STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 7 1 



the fruit to remain longer on the tree. It also may reduce the 

 amount of foliage somewhat, as a result of spray injury, thus 

 permitting more light to reach the fruit. In general, how- 

 ever, in improving ?olor, chief reliance must be placed on 

 those methods that tend definitely to secure fuller maturity on 

 the trees and to get the maximum amounts of light to the 

 fruit. 



Applying Present Data to Individual Orchards. 



In the three experiments discussed separately above, it was 

 noted that the materials found most valuable in the first two 

 were failures in the third, and vice versa. In still othei 

 experiments, we can show cases where no form of fertiliza 

 tion has yet shown a profit. These and other experiments 

 prove conclusively the local nature of the problem. Hence 

 even the experiments of others can offer no more than general 

 advice on the fertilization of a particular orchard. 



This advice can doubtless be made more exact after a per- 

 sonal examination of the orchard concerned, by one who is 

 familiar with orchard fertilization work, or it may be done 

 with greater certainty if the owner will note and look for some 

 of the more important characteristics of orchards needmg 

 fertilization. The latter are best observed in late summer and 

 fall. 



In general, the characteristics of an orchard that is certainly 

 in need of a fertilizer are those of starvation. They are usually 

 sufficiently familiar to need no extended description. They are 

 found most commonly in the older orchards, especially in those 

 that have once borne well but are no longer doing so al- 

 though still fairly free from important diseases or improper 

 drainage. The foliage is sparse and pale in such orchards, 

 and the annual growth stops early and averages short, — often 

 not more than a half inch, and from this it may range up to 

 two or three inches. In such cases, one can usually apply fei 

 tilizers rather liberally with practical confidence of profits, pro- 

 vided the varieties and general handling are right. Even in 

 such an orchard, however, it is advisable to leave a small 

 typical portion unfertilized to really determine the value of 

 the treatment. 



