184 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



ally planned. Forty trees are kept in cultivation and forty 

 mulched; a part of each lot receiving complete fertilizer, part 

 stable manure, and part no fertilizer of any kind. 



HISTORY OE THE ORCHARD SINCE I902.* 



In 1902 no fertilizers were applied to any of the trees. The 

 season was moist and the growth was satisfactory. 



In 1903 and 1904 the treatment was the same as in preceding 

 years except that the fertilizer used carried 3 per cent nitrogen, 

 6 per cent phosphoric acid, and 8 per cent potash, and was 

 applied broadcast at the rate of 750 pounds per acre. No stable 

 manure was used in 1904. 



In 1905 two-thirds the usual amount of fertilizer was used; 

 that is, 500 pounds was applied broadcast and a good applica- 

 tion of stable manure was made to the trees usually receiving 

 this material. 



A good crop of fruit has been taken from the orchard every 

 year as shown by the tables included in this report, although 

 there is a marked individuality in the trees as to amount and 

 character of fruit. 



The weakness of seedling stocks, mentioned in Bulletin 89, has 

 continued to manifest itself and several of the best trees have 

 died, not because of injury to the Gravenstein or Tolman tops, 

 but because of the inherently weak seedling trunks. This is a 

 striking illustration of the advantage of using some well known, 

 hardy, vigorous sort as the foundation of an orchard, rather than 

 miscellaneous seedlings even though they be home grown. 



GROWTH AND CONDITION OE TREES. 



The accompanying table, compiled from field notes taken each 

 year, will convey an exact account of the growth of the trees 

 from year to year. Numbers 1-12 and 41-52 inclusive have 

 received no fertilizer of any kind. But the first mentioned trees 

 were cultivated, while the second were mulched, as shown in the 

 diagram. Numbers 13-24 and 53-64 respectively are Tolman. 

 The remainder are Gravenstein, with the exceptions noted in the 

 column of " Remarks," and numbers 42, 46, 50, 66, 70, 74 and 

 78, which are Tolman. 



* For a history of the orchard up to the close of 1902, see Bulletin 89. 



