FIFTY-FIKST ANNUAL REPORT. 21 



As much as 8500 pounds of sun-dried material to the acre iiave been 

 grown right in the orchard under this system of fertihzation. This 

 mulch is gathered up around the trees or allowed to lie where it falls. 

 This helps to conserve the soil moisture and graduall}^ it becomes incor- 

 porated in the soil as organic matter. The problem of mulching, there- 

 fore, at least in orchards where the trees are not too large is rather well 

 solved with the same materials used at the same time as for tree ferti- 

 lization. 



The work of fertilization, both experimentally and in practice began 

 in the southern part of the state where the soil was obviously poor. 

 It was there that results showed so quickly, and for a long time it was the 

 only part of the state where commercial fertilizers were used. The 

 northern part of Ohio has in general better land and the growers thought 

 that with the application of manure now and then they w^ere keeping 

 their orchards in prime condition and were getting all the fruit they 

 could expect. Gradually, however, these men began to try out com- 

 mercial materials and now the practice or orchard ifertilization is carried 

 on practically all over the state. The growth of the practice is indi- 

 cated by the following figures. In 1919, 466 tons of nitrate of soda 

 were used for orchard purposes. This increased in 1920 to 1,029 tons 

 and in 1921 dropped to 768 tons. During the same period sulphate of 

 ammonia showed. a growth of from 42 to 755 tons. These two materials 

 totaled 508 tons in 1919, 1,115 tons in 1920 and 1,523 tons in 1921. 

 In 1919, 22 counties were practicing orchard fertilization to a noticeable 

 extent. In 1920 there were 38 counties and in 1921, 59 counties. 



We have eighty-eight counties in the state. About three-quarters of 

 them are, therefore, using nitrogenous fertilizers in their orchards. Not 

 only are the poorer farms in the hilly sections getting these fertilizers, 

 but also those located in better sections. The amount of nitrogenous 

 material used this year in Ohio was enough to fertilize over one million 

 fruit trees. We have not noticed any big results from the use of acid 

 phosphate, but because we get a better grass we recommend that acid 

 phosphate be used with an ammonia carrier. 



I know you men will be interested in the results of one experiment 

 where the sod mulch system was compared with the cultivation-cover- 

 crop system, and where cultivation with fertilizers was compared with 

 cultivation with no fertilizer. At the end of five years it was found thai 

 on the average there was practically no difference in the amount of 

 fruit or the condition of the trees in the fertilized sections of the culti- 

 vated and sod-mulched rows. The sod-mulched system was, of course, 

 cheaper. The fertilized rows under cultivation gave about forty per 

 cent more fruit than th(^ unfertilized rows under cultivation. This indi- 

 cates clearly that wliere the nitrogen content of tiie soil is low the intro- 

 duction of the nitrogenous fertilizers will be a l)enefit even in cultivated 

 orchards. 



A few years ago Ohio growers, particularly those in the northern part 

 of the state wh(M-e the conditions are much the same as in many sections 

 of Michigan, did not think that the\^ needed to fertihze orchards on 

 good soil but results are now showing them that the}^ do. If the trees 

 are in sod, the grower cannot afford not to use nitrogenous material 

 of some kind. I am positive, and I shall probably remain so until some- 

 one shows me where I am wrong, that an orchard growing in sod will, 



