192 MAINE AGRICULTUR-\L EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



general farm crops ; but after a ver\- few years the orchard was 

 used as a sheep pasture, the trees being frequently mulched 

 while young. Xo further attention v/as given the trees, save an 

 occasional slight pruning, until May, 1892, when the whole 

 orchard received an application of bone and muriate of potash. 

 The same summ.er hogs were turned in, and they thoroughly 

 stirred the soil and started the trees into vigorous growth. A 

 verv- large crop of fruit was produced in 1893 and again in 1896, 

 but since that date the trees have done practically nothing. 

 Since 1892 the orchard has received no treatment except spray- 

 ing, until the present year when a portion of it, as indicated in 

 the diagram., was thoroughly tilled and variously fertilized." 



The fertilizers used in 1902, 1903 and 1904 were as follows: 



Plat I — Muriate of potash 75 lbs: acid rock 75 fbs; nitrate 

 of soda 50 lbs. 



Plat 2 — Muriate of potash 75 lbs : acid rock 75 lbs. 



Plat 3 — Nitrate of soda 50 lbs: acid rock 75 tbs. 



Plat 4 — Acid rock 75 lbs. 



Plat 5 — !\Iuriate of potash 75 lbs. 



Plat 6 — Nitrate of soda 50 lbs. 



In 1905 the same materials were used, but only two-thirds the 

 am.ount of each. 



The orchard has been plowed even.- spring and harrowed at 

 inter\-als during the summer. The effects of the culture and 

 feeding are evident as far as the orchard can be seen from 

 surrounding hilltops ; and the satisfactory" annual crops of fruit 

 more than illustrate the practical importance of systematic 

 orchard management. 



RESULTS OF TREATMENT. 



At the close of the first season's treatm.ent it was stated (see 

 Bulletin 89, p. 19) : ■'"' As might be expected, the plat ^ecei^dng 

 a complete fertilizer presented the best appearance at the end 

 of the growing season. The use of nitrogen alone increased the 

 ^ovvi;h to a marked degree (though less than the complete 

 fertilizer) but there was a noticeable lack of color in the fruit. 

 Trees on the plat receiving acid rock alone, in general, seemed 

 no better than the check trees which were cultivated but not 

 fertihzed. Potash alone, on the other hand, produced a distinct 

 improvement." 



