-lvUst, Slow-pace, No-heart and Sleepy-head. Cheap-and-easy 

 has his natural associates and they are a bad lot. Take care how 

 you cultivate their acquaintance. Better keep them under a sod- 

 mulch. 



In chemistry, physics, astronomy and all of the exact sciences 

 the workers constitute a iury of keen, trained men before wdiich new 

 doctrines can be tried. The jury is always sitting and false doctrine 

 is quickly weeded out. Agriculture has no such jury. Its workers 

 are scattered : many are apathetic ; they differ in training and in 

 degree of intelligence ; and they speak many languages. There can, 



