]iXPE:RIMENTS IN ORCHARD CULTURE. 203 



may be actually detrimental. One such case is the use of rye 

 upon a soil naturally dry and gravelly ; especially if the crop is 

 left late in spring before plowing under. This treatment may 

 result in so drying the soil as to seriously interfere with the 

 growth of the trees. On soils of the nature indicated, spring 

 vetch or oats are always to be preferred unless the land is to be 

 plowed promptly in the spring. 



Orchard Work at New Gloucester. 



For the purpose of emphasizing the importance of rational 

 treatment of orchard lands in other sections of the State, 

 arrangements have been made with Mr. John W. True and Mr. 

 Fred H. Chandler of New Gloucester to carry on certain cooper- 

 ative experiments in the planting and management of orchards. 



The work in Mr. True's orchard includes the use of cover 

 crops and a comparison of the Fisher formula with the Station 

 formula and with stable manure. For the latter work an 

 orchard of Baldwins, set about 20 years and sadly in need of 

 pruning, was selected. The orchard was pruned and plowed, 

 and fertilizers were applied as follows : 4 rows were given 

 stable manure ; 5 rows Station fertilizer ; 4 rows Fisher fertil- 

 izer; with a check row between each two plats. For the study 

 of cover crops, a two-acre orchard of Ben Davis and a one-acre 

 orchard of Sutton, both just coming into bearing, are available. 

 The crops thus far used are rye and winter vetch, but of course 

 only a report of progress can as yet be made concerning either 

 line of work indicated. 



The work in Mr. Chandler's orchard contemplates a study of 

 different methods of orchard treatment and some of the problems 

 connected with the top-grafting of orchards. About eight acres 

 of rolling land, in plain sight from the Maine Central Railroad 

 station at New Gloucester, were fitted and planted to various 

 trees in the spring of 1905. The land is mostly a strong loam, 

 with heavier subsoil, and had been in hay for several years. 

 The ground was plowed the first week in May and, after harrow- 

 ing, the trees were set two rods apart each way. Between the 

 first five rows, and alternating with the trees in those rows, (thus 

 making a " quincunx " planting) " fillers " of Wealthy were 

 planted. In 1906 the planting of " fillers " will be extended. 



