ORCHARD NOTES. 



37 



Some trees were damaged beyond hope of repair. Others 

 were in doubtful shape, indicating but a chance of response to 

 good treatment. The rest, so far as surface indications war- 

 ranted, were capable of being brought into thrifty profitable 

 condition by proper methods of orchard renovation. 

 Table ii indicates the condition in the several plots. 



Table ii. 

 Survey of Orchards, September ipop. 



Plot. 



Acres.* 



Number 

 of 



trees. 



To BE Removed. 



Total Number in 

 Poor Condition. 





Number. 



Per cent. 



Number. 



Per cent. 



Baldwin 



6.4 

 7.4 

 17.8 

 7.6 

 6^0 



447 



514 



1 ,233 



529 



418 



149 

 105 

 152 

 37 

 156 



33.3 

 20.4 

 12.3 

 7.9 

 37.3 



276 



304 



230 



71 



244 



61.7 



Mixed 



59.1 



Ben Davis, No. 1 . 

 Ben Davis, No. 2 . 

 Ben Davis, No. 3 . 



18.6 

 13.4 

 58.3 



Total 



45.2 



3,141 



599 



19.0 



1,125 



35.8 



* Acreage estimated'on basis of trees existing and not on actual area covered by orchard. 



The survey on which the above table is based was made in 

 the fall of the year. Little could be done in the months that 

 preceded in the way of renovation work, as the farm did not 

 come into Station control until midsummer. Nevertheless an 

 attempt was made to check the ravages of insects and fungi by 

 spraying with bordeaux mixture and lead arsenate. About 

 the last of June the trees received a moderate application of 

 chemical fertilizer containing the three necessary elements, 

 nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, at the rate of 300 lbs. per 

 acre. Apparently the witch grass received all the benefit from 

 this, judging by its thrifty condition in September of that year. 

 The trees had to all appearances profited nothing. 



In the fall of this year (1909) the orchards received their 

 first pruning. The immense amount of intertwined growth that 

 formed the tops of the trees made necessary a plan of pruning 

 somewhat different than is uusually conducted annually in an 

 orchard in thrifty condition. Had all the wood been removed 

 that season that was necessary for the proper shaping and 

 thinning out of each tree, the result would have been a stimulus 



