494 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



consulted with members of your Society, and it was decided tliat the 

 most important subject for investigation with this fund at this time 

 would be the causes which affect yield and quality in apples. On 

 April 1, lUUT, Professor John l\ Stewart was elected to take charge 

 of this investigation. In a circular, which was issued at that time, it 

 was stated that "so broad a subject and one involving such funda- 

 mental questions will be a long-tiiue experiment and can ^nly be ac- 

 complished by the most cordial co-operation of the orehardists of the 

 State in whose orchards these investigations must be conducted, if 

 the questions involved are to be settled. Just what phases of this 

 g-eneral inquiry will be taken as first will not be decided upon until a 

 study of orchard conditions within the State has been maZe, but the 

 following points have been suggested and are under consideration: 

 (1) influence of commercial fertilizers and barnyard manure, (2) in- 

 fluence of cultural methods, (8) effect of types of soil, (4) influence 

 of climatic conditions, including elevation and exposure, (5) effect 

 of scions from diiierent trees, and (6) the influence of amount and 

 time of pruning. The influence of fungus diseases and insect ene- 

 mies will not be overlooked, although they may be made the sub- 

 ject of immediate investigation." 



Definite experiments on two phases of this general inquiry were 

 started last spring, three on the effect of fertilizers and four on the 

 effect of cultural methods. The experiments on fertilization are in 

 operation in the following orchards: In Adams county, at Mr. E. C. 

 Tyson's, Floradale; in Franklin county, at Mr. D. M. Wertz's, Quiucy; 

 in Bedford county, at Mr. S. M. Brown's, Mann's Choice. They in- 

 volve sixteen plots of ten trees each, thus comprising a total of 480 

 trees now under fertilization experiment. The cultural method ex- 

 periments are in operation in the following places: In Franklin 

 county, at Mr. J. H. Ledy's, Marion, and at Mr. John A. Nicademus', 

 Waynesboro; in Bedford county, at Mr. Joseph K. Sleek's, of New 

 Paris, and in Wyoming county, with Mr. F. H. Fassett, Meshoppen. 

 These experiments, with the exception of the last, comprise eight 

 acres each and involve a comparison of the four leading methods of 

 orchard culture, both witls and without fertilization. Also, they com- 

 pare each method as fertilized with barnyard manure versus com- 

 mercial fertilizer. In all, seven experiments, covering forty acres, in 

 four different sections of the State. 



Pennsylvania State ('ollege has recently purchased 197 acres of 

 land and has set aside something over twenty acres on which, in the 

 spring, an experimental apple orchard will be planted, covering a 

 number of phases of general inquiry above mentioned. It is expected 

 also to establish additional experiments in other apple sections of 

 the State. Caieful observations are being made on the influence of 

 types of soil and climatic conditions by Professor Stewart. The 

 most important work of this kind, however, is being done by H. J. 

 Wilder, of the Bureau of Soils, who, during the past season has been 

 making a careful study of the a])ple soils of the Appalachian region, 

 from New York to Georgia. I mention this matter here in order 

 to suggest that if you wish to have this work continued, this Society 

 should take suitable action to secure ^Ir. Wilder's assignment to this 

 and adjoining states for next season. 



