538 ANNUAL, REif ORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



In the prosecution of the work as a whole, some interesting data 

 have been gathered upon things a little aside from the main lines 

 which we may briefly mention here. The most important of these 

 are on the extent and depth of root-growth, the influence of soil 

 systems on moisture, and their influence on the sticking qualities of 

 certain varieties. As to results, suftice it to say that apple roots 

 extend much farther laterally than is generally supposed, reaching 

 sometimes more than three times as far as the spread of the branches. 

 Soil systems during the past season varied greatly in ability to 

 conserve moisture. On a moderately porous soil in Wyoming county, 

 tillage held the moisture much better than a three-ton-per-acre, sod- 

 mulch system and was vastly superior to sod even when closely 

 cropped and the grass left on the ground. On the tillage plots, 

 under these conditions, the sticking qualities of Baldwin apples 

 were greater by 52 per cent, than on the sod-mulch plots. Northern 

 Spies, however, under identical conditions, showed no material dif- 

 ferences in sticking qualities. 



To summarize the present status of 'orchard fertilization we would 

 say that: 



(1) Plant food is a crop-limiter in some orchards and in others 

 it is not. Hence, it is a question whether the orchardist should apply 

 manures in quantity until he has evidence that they are needed in 

 his soil. 



(2) There is generally little use of applying fertilizers without at 

 the same time giving proper attention to the other factors of fruit 

 production, viz: soil management, spraying, pruning, and general 

 orchard care. 



(3) After the other factors are right, if the trees are deficient in 

 growth, foliage, or fruit, it is probable that an application of fer- 

 tilizers will produce beneficial results. 



(4) The indications are that nitrogen has more value as an orchard 

 fertilizer than is generally accorded it, though it should be used 

 judiciously on account of its effect on color. It can be used most 

 freely on the earlier soils or in localities with rather long growing 

 seasons. It is probable that failure to secure results on apples 

 from the application of potash and phosphates may be often due 

 to a deficient nitrogen supply, which thus becomes the limiting 

 factor for that orchard. If applied in the nitrate form, the time of 

 application must be right. 



(5) The greatest actual improvement in value of fruit has been 

 secured on plots receiving phosphoric acid and potash in the form 

 of low-grade sulphate. The exact cause of this is not yet known. 



(6) Where plant-food is needed, we can not now improve upon the 

 general recommendation of stable manure or leguminous cover-crops 

 alternated with a fertilizer carrying about 30 lbs. of nitrogen, GO lbs. 

 of phosphoric acid, and 100 lbs. of potash per acre. 



(7) To accompany this system of fertilization, the indications are 

 that the proper soil management for most situations is tillage with 

 a leguminous cover crop while the orchard is young, followed by a 

 mixed leguminous sod or sod-mulch when bearing age and size is 

 reached. After the bearing habit is established, a return to tillage 

 every second or third year should be made, increasing the frequency 

 of tillage with the age of the orchard and the demands of the fruit. 



MR. FENSTERMAKER : Will that result from tillage hold good 

 on a steep side hill 



