January, '14] FERTILIZERS IN CULTIVATED ORCHARD. 19 



increased yields in 1910 and 1912 in the other plots there is no reason 

 to believe that the same would not have occurred in this plot as well, 

 as in 1908 it was superior to any of the others, which puts it at least 

 on an equal footing. 



Plots 2 and 3. — These plots are cultivated every other year and seeded down 

 when not cultivated. Plot 2 was not plowed up until 1909 which gave 

 Plot 3 a year's advantage and the results are evident, but Plot 3 has 

 a number of trees missing which gives a fewer number of trees to aver- 

 age, and Plot 2 contains some poor trees which makes the latter plot 

 show a poorer average yield. But in both eases the trees given biennial 

 cultivation are superior to the trees in sod in yield and in twig growth. 



Plot 4. — This plot in which clean culture is practiced annually has made a 

 remarkable sliowing in yield, but the length of time this can continue 

 will be most interesting. But considering the fact that this soil is light, 

 and had been subject to an exhaustive system of husbandry, it is sur- 

 prising that clean culture should produce results approaching those 

 obtained by the supposed best system in the experiment. The general 

 appearance of the trees would not be distinguishable on general obser- 

 vation from those of any of the other plots in this experiment. 



Plot 5. — This plot which receives what we might term an ideal system of 

 culture, viz. — cultivation until the middle of July and then seeded with 

 a leguminous cover crop — is making a notable showing. It is the high- 

 est yielding plot in the orchard and is making practically as good a 

 twig growth as any. The trees are thrifty and in every respect equal 

 to the subsequent plots which have been fertilized. By comparing the 

 yield and twig growth of the fertilized plots with Plot 5 we can see no 

 reason for believing that up to the present it would have been in any 

 way improved by the addition of a complete fertilizer to the treatment 

 it is receiving. However, an examination of Table No. 23 will show 

 that the area and weight of the leaves in the season 1913 was superior 

 in all plots receiving a complete fertilizer. No records were taken on 

 these factors prior to the season of 1913. Table No. 6 shows a marked 

 increase in size of fruit in the fertilized plots. This is in part due to 

 the fact that the yield in Plot 5 was greater and consequently the 

 apples were smaller. But, on the other hand, the fertilizers have evi- 

 dently had a beneficial effect on size of fruit. Plot 10, which has the 

 highest average percentage of No. 1 apples, has 25 per cent more than 

 this plot; but, on the other hand, this plot has a 25 per cent greater 

 yield than Plot 10 for the period under observation. 



Plot 6. — This plot which receives the same cultural treatment as Plot 5 and 

 in addition a complete fertilizer with basic slag as the carrier of phos- 

 phorus, shows a superiority in general appearance of the trees over any 

 other plot in the orchard. But in yield it ranks fourth, in twig growth 

 first, in weight of leaves third. The trees in this plot in the beginning 

 of the experiment were probably in a little better condition than any 

 others in the orchard. In Table No. 22 we see in the year 1909 that 

 these trees were averaging a little higher in twig growth, but we would 

 not be inclined to interpret these results as meaning that basic slag 

 was responsible for the increase in growth. 



Plot 7.— This plot, which receives a complete fertilizer, shows no material 

 difference from Plot 6 which had basic slag as the carrier of phos- 

 phorus in a complete fertilizer, except in twig growth, the latter plot 

 showing a gain of one inch in twig growth for the four-year period. 

 Since the yield is higher in Plot 5 than in the fertilizer plots we might 

 expect a greater growth to compensate for yield but this has not been 

 the case, for the average twig growth of all the fertilized plots taken 

 together is not as great as the growth in Plot 5. This is in accord with 

 the findings of Stewart, that growth and yield within reasonable limits 

 are not antagonistic. 



