440 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the surface soil. Accepting this explanation, we have to 

 assume that the presence of the superphosphate of lime (see 

 No. 3) counteracts that tendency of the kieserite. 



III. — Experiments with Peach Trees. 



The trees were planted by Professor S, T. Maynard, at 

 different times, beginning with 1869. Those under special 

 treatment for the disease called the "yellows," were planted 

 in 1870. Of this planting, those on the top of the knoll, in 

 liwht soil, have shown the greatest indication of the dis- 

 ease, whilst those within seventy-five yards, in lower and 

 richer lands, appear to-day perfectly healthy. For five 

 years after planting the trees received but little care, and 

 little if any manuring except that applied to grow one or two 

 crops of corn upon the land used. No special manures were 

 applied until 1876 ; and since that time only one crop 

 (squashes) has been taken from the land, except the fruit 

 from the trees. The land has been kept light and mellow 

 by means of a large cultivator, and by light ploughing once 

 or twice. 



Two rows of the trees received in 1876 a dressing with 

 two different chemical fertilizers. The trees had been 

 planted twelve feet apart in every direction. The fertilizers 

 were applied in a radius of eight feet around the tree, taking 

 care to keep off about one foot from their trunks. 



Fertilizer No. 1 consisted of thirty pounds of rectified 

 Peruvian guano, twenty-five pounds of dissolved bone-black, 

 thirty pounds of sulphate of potassa (Stassfurt salt, contain- 

 ing from twenty-five to twenty-eight per cent, of potassium 

 oxide), and twenty pounds of crude sulphate of magnesia, 

 or kieserite. 



Fertilizer No. 2^cousisted of thirty pounds of rectified 

 Peruvian guano, twenty-five pounds of dissolved bone- 

 black, and twenty pounds of muriate of potash. The 

 {\mount specified in both instances applies to one-tenth of 

 one acre. The trees which received either one of these 

 fertilizers have made a better growth, and produced more 

 and better fruit since, than the trees adjoining. There is 

 no apparent difi'erence between the trees upon the two ex- 

 perimental plats. 



