1910.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 



11 



Plan of the Expeeiment. 



The area originally included in the experiment was con- 

 siderably larger than that now occupied by the apple trees. 

 Pears, plums and peaches as well as apples were planted, but 

 neither of the first three fruits did well. A considerable num- 

 ber of the trees died, and after a few years all were removed. 



The area devoted to apples is divided into five plots, all 

 equal in area (about one-third acre). The plots were laid out 

 and manures and fertilizers applied in accordance with the plan 

 adopted one year before the trees were set, in 18S9, during 

 which year a hoed crop was cultivated. Each plot contains 

 twelve trees, three each of Gravcnstein, Baldwin, Roxbury Rus- 

 set and Rhode Island Greening. The trees were ordinary 

 nursery stock, two years old, when set in the spring of 1890. 



Eertilization. 

 Each plot has l)een continuously fertilized in the same way 

 each year since the date (1889) above mentioned. The annual 

 rates per acre are as follows : — 



Plot. 



Fertilizer. 



Barnyard manure, 



Wood ashes, 



Nothing, 



( Bone meal, 



( Muriate of potash, 



( Bone meal, 



( Low-grade sulfate or potash (sulfate of potash magnesia). 



Pounds. 



20,0001 

 2,000 



600 

 200 

 GOO 

 400 



All manures and fertilizers have invariably been aj^jjlied 

 broadcast in early spring. They were mixed with the soil so 

 long as the orchard continued under cultivation, but since it 

 has been in grass they have necessarily been left upon the sur- 

 face. 



» About 31,^ cords. 



