FERTILIZERS AND MANURES FOR THE ORCHARD 195 



each year, and clenionstrated beyond question that the first 

 and most important need for these orchards was a qaickly 

 available form of nitrogen. Nitrate of soda proved to be 

 the bftst carrier of nitrogen. When phosphoric acid was 

 used in combination with nitrate of soda or in a complete 

 fertilizer, there was little or no evidence that it was a Umit- 

 ing factor, although the soil is naturally low in phosphorus. 

 However, it proved of great value in securing a stand of 

 better grasses as is discussed in connection with producing 

 mulch material. Neither did potash have any apparent 

 effect in increasing the vigor or yield of the trees during 

 the five-year test. These conclusions are supported by the 

 following summaiy of the data: 



Table LVIII 



average yield to a tree in 3 orchards of rome beauty apples, 

 22-25 years old.l grass-mulch 



5-year average. (after ballou) 



Treatment ^ 



3d 

 Orchard 



Checks 



Nitrate 



N it rate — phosphorus — potash . 



Duphcate 



Tankage — bone — potash 



Nitrate — phosphorus 



Potash 



Manure 



Lbs. 

 122.6 

 378.9 

 348.4 

 315.9 



1 Loc. oil. 



2 The followino; amounts of fertilizer were u-sed in each case: 



Nitrate of soda, 5 lbs. 

 Acid phosphate, 5 lbs. 

 Muriate of potash 2^/^ lbs. 



Stable manure 250 lbs. 

 Tankage 5 lbs. 

 Bone 5 lbs. 



