$2 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I907. 



trees on the cultivated section of the orchard, 7 produced fruit 

 this year, yielding a total of 20 baskets (10 bushels) ; while of 

 the 11 unfertilized mulched trees, 4 produced fruit, yielding a 

 total of 22 baskets (11 bushels). Of the 7 cultivated trees men- 

 tioned, however, all but one produced fruit the previous year 

 (a total of 14 bushels) ; while of the 4 mulched trees only one 

 produced fruit in 1905, (a total of 2 bushels). It should fur- 

 ther be stated that of the mulched trees mentioned more than 

 half of the fruit (13 baskets) came, from one tree, No. 49, pre- 

 viously noted as particularly and unaccountably thrifty and 

 productive. The most casual observer can but note the need 

 of additional plant food. 



On the fertilized portion of the orchard the difference 

 between the culture and the mulch was, this year, about as 1 to 

 2 1-2, with the Tolmans, but was quite the opposite with the 

 Gravensteins, the ratio being 3.4 to 1. In other words, while 

 the average yield of 11 Tolman trees on the cultivated section 

 was one bushel per tree, the average of the corresponding num- 

 ber of trees on the mulched section was one barrel per tree. Of 

 14 Gravenstein trees on the cultivated area, on the other hand, 

 the average yield was 4.8 baskets as compared with 1.4 baskets 

 on the mulched area. As a matter of fact, the difference is even 

 more striking than this, for of the 14 cultivated trees 10 bore 

 fruit, the minimum crop being 2 baskets and the maximum 13 ; 

 while of the mulched trees but 2 bore fruit, one giving 1 1-2 

 baskets, and the other 10 baskets. 



In comparing the yields of both Tolmans and Gravensteins 

 for two or three seasons past, there is an apparent advantage 

 from the use of stable manure. This advantage, which lies 

 partly in the added amount of humus and, doubtless, partly in 

 an actually larger amount of plant food per tree, is not suffi- 

 cient, however, to pay the extra expense of hauling the manure 

 for the considerable distance which is necessary in this, as in 

 most orchards. Where stable manure is readily obtainable, and 

 need not be hauled long distances, or over rough roads, there is 

 nothing better for use in the average Maine orchard ; but in 

 very many cases the use of concentrated fertilizers is more 

 economical, and will give equally as good results. 



f See plan of orchard Bulletin 122, this Station, p. 183. 



