14 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



berries to commercial fertilizer and the possibility of increasing 

 yields by their use. 



CULTURAL PROJECT WITH YOUNG APPLE TREES. 



Object : To compare the effect of various systems of culture for 

 growing young apple trees in regard to growth and earlincss of bearing. 



The orchard used in this experiment is known as Blocks X and XI on 

 the Graham Horticultural Experiment Station. The trees are of six 

 varieties planted in groups of four rows each. The rows run East and 

 West across both blocks. 



Rows from South. Varieties. 



1-4 Duchess 



5-8 Grimes 



9-12 Baldwin 



13-16 Stay man 



17-20 Spy 



21-24 Rhode Island Greening 



The location of the different plots is shown on the accompanying dia- 

 gram of the Blocks X and XI. 



A cover crop of rye was planted in each of the five plots in this experi- 

 ment during July 1919. the year that the orchard was set. In the si)ring 

 of 1920 it was plowed under about blossoming time and kept dragged 

 every two or three weeks during the growing season. 



About the middle of July a cover crop of clover was sown in Plots 1 

 and 2, and alfalfa in Plots 3, 4, and 5. A very good stand of alfalfa was 

 obtained, but the catch of clover was poor. Plot 2 was re-seeded to 

 clover on a late snow in the spring of 1921, with a good stand as a result. 

 However, there was not sufficient growth made to justify removing it 

 when the clover was mowed in June. 



In March 1921 a straw nuilch was placed around each tree in Plots 

 2 and 3. The straw was applied in a circle six to eight feet in diameter 

 and about six inches deep. Plot 1 was plowed May 18, 1921 and dragged 

 five times during the growing season. July 29th a cover crop of rye and 

 vetch was sown. 



The alfalfa in Plots 3, 4, and 5 was clipped three times during the year. 

 All three clippings were removed from Plot 3. The first clippings from 

 Plots 4 and 5 were placed around the trees as a mulch. The second and 

 third clippings were removed as a hay crop. 



An application of one-half pound of nitrate of soda per tree was applied 

 to each tree in Plot 5. 



The following is the cost of each individual plot, l)eginning in March 

 1921. Labor costs are calculated at SO. 30 per hour for man labor and 

 ?0.60 per hour for man and team. 



