76 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



TABLE VII.— PLAN FOR LOCAL ORCHARD-FERTILIZER TEST. 



(Pounds for a Mature Tree in Bearing.) 



1. Check (Unfertilized). 



2. Nitrate, 2i lbs.; Dried blood, 3^ lbs.; Acid phosphate, 10 lbs 



3. Nitrate, 2i lbs. ; Dried blood, 3| lbs. ; Potash, 2 lbs. 



4. Acid phosphate, 10 lbs.; Potash, 2 lbs. 



5. Check 



6. Nitrate, 2i lbs.; Dried blood, 3i lbs.; Acid phosphate, 10 lbs.; Potash, 2 lbs. 



7. Same as VI, plus lime, 12 to 2.5 lbs. 



8. Manure, 400 lbs. 



9. Check. 



This test should be located in a typical part of the orchard; 

 and should include not less than 5 average trees of the same 

 variety and age, in each plat. All the trees should be labeled 

 and carefully measured at a fixed point on the trunk, and defi- 

 nite records of their growth and yields should be kept for at 

 least 3 years. Frequently, good indications of the orchard's 

 needs may be obtained in less time than this, as shown above- 

 in the Johnston and Brown orchards, but at least this amount 

 of time should be allowed and more should be used when 

 necessary. 



The same time and methods of application should be fol- 

 lowed as described above. The materials are indicated here 

 in amounts per bearing tree instead of per acre as above, and 

 the same proportionate reductions should be made for younger 

 trees. In other words, if only a third of the ground is to be 

 covered, then only about a third of these amounts should be 

 used, if the rate of application is to be kept within proper 

 bounds. 



Summary, 



1. The experiments of The Pennsylvania Station have 

 shown that the fertility needs of an orchard may be the most 

 important check on its production. Variations in fertilization 

 alone have resulted in average diflferences ranging from 50 

 to 370 bushels per acre annually for the past five or six years, 

 depending on the experiment. These results were accompanied 

 by similar differences in the growth and general vigor of the 

 trees. 



2. In the present discussion, we indicate briefly the methods 

 and conditions under which some of these results have been 



