22 



UNIV. OF N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 216 



Fertility in the Peach Orchard. 



In early January, 1924, a temperature of —18° F. accompanied by a very high 

 wind occurred followinfg a period of relatively warm weather. As a result 100 

 per cent of the fruit buds of the previous year were killed and a considerable 

 amount of top injury was sustained by the trees. The entire orchard was 

 pruned with relative severity, and has made an excellent recovery. However, 

 no data could be taken this season except on diameter increase of trunks which 

 indicate, as has been reported, that those plots receiving nitrogen are making 

 greater total growth than those from which this fertilizer is omitted. 



Plant Breeding — Sweet Corn. 



About one thousand seeds of crossed sweet corn were planted in the spring of 

 1924. The growth of the plants was practically stopped by dry weather, and 

 at an early date in September the entire field was killed by a hard frost. The 

 polUnated ears were lost, and no data of any significance could be taken. 



Effect of Fertilizers on Strawberries. 



In 1924 strawberry yields contribute further evidence to show that nitrate of 

 soda is of questionable value as a fertilizing agent for the strawberry. 



Sixteen one-thirtieth acre plots were set with Howard 17 plants in the spring 

 of 1923. Three fertilizer treatments were applied, each treatment being re- 

 peated on four different plots located at different parts of the field to eliminate 

 errors due to soil differences and moisture variations. Plots 3, 7, 11 and 15 

 were fertilized with 1000 pounds of acid phosphate per acre. One thu-d of this 

 was applied May 26, 1923; one third, August 18, 1923, and one third in the 

 spring of 1924 about three days before the first blossoms appeared. 



Plots 1, 5, 9 and 13 were fertilized with 300 pounds of sodium nitrate per acre 

 applied in one-third installments in the same manner as was the acid phosphate. 



Plots 4, 8, 12 and 16 were fertilized with 300 pounds of sodium nitrate per 

 acre about three days before the first blossoms appeared. 



Plots 2, 6, 10 and 14 were not fertilized. 



The following table shows the percentage increase or decrease in yield over 

 the check plots, which had an average yield of 3598 quarts per acre. 



Table X. — Effect of sodium nitrate and acid phosphate on yield of a new strawberry bed, as 



compared to check plots not fertilized. 



