HORTICULTURE. 



39 



affected by Itrown rot than plums uu iiuthinncd trees. The foliage was also of a 

 better color and hung on tlie trees longer in the season. 



An experiment was also carried out during the season with various kinds of cover 

 crops in the orchard. Different plats were all seeded August 10. Cowpeas used as 

 a cover crop were practically a failure. Oats proved especially valuable during the 

 season, followed in order by barley, buckwheat, and sand vetch. Crimson and 

 mammoth clover proved about equally valuable. 



Report of the professor of horticulture, H. L. Hutt {Out. Aijr. Col. and Eipt. 

 Fiirm Rpt. 1902, pp. 77-So). — An outline of the horticultural work of the year with 

 an account of the growth of orchard and small fruits at the college. 



Experiments in orchard culture, W. jVI. jSIunson {Maine Sta. Bui. S9.,j)p. 24, figs. 

 1.')). — This l)ulletin contains accounts of fertilizer, culture and mulching experi- 

 ments with apiile orchards, a test of the value of potash in controlling apple seal), 

 and directions for topworking orchards. In the first experiment one half of an 

 orchard of 80 trees was kept thoroughly cultivateii and the other half mulched with 

 meadow hay or sawdust. Twelve trees on each half were left unfertilized, 14 were 

 manured with stable manure, and 14 with commercial fertilizers. The work was 

 begun in 1898 and the growth and condition of each tree in 1902 are commented 

 upon. In general the trees on the cultivated area made the larger growth and 

 produced the heavier yield of fruit. The growth in inches of the trees on the dif- 

 ferently treated areas and the average yield per tree is shown in th.e following table: 



Grotiili and yield of apple trees differently treated. 



In the experiment to determine the effect of potash fertilizers on the development 

 of apple scab, muriate of potash, sulphate of potash, and kainit, respectively, were 

 used on the different plats at the rate of 1,000 lbs. per acre over an area of 15 ft. 

 radius around each tree. The orchard was about 25 years old when the experi- 

 ments began in 1898, and each year since then the trees have been regularly 

 fertilized as noted. An examination of sample lots of apples of differently treated 

 plats in 1902 shows 24 per cent of the fruit on the kainit plat free from scab, 28 per 

 cent on the sulphate of potash plat, 47 per cent on the check plat, and 58 per cent 

 on the muriate of potash plat free from scab. It appears from the figures given 

 "that an excess of potash, in whatever form applied, has no effect whatever in 

 warding off attacks of the apple scab." 



"Work in the renovation of an old orchard is announced as under way and the 

 plan of the undertaking is outlined. Several different fertilizers were applied 

 experimentally in 1902 and cultivation given. At the end of the season the good 

 effects of both could be readily observed. The use of nitrogenous fertilizers alone 

 greatly increased wood growth, but there was a noticeable lack of color in the fruit. 

 Trees fertilized with acid rock alone did not appear l>etter than those in the check 

 plat. Potash alone, however, produced a distinct improvement. 



One of the lessons learned in this work was that in order to control the bud moth 

 and leaf roller the trees must be fed and cultivated as well as sprayed. Spraying to 

 be effective must be done before the buds unfold for the bud moth and as soon as 

 the leaves appear for the leaf roller. 



4078— No. 1—03 4 



