FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 31 



RESULTS OF ORCHARD FERTILIZATION DEMONSTRATIONS 

 OF HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT IN 

 BERRIEN COUNTY. 



r. L. SIMANTON, COUNTY AGENT, ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN. 



The fertilizing work in Berrien County that I wish to speak of was 

 started in 1920 and 192L In order to consider the results I think I 

 should say something of the weather conditions we had during those two 

 years. In 1920 our weather was peculiar. The moisture film in our 

 soil broke very early and so we had very little feeding of the roots of 

 trees and small fruits after the early part of the season. The experiment 

 work was started in co-operation with the Extension Service Department 

 and various citizens of Berrien County. For some reason the Extension 

 Service people had difficulty in getting the materials on the ground, 

 and it was June before we had them to use. This was entirely too late 

 to produce any great effect on the 1920 crop. At that time the moisture 

 was so far out of the ground that there was no possibility of the roots 

 feeding upon it. We conducted experiments, in cooperation with other 

 parties, using sulphate of ammonia on fruits and other crops and secured 

 data to cross check with. 



Almost without exception we received no response from fertilizers 

 in 1920 until the fall rains set in. Potato growers got in trouble on 

 account of the delayed action. We did, however, get good results the 

 following year. The first experiment was with blackcap raspberries. 

 We had four plats on rather poor, sandy loam soil. The first plat re- 

 ceived nitrate of soda; the second, nitrate of soda, acid phosphate and 

 potash; the third, nitrate of soda and phosphate; the fourth being a 

 check. Under conditions the first year no results appeared. I may say 

 with reference to raspberries, both black and red, that we have three 

 or four projects started this year, which to date tally the same. We can 

 see very little effect from the fertilizers applied this year. 



In the Spring of 1921 we had weather conditions that were moist 

 in the early part of the season, suitable for growth, and then came on, 

 about the time the fruits ripen, the intensely dry weather. The plants 

 soon began to show very decided distress. The unfertilized plats were 

 yellow and sickly in color. The others were a healthy green. One man, 

 using nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, thought he had the best field 

 of blackcaps in the country. The data was collected by the owner and 

 I will give it to you just as he gave it to me. 



Complete fertilizer — 67 quarts. 

 Nitrogen and phosphorus — 67 quarts. 

 Nitrate alone — 76J^ quarts. 

 Check — 473^ quarts. 



It is hard to explain why the nitrate alone should get more than the 

 chemical combinations. However, I have known of cases where chem- 

 icals were applied but not needed, and they acted as poisons. 



We treated an old orchard of Kings and Baldwins, probably thirty- 

 five years old, where the ground was very dry and the roots were feeding 

 ver}^ deep. The result was not great the first year, but the orchard is in 

 condition to produce results in another year. 



