ANNUAL REPORT, 1032 51 



the phosphorus-potash-linie plots. These plots continue inferior to the complete 

 fertilizer plots in yield. There is no conclusive evidence that the white clover 

 brought in by the phosphorus-potash-lime treatment has benefited the trees, yet 

 the trees have apparently produced better than they would have done had no 

 fertilizer been applied. Wagener seems to have suffered more from lack of nitro- 

 genous fertilizers than have Oldenburg and Wealthy. 



Tests of Different Amounts of Nitrate of Soda. (J. K. Shaw.) This proj- 

 ect has continued on the modified plan of fertilizing only in the off-bearing years. 

 A complete fertilizer is used which contains nitrate of soda at the rate of 10, llh 

 and 25 pounds per tree. The orchard is in sod. The crop in 1932 was less than 

 that of 1930. This may have been due to weather conditions, the probable cause 

 of the rather light Baldwin crop in 1932, or the omission of fertilizer may been have 

 a factor. It is uncertain as yet whether this omission has improved the appearance 

 of the fruit. Yields continue to be larger with larger amounts of nitrogen, and 

 there is no marked difference in color of fruit. 



Comparison of Cultivation and Heavy Mulching for Apples from the 

 Different Plots. (J. K. Shaw.) The cultivated plots which received no fertili- 

 zer before 1931 were fertilized with nitrate of soda this year as in 1931. There is 

 an apparent increase in yield of Mcintosh, but Wealthy shows little if any increase. 

 The yield of Mcintosh, considering the smaller size of the trees, is now nearly if 

 not quite as good as that from the mulched trees. The standard Wealthy trees 

 on the cultivated plot with nitrate show some gain from the nitrate but those on 

 doucin stock do not. This may be because they were already producing up to 

 their limit. The comparison will be continued. 



The Effects of Fertilizer Limitation on Fruit Plants. (J. K. Shaw.) The 

 own-rooted Mcintosh and Wealthy trees planted in 1931 have made fair growth, 

 and the fertilizer applications were continued the same as last year. Conclusions 

 as to whether these trees will behave the same as those previously grown on this 

 field cannot yet be drawn. 



Roleof Potash and Lime in Fruit Tree Nutrition. (J.K.Shaw.) Further 

 studies on the effect of acidifying soil from the long-time fertilizer test field known 

 as the North Soil Test by applications of sulfur showed that lowering the pH 

 value below 5.0 usually injures the growth of the seedling peach trees used as 

 indicators, while lowering it below 4.0 kills the trees. The addition of mineral 

 fertilizers is likely to be of little or no benefit, while the addition of organic ammos 

 niates favors growth even in rather acid soils. Trees in soil from an apple orchard 

 where apple trees are growing well, grew well under a pH of 4.2 ; however, when the 

 pH was lowered to 3.8 the trees failed to grow. Raising the pH by additions 

 of lime favored growth as in previous years. 



Effect of Potash and Lime on Apple Trees. (J. K. Shaw.) This project 

 has been carried on as in past years. There seems to be no evidence that lime has 

 been of any benefit to the trees. It is possible that the addition of potash to 

 nitrogen has now increased yields though there was no evidence of it in the earlier 

 years. No indications of benefit to the trees from the application of phosphorus 

 have yet appeared. More data and a careful analysis of all of it is necessary be- 

 fore final conclusions can be drawn. 



Study of Varieties of Fruits. (J. K. Shaw and O. C. Roberts.) More new- 

 varieties came into bearing than in any previous year. Some are promising 

 but few will take any prominent place among the standard varieties. 



