STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 79 



tions toward available moisture, which is the chief determiner 

 of fruit size. Above a rather indefinite point, however, the 

 size of the crop on the tree becomes the dominant influence on 

 fruit size. Proper thinning and moisture conservation, there- 

 fore, are the most important means of improving the average 

 size of fruit. 



15. The red colors in apples can not be increased materially 

 by any kind of fertilizer applications, though potash and pos- 

 sibly phosphates may be of some slight assistance. These 

 colors are directly dependent upon sunlight and maturity, with 

 the latter occurring preferably on the tree. Late picking, open 

 pruning, light soils, sod culture and mildly injurious sprays, 

 therefore, tend to increase the reds in fruits, while opposite 

 conditions decrease them. 



16. The retarding influence of nitrogenous fertilizers or 

 manure on color makes it advisable to use them less freely on 

 some of the red varieties, especially those in which the color 

 comes on rather tardily, such as the York Imperial. On the 

 lighter soils, or in localities with the longer growing seasons, 

 this precaution is less important. 



17. In the sixth section above, it has been noted that the 

 fertilizing elements found effective in certain experiments were 

 not so in others. In one of our experiments, no form of fer- 

 tilization has yet shown a profitable response, and in two oth- 

 ers such responses have come only from manure and mulches. 

 It is evident, therefore, that the actual fertilization of a given 

 orchard is still largely a local problem. 



18. It is possible, however, to indicate the more prominent 

 characteristics of orchards that are in need of fertilization, and 

 to formulate a general fertilizer, based on present experimental 

 results, that may be used in such orchards until more definite 

 local data can be secured. 



19. Present evidence indicates that the nitrates, or other 

 specially soluble plant foods, are best applied somewhat after 

 the fruit has set. In addition to greater effectiveness, this 

 delay enables the rate of application to be varied somewhat in 

 accord with the amount of fruit set, making the applications 

 heavier when the crop is heavy and vice versa. In the long 

 run, this plan should steady the yields and get maximum bene- 

 fits from the fertilization applied. 



