12 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Cake of the Tkees. 



The entire orchard was carefully cultivated for the first five 

 years after the trees were set, the area between the trees being- 

 occupied bj hoed crops. Since 1895 the orchard has been ke])t 

 continuously in mixed sod, grasses and clovers, except that dur- 

 ing the first few years after it was seeded small circles immedi- 

 ately about the trunks of the trees were kept free from grass 

 by hand culture. The product was cut, usually twice each 

 season, made into ha}^ and removed every year until 1902, 

 when the trees first bore a large crop of fruit. 



In 1902 the first crop was made into hay and removed, but 

 the second crop was cut and left upon the ground. This prac- 

 tice has been followed annually since 1902. In seasons when 

 rainfall is normal we cut over the orchard twice with the mow- 

 ing machine ; but during the past two seasons, which have been 

 exceptionally dry, a single cutting has appeared to be sufficient. 

 The orchard has been well cared for as regards pruning and 

 spraying. The San Jose scale, however, obtained a foothold in 

 it in 1901. It was discovered before serious damage had been 

 done, and annual thorough spraying in spring with the lime 

 and sulphur mixture has been sufficient to protect it from any 

 serious injury from this pest. 



Condition and Size of the Teees. 



The trees have maintained for the most part a thoroughly 

 healthy and normal growth. They have broad, low heads, well 

 adapted for modern orchard methods. One tree has been lost 

 in each of two plots, • — a Gravenstein in plot 1 and a Russet 

 in plot -4. These trees were promptly replaced, but the young 

 trees have not yet come into bearing. The trees of all varieties 

 exhibit considerable individual variations in size within each of 

 the plots. To what these differences are due it is impossible 

 to say. Possibly it may be attributed to differing individual 

 characteristics in the trees themselves, for, as has been stated, 

 they were ordinary nursery stock, and not known to have 

 come in the case of any of the varieties from scions from the 

 same parent tree. Variations in the amount of fruit produced 

 would undoubtedly affect the growth of the trees, while it is 



