196 The Commercial Apple Industry 



of nitrogen and at the same time have confirmed several 

 of the results obtained elsewhere. While Stewart recom- 

 mends 4 to 8 pounds of nitrate of soda to a tree, Lewis 

 advises 3 to 4 pounds. This difference in opinion, how- 

 ever, may be accounted for by the variance in conditions. 

 The Lewis recommendations refer to northwestern condi- 

 tions where the trees are much smaller than those of the 

 East, while Stewart's findings are more applicable to the 

 older and larger trees of the East. The recommendations 

 and results emphasized by Lewis as applying particularly 

 to the northwestern conditions are as follows: 



1. An application of 5 pounds of nitrate of soda quickly 

 restored devitalized trees. 



2. The benefits of nitrate application were quickly 

 apparent, as shown in the dark green foliage. 



3. Nitrates stimulated the wood growth. 



4. Nitrate of soda produced much more attractive blos- 

 soms and a much better set, even in the current season 

 when application was made a month in advance of the 

 bloom. (Some experimenters disagree.) 



5. A much larger percentage of the bloom set fruit on 

 fertilized trees than in the case of trees which had not 

 received this treatment. 



6. There is a greater tendency for the fertilized tree to 

 bloom more annually and evenly. 



7. It was shown very conclusively that nitrate of soda is 

 the cause of greatly increased yields. 



8. Xitrate has a direct effect on the marketable quality 

 of the fruit, causing the specimens or individual apples to 

 become much larger than those on unfertilized trees. 

 This is somewhat at variance with Stewart's conclusions 



