Results comparing yields are not conclusive; first, because the trees were 

 only bearing their first small crops, and second, because mulch placed 

 around the trees in the fall of 1950 could not possibly have had an effect 

 on fruit bud formation until the summer of 1951, and consequently on the 

 fruit crop of 1952. Further observations are needed for definite conclusions. 



Blueberries 



On October 16, 1950, plots were set up on the Chandler Farm in Dover 

 to compare the effects of new hardwood bark, old softwood bark, sawdust, 

 and hay on annual shoot growth of blueberries. The growth made by plants 

 mulched with new hardwood bark as well as by those mulched with hay 

 was significantly greater at the 1 percent level than the growth made by 

 plants mulched with old softwood bark, and was significantly greater at 

 the 5 percent level than growth made by plants mulched with sawdust. The 

 fact that the least growth was made by blueberry plants mulched with old 

 softwood bark may be reflected in the fact that there was less soil nitrate 

 nitrogen beneath the old softwood bark than under the new hardwood-bark 

 mulch. One apparent advantage of the bark mulches is that these materials 

 are free from the seeds of obnoxious weeds. 



At the Smith Farm in Gilford, three-year-old blueberry plants were mulched 

 in the fall of 1950, some with old hardwood bark, and some with hay. A 

 control row was kept in clean cultivation. In the winter of 1950-51, heavy 

 snow broke down the blueberry plants to the ground. The hay-mulched and 

 clean-cultivated plants did not recover, whereas the plants mulched with 

 old hardwood bark did recover and performed Avell subsequently. The bark 

 mulch appeared to be superior to any other for blueberries. It was very easy 

 to work and to keep free of witch grass and other weeds. 



Raspberries 



Four 150-foot rows of Durham fall-bearing raspberries at the University 

 Horticultural Farm were used for this experiment. One row was kept in 

 cultivation, one mulched with hay, one with sawdust and one with old 

 softwood bark. The results showed that the cultivated row outyielded the 

 rows under mulch treatments. 



The bark-mulched row, however, produced more fruit than the hay or 

 sawdust-mulched rows. The largest sized berries were produced on plants 

 mulched with either sawdust or hay. This probably was the result of lower 

 yield under these treatments. More sucker plants were produced in the 

 bark-mulched row than in the other rows. This might be an advantage to 

 the commercial nurseryman. 



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