ORCHARD NOTES. 49 



"vated plot, is much below the normal for trees of the size and 

 age under consideration. The significance of the results lies 

 in the differences so far obtained, and the fact that but one 

 year of cultivation has in the main, been responsible therefor. 

 Whether the fertilizer applied in the uncultivated plots in 191 1 

 will affect the fruit yield of the coming season remains to be 

 determined. Certainly no obvious results were obtained in the 

 way of wood growth or improved foliage, except in the isolated 

 instances in plot C, already noted. 



The past season, although characterized by great drought 

 during the greater part of the growing period, resulted never- 

 theless in the production of large, well colored fruit. In this 

 respect, relation of size to culture is indicated by Fig. 18 which 

 shows the average size of apples from A, and Fig. 19, showing 

 a similar average for D. The fruits of B and C were on the 

 average equal in size to the largest specimen shown in Fig. 19. 

 Contrary to general rule, the cultivated plots produced fruit of 

 higher color and finer finish than that from the other divisions. 



The observations and results of the last two years, therefore, 

 pc/int most decidedly to the conclusion that orchards in Maine 

 with conditions similar or worse than those existing at High- 

 moor in 1909 cannot be successfully rejuvenated by any system 

 that does not involve the factor of cultivation. This is exposi- 

 tion of no new doctrine, but the numerical data siven above 

 may serve to emphasize the fact that increased apple production 

 in the immediate future depends on the rejuvenation of the 

 existing trees of bearing age, and that no single factor of the 

 several involved in orchard management is so potent in bringing 

 about the desired results as proper tillage. 



Re;sults from Fertilizer Plots. 



In view of the short existence of this experiment nothing 

 can be said regarding the effect of the two forms of fertilizer 

 in question. The trees of both plots average closely in point of 

 vigor. The foliage of plot E was perhaps slightly darker and 

 the annual growth somewhat greater the past season than in 

 Plot F. 



The fruit yields from plots E and F have been meager com- 

 pared with plot A. The results are also somewhat difficult to 

 compare justly, owing to the considerable differences in the 

 size of trees in the two plots. 



