ANNUAL REPORT, 1933 53 



nitrate of soda per tree in the off-bearing year only, these trees were fertilized in 

 1933. The crop was larger than in 1931 but the lower yield in 1932, the on year, 

 reduces the two-year average for 1932-1933 below that of the previous two-year 

 period of 1930-1931. This may be because of the remarkabh large crop of 1930. 

 No marked improvement of color and quality has been noticed. The present 

 fertilizer plan will be continued. 



Comparison of Cultivation and Heavy Mulching for Apples. (J. K. Shaw.) 

 The mulched plots ha\e been continued as before with additional mulch as 

 available. Enough has been applied to suppress most of the grass and weeds. 

 The cultivated plots received 300 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre. The Wealthy 

 trees on Doucin stocks were removed in the spring of 1933 leaving only the 

 standard trees. The Doucin roots sprouted freely and they seem to be Mailing 

 No. 6, Rivers Nonsuch Paradise. Yields of both Mcintosh and Wealthy were 

 somewhat smaller than in 1931, the previous light-bearing year. 



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

 the rate of about two tons per acre was applied to the limed ends of the plots. 

 This raised the pH value of the soil to about 6.25, where it was while the previous 

 crop of trees was grown. The acidity of the unlimed plots remains about as it 

 has been in earlier years, a little below pH 5. In all cases where potash is used 

 alone or in combination, the growth of the trees was greater on the limed plots; 

 while the reverse was true on all other plots except on one of the unfertilized 

 plots. Growth was nearly twice as large on the unlimed plots receiving nitrate 

 of soda but no potash, as on the unlimed plots with the same fertilizer. The 

 results are similar to those with the previous crop of trees planted about 1922 

 except the trees on the phosphorus-potash-lime plots, where the growth is less 

 than with those on the limed, complete fertilizer plots. It seems clear that a 

 combination of potash and lime is the only fertilizer to which fruit plants respond 

 on this soil, which has had a fixed fertilizer treatment for over 40 years. When 

 potash and lime are applied, it may be that the addition of nitrogen will give 

 further improvement in growth. 



Role of Potash and Lime in Fruit Tree Nutrition. (J. K. Shaw.) Owing to 

 limited funds and man power this project was dormant during the past year. 

 It will be resumed or terminated and the results published in the near future. 



Effect of Potash and Lime on Apple Trees. (J. K. Shaw.) The filler trees of 

 several varieties were removed in the spring of 1933 (except the Mcintosh trees) 

 leaving only the Wealthy trees. There appears to be no effect from the lime, but 

 the trees receiving potash in addition to nitrogen gave much larger yields than 

 those receiving nitrogen only. The twigs from the potash trees contained more 

 potash than those not fertilized with potash. If this trend continues in future 

 years we must conclude that the time has come when this orchard requires potash 

 in addition to nitrogen. There is as yet no indication of any benefit from addi- 

 tions of phosphorus to the fertilizer applied. This orchard is in sod. 



Study of Varieties of Tree Fruits. (J. K. Shaw and O. C. Roberts.) Observa- 

 tions on numerous new varieties of different fruits were continued. Results 

 were similar to those given in the last report. Wright's Early plum seems to be 

 a promising substitute for Red June. It is equally productive and far better 

 in quality. 



Several new varieties of apples from C. P. Close of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture fruited for the first time. They are all early red apples of 



