44 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
sides and bottom so as not to be nearer 
than 4 inches from the roots. I must say 
that this is dangerous quantity to use if 
not carefully carried out; however, I per¬ 
sonally saw to this being dealt with in 
every case. Careful shading was adopted 
so that the mid-day sun could not reach 
them and frequent watering, which is very 
important, was attended to. 
FERTILIZING 
This has been given as follows: First 
year, i pound in one application during 
September; second year, applied four 
times, at the rate of 2 T / 2 pounds per tree; 
third year, 4pounds each time of three 
applications; fourth year, 6j4 pounds per 
tree three times during the year, and this 
year 9 pounds at each application. So far, 
I have never applied commercial fertilizer 
later in the year than September. 
MULCHING 
This has been carefully carried out up 
to this year on the first batch of trees and 
I have now decided to abandon this, after 
the fourth year, on our sandy soil, and 
follow up by periodic harrowing, as I am 
of the opinion that the nursing of small 
roots near the surface after this age is lia¬ 
ble to court disaster and I would prefer 
keeping the roots deeper and encourage 
them nearer the center of the rows. The 
time may come when the trees will make 
a general shade over the ground, and I 
may then, again consider the necessity of 
a general mulching, for weeds and natal 
grass should not be such a menace at that 
period. 
With regard to insect pests, our great¬ 
est trial has been the pyriform scale on 
some of the trees amongst the Trapp va¬ 
riety only; however, with three applica¬ 
tions during December, January and end 
of May of 1 to 70 and 1 to 80, respec¬ 
tively, of Oil Emulsion we have kept them 
down fairly well. During February we 
have given lime sulphur at the rate of 1 
to 60, and again in March, Bordeaux and 
Black Leaf 40 during the flowering sea¬ 
son. 
Our Trapps produced a few fruits after 
the second year after planting and the 
third year they set on an average six 
fruits to each tree, but all these did not 
fully develop. Last year we had few blos¬ 
soms and hence little fruit. This year 
nearly every tree was laden with blossoms. 
Unfortunately I may say, owing to the 
unusual dry period, the setting is not 
good. In future, we trust now that we 
have bought some experience that a wa¬ 
ter scheme or irrigation may assist us to 
obtain better results. As to the Pollock 
variety, this shows blossom, but has not 
brought any fruit as yet. 
PROTECTION 
So far we have relied on hay piles and 
wood during the past year, but in future 
we shall adopt other means, as our trees 
are getting larger each year. 
Under experiment we have over 23 dis¬ 
tinct kinds and about 40 Guatemalan seed¬ 
lings, which show distinct characteristics, 
therefore we have some hopes of seeing 
something new as time goes on. 
As to propagation on general lines, I 
leave this to the nurseryman, for he has to 
