298 .•CRICULTURF, 01- MAIXK. 



affairs of a season. They may. and doubtless will, afi'ord re- 

 sults but slowly, and these may bear such relation to future 

 evidence that the immediate publication of them will be inad- 

 visable from the scientific standpoint. The satisfactory issue 

 and value of such work depends upon the patient accumulation 

 of data through many years, irrespective of the popular demand 

 for early practicable and applicable results. 



Regarding the Highmoor orchards as a general object of 

 interest to the fruit growers of the State, the progress made 

 from 1909 to the fall of 191 1 cannot fail to appeal. The condi- 

 tion of the trees in the earlier year has already been outlined. 

 The work of bringing them into thrifty vigorous condition has 

 embraced nothing but such operations as are possible to every 

 owner of an orchard, large or small. Judicious use of fertil- 

 izers; a system of pruning adapted to the condition of the 

 trees ; timely and thorough application of fungicides and in- 

 secticides ; borer hunting ; good and regtdar cultivation through- 

 out the season up to the end of July, when a cover crop of 

 winter vetch or rye has been sown, to be plowed under the 

 following spring, — these are the practices that have resulted 

 in a response one year earlier than had been expected. All the 

 orchards, if we except those omitted by experiment from culti- 

 vation, have shown a marked renewal of vigor. The wood 

 growth of the season left nothing to be desired ; the foliage 

 was dark green and luxuriant, free from fungi and practically 

 so from insects. The Baldwin trees in the renovation experi- 

 ment were especially noteworthy for their exceptionally green 

 and dense foliage. They bore little fruit this year, but this was 

 not to be expected, considering their condition of but two years 

 previous. 



A concrete illustration of the change effected in two seasons 

 is the size and condition of the crop. 



In 1909, before any treatment could affect it, the crop con- 

 sisted of 90 barrels of marketable fruit obtained from all the 

 trees on the farm. 



In 1910 the chief effect of one year's renovation showed itself 

 in the improvement of tree growth, rather than fruit produc- 

 tion. Nevertheless the crop was increased to 275 barrels of a 

 good grade of apples. 



