January, 1919.] SOD, TILLAGE AND FERTILIZERS. 29 



being a black green. .The cover crop is also a little better each 

 year than in the other plots, which is doubtless due to the fer- 

 tilizer treatment. 



Plot 10. 



Here we have an excess of potash over the other plots as fol- 

 lows: / 

 70 pounds nitrate of soda, 

 109 pounds acid phosphate, 

 105 pounds sulphate of potash. 



This plot stands fourth in yield in the ten-year average and 

 once during the period averaged the highest in yield per tree 

 (1916). The fruit in this plot has always been conceded by those 

 working in the orchard to be the best in quality, that is in size, 

 finish and general appearance. The average yield for the period 

 is 240 pounds per tree or 175.65 bushels per acre, while in twig 

 growth it averaged 9.22 inches per tree which is next to the 

 highest in the series of plots. In size of fruit the plot averages 

 71 per cent No. 1 fruits which is 5 per cent higher than any other 

 plot, but this must be considered in the light of its bearing, which 

 is less than three of the other plots. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



From the evidence adduced in the foregoing experiment ex- 

 tending over eleven years the reader might conclude that we do 

 not recommend the use of fertilizers in apple orchards. In the 

 first place it must be clearly understood that this work relates to 

 the use of fertilizers in a cultivated orchard only and no data are 

 here presented on the effect of fertilizers in an orchard which is 

 not cultivated. In fact other experiments which will shortly 

 be reported upon show that it is usually necessary to fertilize an 

 apple orchard which is not being cultivated and that returns are 

 almost immediate in that case. On the other hand we do not 

 conclude that it would never pay to fertilize a cultivated apple 

 orchard for doubtless there are soils and conditions where the 

 response would be marked but very often the results are the same 

 as those reported in this experiment — namely that an apple or- 

 chard receiving a good system of cultivation responds slowly to 

 the use of chemical fertilizers. Therefore we recommend that 



