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"RESULTS OF ORCHARD FERTILIZING 



- DR. WM. P. BROOKS 

 Director M. A. C. Experiment Station. 



"We have been carrying on at Amherst some of the long- 

 est continued experiments in manuring apple orchards that 

 have ever been carried on anywhere, I believe, and I think 

 we may learn some very valuable lessons from these experi- 

 ments; what seem to me to be some of the most valuable 

 lessons, I am trying to point out. But, it is important first 

 that I give you an idea of what the experiments are. 



The orchard is located on a hillside which is crowned 

 by a chestnut grove. The soil lies fairly uniform through- 

 out the entire length of the orchard. The soil is one of the 

 commonest types of soil selected for the use of orchards 

 in this state. It is a deposit of material brought there dur- 

 ing the ice age. A few boulders strewn around and some 

 stones. It contains a moderate amount of clay and retains 

 moisture quite well. It lies on the western slope of the 

 hill. I don't think there can be any question but that the 

 rains sink into the soil. They do not wash off down the hill 

 but sink into and work off down the hill and have a 

 tendency to ooze out on the hillside. You will recognize 

 that I have described a type of soil that is very common 

 throughout the state. You may question if there is not a 

 wash from the top of the hill. A roadway was made to ob- 

 viate this difficulty. This roadway has a ditch on the upper 

 side so there is never any wash from the top of the hill 

 over the orchard. 



In 1889 the orchard was laid out and it was divided 

 into five equal parts. Originally it included pear and plum 

 trees and was interplanted with peaches, but none of these 

 trees did well and after a short time were taken out and 

 only the apple trees remain. 



The system of fertilization began in 1889, a year before 

 the trees were set, they being put out in the spring of 1890. 

 The whole area was divided into five equal parts and the 

 portion remaining in apples is about one-third of an acre 

 in each plot, one and two-thirds acres in the orchard. 



I may as well tell you how each plot has been manured, 

 and each plot has been manured in the same way and at 

 the same time. Plot No. 1 has received barn yard manure 

 at the rate of 20,000 lbs. or 3 1-3 cords per acre ; No. 2, com- 



