Food foe Plants. 131 



Nitrate of Soda used as a fertilizer, 50 pounds were ap- 

 plied as a surface dressing to one vigorous tree selected 

 from the row adjoining the Nitrate-sprayed row. This 

 fertilizer was later plowed in and washed down by the 

 rains. 



Effects on Blossoming and on the Fohage. 



Notes taken at the time the trees were coming out in 

 the spring show the following results: 



April 7, 1912. Trees in the row sprayed witli Nitrate of Soda and 

 lye are well in bloom, while those in tiie check row adjoining and in the 

 remainder of the unsprayed orchard are showing only an occasional 

 flower fnlly opened. 



April 14, 1912. The relative advancement of the row sprayed with a 

 solution of Nitrate of Soda and lye and the check plat is the same as 

 noted on April 7. The Nitrate-sprayed trees are nearly in full bloom, 

 whereas comparatively few blossoms have opened on the check plat. 



When the check row had reached full bloom, the row sprayed with a 

 solution of Nitrate of Soda and lye was practically out of bloom. 



Thus, the Nitrate spraying advanced the blossom- 

 ing time about two weeks ahead of the normal period. 

 It is characteristic of the Yellow Bellflower variety of 

 apples in the Pajaro ^^alley that the foliage buds com'i 

 out early, so that by the time the full-bloom period is 

 reached the trees are showing a considerable amount 

 of young foliage. The Nitrate spraying produced a 

 change in this respect. While the flower buds were 

 greatly stimulated in coming out, the foliage buds were 

 not so much affected, and the result was that when 

 the trees sprayed with a solution of Nitrate of Soda 

 and lye were in full bloom and two weeks in advance 

 of the check trees in that regard, their foliage condition 

 was relatively nearer that of the check. Plate L shows 

 the comparative stages of the Nitrate-sprayed and the 

 check trees at that time. A decided contrast will be 

 seen in the relative advancement of the bloom on the 

 tree sprayed with Nitrate of Soda (PI. L, fig. 1)* as com- 

 pared with the check tree (PL L, fig. 2).* This contrast 

 is shown more in detail in Plate LI, in wliich figure 1 

 shows a branch from a Nitrate-sprayed tree, while 



* For plates see original article. 



