Communications. 311 



Experiments with Peach Trees. — The trees were planted 

 by Professor 5. T. Maynard, at different times, beginning with 

 1869. Those under special treatment for the disease called the 

 "yellows" were planted in 1870. Of this planting, those on the 

 top of the knoll, in light soil, have shown the greatest indication 

 of the disease, whilst those within seventy-five yards, in lower 

 and richer lands, appear to-day perfectly healthy. For five years 

 after planting the trees received but little care, and little if any 

 manuring except that applied to grow one or two crops of corn 

 upon the land used. No special manures were applied until 

 1876 ; and since that time only one crop (squashes) has been taken 

 from the land, except the fruit from the trees. The land has been 

 kept light and mellow by means of a large cultivator, and by 

 light ploughing once or twice. 



Two rows of the trees received in 1876 a dressing: with two dif- 

 ferent chemical fertilizers. The trees had been planted twelve 

 feet apart in every direction. The fertilizers were applied in a 

 radius of eight feet around the tree, taking care to keep off about 

 one foot from their trunks. 



Fertilizer No. 1 consisted of thirty pounds of rectified Peru- 

 vian guano, twenty-five pounds of dissolved bone-black, thirty 

 pounds of sulphate of potassa (Stassfurt salt, containing from 

 twenty-five to twenty-eight per cent, of potassium oxide), and 

 twent}^ pounds of crude sulphate of magnesia, or kieserite. 



Fertilizer No. 2 consisted of thirty pounds of rectified Peruvian 

 guano, twenty five pounds of dissolved bone-black, and twenty 

 pounds of muriate of potash. The amount specified in both in- 

 stances applies to one-tenth of one acre. The trees which re- 

 ceived either one of these fertilizers have made a better growth, 

 and produced more and better fruit since, than the trees adjoin- 

 ing. There is no apparent difference between the trees upon the 

 two experimental plats. 



In the case of pear trees in different plats, which were treated 

 in the same way and at the same time with both fertilizers, Fer- 

 tilizer No. 1 has produced the best results in growth and in fruit 

 Both, however, surpass the unfertilized trees. 



In 1880 a new serie3 of experiments was inaugurated with iron- 



