Soda just as the addition of lye has done in the experiments of the food for 

 writers. Plants 



GLOUT MORCEAU. A block of Glout Morceau pears was l8 S 

 sprayed with the combination of lime-sulphur solution, diluted 

 1 to 9, plus Nitrate of Soda 1 pound to the gallon of diluted spray. 

 This block had never produced a full crop, and while no unsprayed 

 checks were left, the increased production would appear to be due 

 to the Nitrate spraying. 



WINTER NELIS. A block of Winter Nelis pears was sprayed 

 with a solution of Nitrate of Soda 1 pound to the gallon of water. 

 No lime-sulphur solution was added in this case. No check rows 

 were left, and a frost destroyed a large percentage of the fruit after 

 it had set. However, at that time the trees were carrying the 

 largest crop they had ever produced, and again it would appear 

 that the Nitrate spraying had had a beneficial effect. The trees 

 came into bloom about 10 days ahead of normal opening period. 



Discussion on Results and Summary 



It is not the writers' intention to convey the im- 

 pression that dormant spraying with Nitrate solutions 

 will solve the problem of shy bearing of fruit trees nor 

 offer a more advisable method of applying nitrogen 

 fertilizer. The purpose of this paper is simply to 

 present the results as they now stand. 



It is evident that, at least under certain conditions, 

 some varieties of apples and pears that are more or less 

 self-sterile may have their crop production materially 

 increased by dormant spraying with solutions of Nitrate 

 of Soda plus lye. The combination of a solution of 

 Nitrate of Soda and lime-sulphur is apparently capable 

 of bringing similar results. 



Actual quantitative data on increased production 

 from spraying with a solution of Nitrate of Soda are 

 available from only one source, that of the first experi- 

 ment on Yellow Bellflower apples in 1912. No pro- 

 duction records were obtainable from the various tests 

 made by growers during the season of 1913 but the 

 one test on Yellow Bellflower apples and several others 

 on pears indicate that such an increase had undoubtedly 

 been brought about. It is considered that the growers' 

 knowledge of the crops of the previous years as com- 

 p'ared with that of this year furnishes a basis for con- 

 clusions that are at least corroborative. 



