100 Barn and Field Experiments in 1916 



of nitrogen, 8 per cent of available phosphoric acid and 7 per 

 cent potash. At the end of the third year the orchards had so 

 far responded that they gave a good crop and since that time 

 fertilizer experiments have been carried on in various portions 

 of the orchards, as follows : 



The use of highly nitrogenous fertilizers has been advocated 

 as a means of forcing trees into bearing and in some parts of 

 the State has been tried with results that seemed to be gratify- 

 ing. This method was first suggested by Doctor Fisher of Mas- 

 sachusetts and was tried by the Station several years ago in 

 cooperative work with Mr. Pope in his orchard at Manchestt^r 

 without very decisive results. At Highmoor Farm a row of 32 

 Baldwin trees was divided into three sections. The trees were 

 treated alike so far as the application of standard fertilizer' was 

 concerned, but 10 of the trees at each end of the row received 

 in addition nitrate of soda at the rate of 100 pounds "per acre. 

 Also the Baldwin orchard was divided into, two parts so that 

 part of it received the usual treatment and in addition received 

 100 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre per year. 



Exact records of yields and measurements of growth have 

 been taken since the experiment was begun. No differences 

 that cculd be attributed to the additional nitrogen in the fertiliz- 

 er have been noticed. It may be that when at the end of a period 

 of years the data are carefully analyzed, results may be found 

 that are not noticeable from general observations. The experi- 

 ment is being continued. 



In experiments carried out at the New York State Experi-. 

 ment Station it has been found that with their deep clay soils 

 well suited to apple tree growth and apple bearing, there is no 

 effect from the use of fertilizers either upon the growth of young 

 trees, the wood growth on matured trees, or in the amount, 

 coloring, or size of the fruit. To see if anything like this would 

 hold with Maine conditions, particularly with the rather shallow 

 soil and with the stubborn subsoil upon Highmoor Farm, an 

 experiment was begun in 1912. It is to be remembered that 

 the orchard had been cultivated and fertilized for the three pre- 

 ceding years and brought into good condition. About 400 

 trees were divided into three plots containing 12 rows extending 

 clear across the large No. 1, Ben Davis orchard. , Plot A (rows 

 1 to 4) has received no fertilizer since 1912. Plot B .(rows 5 



