ORCHARD note;s. 35 



of odd varieties along the roads and in pasture fields, these 

 trees were grouped in five large blocks ; one consisted chiefly 

 of Baldwin trees, another of Baldwin and Ben Davis with the 

 admixture of a few Russet, Greening, Mann and Tolman 

 Sweet. The remaining three divisions were practically solid 

 blocks of Ben Davis. According to their composition these 

 orchards are known as the Baldwin, Mixed and Ben Davis 

 Number i, 2, and 3 respectively. 



All of the orchards were at the time of purchase covered 

 with a thick sod of witch grass. 



The Baldwin orchard was in the very poorest condition of 

 all. The trees averaged about 10 feet in height and 4 inches 

 in diameter. The heads were high and scant, had very little 

 and poor foliage, bore practically no fruit and appeared to 

 be very badly starved. (Fig. 12) In addition to injury by 

 borers, mice and fungi, the trees had several times in the past 

 been severely damaged by fires in the orchard grass. 



The Mixed orchard ranked nearly with the Baldwin in its 

 unsatisfactory condition. The trees were somewhat lower, 

 with an average diameter a little greater than the Baldwin plot. 

 The foliage was also somewhat more abundant, but the trees 

 as a whole indicated great lack of vigor and many were beyond 

 profitable renovation. 



Ben Davis No. i comprised the greatest number of trees in 

 any one plot, and although in quite unsatisfactory state when 

 the farm was purchased, was in a general condition that prom- 

 ised response to good handling. The trees were mostly well 

 formed, quite uniform, about 15 feet high ana 6 inches in 

 diameter, excepting those of more recent planting. The foliage 

 in 1909 was moderate, but not norm.al in amount or color and 

 suffered a severe attack of fungus leaf spot. 



Ben Davis No. 2 was in by far the thriftiest strte of all the 

 orchards. The trees were well headed, averaged about 20 feet 

 in height and about 7 inches in diameter. The foliage in 1909 

 was fair in amount, although not normal in appearance. This 

 orchard had in the past received more attention in the way 

 of plowing and manuring than the others, and at one time had 

 been used as a sheep pasture. These facts account in a large 

 measure for its superior condition. This was the plot reserved 

 for experimental work. 



