THIRTY-THIRD BIENNIAL SESSION 141 
and most of the mediocre trees were found to> be affected with woolly aphis. 
They showed, in yellow foliage and stunted growth, the effects of a restricted 
root system. Special fertilizing with a mixture of one part nitrate of 
soda and three parts of acid phosphate, applied at the rate of six to ten 
pounds per tree just after the petals fall, coupled with heavy winter prun- 
ing in some cases, has restored most of these sub-normal trees to vigor and 
profitable bearing. Some have failed to respond, and have been pulled out. 
If an unhealthy tree does not make a decided improvement under four years 
of good care and fertilizing stimulant, it is no use to keep it longer. 
A few Ben Davis in one corner of the orchard have not produced a half 
barrel of number one apples per tree during the four years, although the 
trees look quite healthy, and the casual observer would see nothing wrong 
with them. The fruit is small, deformed and punky. An examination of 
the land reveals the cause of the trouble, — tight lime-stone rock, close below 
the surface. There is no possibility of making these trees profitable, yet 
they are large trees, and as much money has been spent upon them for 
spraying, tillage, etc., as upon nearby trees returning a net annual profit of 
$5.00 per tree. These trees have been pulled out, thus bringing the orchard 
nearer to the ultimate goal — a collection of units, every one of which yields 
a fair return for the investment. 
“Pedigree” in the Apple Orchard. 
In much of the talk of late years the terms “drone trees” and “robber 
trees” have been used to designate trees that are apparently in perfect health, 
but are unproductive and unprofitable. Perhaps a dozen of the 215 un- 
profitable trees in this orchard are of this type. They arte apparently 
healthy, but have not borne a bushel of apples apiece during the four years. 
Are these trees unproductive because they were propagated from unpro- 
ductive parents? Possibly so, but it seems more likely that some unfavorable 
conditions in their environment, as yet unknown to me, have made them 
barren. At any rate, the resources of girdling, summer pruning and mineral 
fertilizing will be used for a number of years before these trees are pulled 
out as hopeless. There are all degrees of excellence, mediocrity and in- 
feriority in the trees of this orchard, as in most other orchards, but this 
divergence reasonably may be ascribed to differences in the health of the 
trees, minor variations of soil and other varying factors of environment. 
I have seen no evidence that what has been called “pedigree” is an important 
factor in the apple orchard. In the profitable production of high grade fruit 
of any variety, I believe that favorable climate and soil, and good care 
count at least 99 9-10%. Possibly “pedigree” may count as much as 1%. 
The Babcock Test of the Fruit Grower. 
It has been determined recently that, according to the Dairy Division 
of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, there are five million dairy cows in 
the United States that are not paying for their keep. Cow testing associa- 
tions are being organized to discover these “robber cows” by the use of 
milk scales and the Babcock Test and to eliminate them from the herdj, 
How many million apple trees are there in this country that are not paying 
