270 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMEXT STATION. [Jan. 



10. Orchard. Experiments with Home-made Stable 

 Manure, Unle ached Wood Ashes and Vari- 

 ous Mixtures of Fertilizing Materials on the 

 Growth and Yield of Several Prominent Vari- 

 eties of Fruit Trees (Apples, Pears, Peaches 

 AND Plums). 



The land used for the experiments described below is 

 situated alons; the east side of the station farm. It borders 

 on the west on a meadow, and on the eastern side is sepa- 

 rated from a natural grove by a private road thirty-five to 

 forty feet wide. 



The soil consists of a somewhat sandy loam, with indica- 

 tions of light springs in various parts of the field. The 

 more prominent springs have been connected by drain pipes 

 with the main drain of the adjoining meadow since the ex- 

 periment began. 



The entire field slopes gently and quite uniformly from 

 east to west. Corn and grasses represent in the main the 

 crops raised upon the ground in years preceding 1887. 



The inferior yield and character of the crops of later years 

 raised upon the land pointed towards an indifferent manage- 

 ment, as far as the selection of crops and of manure is 

 concerned. To destroy weeds and other objectionable local 

 growths, it became advisable to introduce a thorough system 

 of drill cultivation, which was begun in 1888. 



In 1889 a series of field experiments with different manures 

 was instituted, which has been continued up to the present 

 time. Thes3"stem of manuring employed from 1888 to 1894 

 is given below : — 



Fertilizer api^lied Each Year from 1889 to 1894. 



Plat I. — Home-made mixed barn-yard manure, 18,000 pounds 

 (rate of 10 tons per acre). 



Plat II. — Wood ashes, 1,800 pounds (rate of 1 ton per acre). 



Plat III. — No fertilizer. 



Plat IV. — Ground bone, 540 pounds (rate of 600 pounds per 

 acre) ; muriate of potash, 180 pounds (rate of 200 pounds per 

 acre). 



Plat V. — Ground bone, 540 pounds (rate of 600 pounds per 

 acre) ; sulphate of potash and magnesia, 360 pounds (rate of 400 

 pounds per acre) . 



