1142 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Observations concerning the effects of different salts of potash upon the 

 growth and behavior of apple trees were continued. In behavior of tree and 

 in gross character of fruit, however, no specific effect of any particular potash 

 salt could be observed. 



Satisfactory progress has been made in orchard renovation. Data are given 

 showing the yields secured in this orchard for the years 1903 to 1907, inclu- 

 sive, as well as the average annual yields of fertilized and unfertilized trees 

 for the same period. Practically every tree in the top-grafted orchard was 

 either killed or badly injured during the winter of 1906-7, hence the work was 

 abandoned without the possibility of drawing conclusions. 



A comparison has been made for the past 4 years between the Fisher ferti- 

 lizer formula, which calls for about 8.6 per cent nitrogen, 3..3 per cent phos- 

 phoric acid, and 11.9 per cent potash, and the station formula, which analyzes 

 about 3 per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent potash, and 6 per cent phosphoric acid 

 (E. S. R., 17, p. 973). The annual yields secured under both treatments are 

 given in detail, and the tentative conclusions are reached that on most soils 

 the Fisher fertilizer is unnecessarily expensive, resulting in a waste of avail- 

 able nitrogen, the percentage of which is too high for the best results with 

 fruit, and that it produces fruit which is large but of poor color and coarse 

 texture. The station fertilizer or some similar mixture, together with a supply 

 of humus in the form of cover crops or as a mulch, is believed to be most satis- 

 factory for general orchard use for a term of years. 



For the purpose of investigating the question of spray injuries and certain 

 points in field i)ractice, a series of exi)eriments to extend over a period of 5 

 years was inaugurated in the spring of 1907 at Farmington Falls. The work for 

 the first season was successful from a practicjil point of view in checking scab, 

 which was abundant on unsprayed trees in the vicinity. 



The work at New (Gloucester is not sufficiently develoi»ed to warrant conclu- 

 sions. The results, as indicated by tlie annual yields of 1906-7, are given of a 

 duplicate test being made of the Fisher and station formulas at this place. 



The bulletin concludes with a brief discussion by C. D. Woods of the present 

 status of pomology at the Maine Station. 



A thousand dollars an acre from pedigree fruit trees, G. T. Powell {Coun- 

 try Life Aiuer., 13 (1908), Xo. 5, pp. .50.'i-')0(), .JJ.S, .7.'/0. figs. 12).— In this popular 

 article the author reports further progress in the improvement of fruit trees by 

 bud selection and in the use of the Northern Spy as a stock for the King apple 

 (E. S. R., 14, p. 253). 



Through bud selections he has obtained Duchess apple trees which when set 

 3 years bore all the apples they could safely carry, a 10-acre Sutton Beauty 

 orchard. with remarkably stout brandies, and a King apple orchard grown on 

 Northern Spy stocks, the trees of which are particularly exempt from crown 

 disease or canker, shapely though they liave never been pruned, and bearing 

 each year fruit of large size, high color, and superior quality. 



The varieties recommended for improvement by top-working on strong stocks, 

 represented by the Spy, Northwestern Greening, and Tallman Sweet trees are 

 King, Esopus Spitzenburg, Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Wagener, Lady, Mcintosh, 

 Canada Red, and Newtown Pippin. 



Successful orcharding' in Northwest, E. L. Stewart (Anier. Agr., 81 (1908), 

 No. 4, P' 89, fig. 1). — In 1895 the author planted 6 acres of land in the Yakima 

 Valley of Washington to Spitzenburgs and Red Cheek Pippins. A brief account 

 is given of the methods of culture employed, together with a tabulated state- 

 ment of annual yields and returns obtained from this orchard from 1898 to 

 1906, inclusive, and a description of the methods of packing and grading. The 



