24 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 190 



While not exactly germane to our discussion it might be well to 

 record here that our most serious damage from canker (Sphaerop- 

 sis Malorum) *s in this plot since the trees are not able to outgrow 

 the trouble as in the more vigorous growing tilled and fertiUzed 

 plots. 



Plots 2 and 3. 



Since these plots are treated alike they should be discussed 

 together. They alternate, one being tilled one year and the other 

 the next and are seeded down to clover and grass when not under 

 tillage. For some reason not apparent Plot 3 has usually borne 

 much heavier crops than Plot 2, and averages 42 per cent increase 

 in yield for the ten years which is nearly as great an increase as 

 there is in some other plots which have a radically different treat- 

 ment. There are, however, only seven trees in this plot and 

 since they happen to be good trees it gives the plot a somewhat 

 unfair advantage, since Plot 2 has sixteen trees part of which are 

 in rather poor condition. While it seems somewhat unreason- 

 able to average two plots together which have responded so dif- 

 ferently, we feel forced to consider them together since their 

 treatments have been the same. The average yield of the two 

 plots is 139.66 bushels or 46^ barrels per acre. The difference in 

 growth is not so marked since Plot 2 has averaged 5.41 inches in 

 terminal growth and Plot 3 increased this by 26 per cent making 

 6.82 inches terminal growth per year. This system of tilling the 

 land every other year has jaelded much better results than the 

 sod plot and would be preferable to it, yet the general appearance 

 and vigor of the trees is not equal to the plots which are tilled 

 annually. 



The quality of fruit from these two plots is good, being high in 

 color and of good form for the Baldwin variety. 



Plot 4. 



In some respects this plot is one of the most interesting in the 

 series. The soil of this plot is light, running to sand and gravel 

 on the south half of the plot, and the land prior to being plowed 

 in 1908 had been subjected to a haying system wherein the crop 

 of hay was removed each year without any rotation of crops or 

 tillage, and since 1908 no cover crops or fertilizers of any kind 



