FERTILIZERS AND MANURES FOR THE ORCHARD 193 



have averaged only 83.4 bushels. In general, therefore, 

 the manure has surpassed the fertilizer on untilled trees and 

 has been surpassed by it on those receiving tillage. The 

 extra mulching effect of the manures has doubtless contrib- 

 uted to this result." 



EXPERIMENTS IN UNTILLED ORCHARDS 



As stated in the foregoing paragraphs, the most marked 

 results from fertilizing have been secured in orchards that 

 are not cultivated, and some typical cases may be cited to 

 show the results attained. 



169. The Massachusetts experiment.^ — In Massachu- 

 setts a fertilizer test was conducted in an orchard of Graven- 

 stein, Baldwin, Roxbuiy Russet, and Rhode Island Green- 

 ing apples for a period of fifteen years. Three trees of each 

 of these varieties were included to a plot. They were planted 

 in 1890 and cultivated for five years. From 1895 until 

 1910, the trees were in sod, and the following list of treat- 

 ments together with the total yield of fruit for this period 

 summarizes the results: 



Table LVII 



RESULTS OF ORCHARD FERTILIZATION MASSACHUSETTS. (aFTER BROOKS) 



Mass. Agr. Exp. Sta., 22d Ann. Rept., Part 2. 1910. 



