10 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



MANURING AN APPLE ORCHARD. 



BY WM. P. BKOOKS, DIRECTOK. 



This article is based iipou the results of experiments on the 

 station grounds originally planned by Dr. C. A. Goessniann, 

 when director of the old State Experiment Station. They have 

 been in progress for twenty years. The leading results and 

 conclusions only will be presented ; but in order that readers 

 may have a basis for judgment as to their significance and 

 value, a brief statement of the conditions and i^lan of the ex- 

 jieriment must be given. 



Location and Soil. 



The orchard is located on a moderate and fairly uniform 

 slope, lying just to the west of a forest composed chiefly of 

 chestnut and hemlock which covers the northerly part of Col- 

 lege Hill. The soil is a strong and retentive gravelly loam, with 

 fairly compact subsoil. It was originally somewhat overmoist 

 in some places. In preparation for the orchard tile drains were 

 put in to carry off the excess of water. In preparing the area 

 for the trees a catch-water was placed at the head of the slope, 

 so that the orchard is protected from surface wash from higher 

 hind. There can be no doubt that the moisture conditions are 

 exceptionally favorable, for the water absorbed by the forest 

 soil on higher levels to the east must constantly work through 

 the soil downwards towards lower levels, thus furnishing a 

 constant supply of moisture to the roots of the trees. 



The soil is of a character naturally well suited for apples, 

 except that, in common with all the soils of this part of the 

 State, it is naturally deficient in lime. It is, however, the type 

 of soil commonly selected in almost all parts of the State as 

 naturally well suited for fruit. 



