” 
174 ~ Report oF THE DirEecToR OF THE 
up early in the spring before the buds were well developed. The 
roots were as carefully cleaned of adhering earth as was possible, 
and after weighing the trees were allowed to become air dry, 
when they were again weighed. Each tree -was then divided 
ing 1 1 > » i | ‘ 44 
kos Meee 2 Us eine 
. * wt Y 
into roots, trunk and branches, which were separately weighed, © 
and after cutting up were placed in glass jars to await analysis. 
Each sample was burned at a low red heat, the ash weighed and 
preserved for analysis. It will be seen that the amount of ash 
in the roots and its composition in many cases seems to show that 
it was practically impossible to entirely remove from the roots the 
adhering earth. 
The results obtained are presented in the following tables: 
The purpose of the investigation has been to learn the naiure 
and extent of the demands made upon the soil by the different 
varieties of nursery stock in order to ascertain the necessary means. 
for maintaining the fertility of the soil, and also to throw light 
upon certain points which appear, in extended practice among 
many of our most intelligent nurserymen, to have been pretty — 
clearly established although the reasons for such practice have not 
as yet been so clearly understood. 
A. discussion of certain of these points will be postponed until 
the facts of analysis have been presented. 
