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just as well put them on along with the nitrate of soda as at 

 any other time. It saves labor. 



MR. DAVIS. Carrying out that experiment, what 

 should be the average good yield increase per tree? 



DR. STEWART. Well, an average of anywhere from 

 three to five bushels. That would be a very satisfactory 

 increase, I should think. We have some of them that show 

 an average increase of 10 bushels per tree for a five-year 

 period. 



MR. BUTTERFIELD. When you recommend the use 

 of muriate of potash instead of sulphate, have you found 

 any^ difference in the quality of the fruit when muriate is 

 used? Does it make poorer quality, as on potatoes? 



DR. STEWART. We have not been able to distinguish 

 closely in the eating or dessert quality of the fruit, but 

 there was no outstanding difference that we could see. or 

 could measure, and I have been keeping this matter in mind. 

 Our work is partly on the quality, but thus far I have been 

 unable to get anything that I could use as a real measure of 

 the slight differences that exist in the dessert quality of the 

 fruit. In some insstances we have been able to get differ- 

 ences in the amount of this punky pitting, and that sort of 

 thing which is an evident difference, but outside of that, 

 outside of things like that, we have not seen much differ- 

 ence. We have kept records of the average size and amount 

 of color in all cases, but I don't believe there has been an 

 appreciable advantage for the muriate over the sulphate, or 

 vice versa. 



THE PRESIDENT. Do you consider it worth while 

 to protect mulched trees against fire? 



DR. STEWART. It might be. We have had no 

 damage from it, but that nevertheless is a possible danger 

 that is associated with the mulching treatment. I don't 

 know just what protection would be needed, except the use 

 of ordinary judgment. 



MR. BUTTERFIELD. How about keeping it away 

 from the trunk of the tree several feet ? 



DR. STEWART. That is all right after the tree gets 

 to some size. 



MR. STAPLES. I would like to ask as to the amount 



