126 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I908. 



In 1898 a young Tolman and Gravenstein orchard of 80 trees, 

 planted -8 to 10 years, was selected as the basis of operations. 

 This orchard, located on the farm of Charles S. Pope, in Ken- 

 nebec county, is situated on a high, rocky, sandy hillside, with an 

 eastern exposure. While not an ideal situation, it represented 

 fair average conditions, and the trees were just beside a large 

 Baldwin orchard, which had been planted under similar circum- 

 stances. The land was used as a pasture, and had never been 

 plowed. During the first 10 years, or until the Station work 

 was begun, no special attention was paid the young trees, except 

 to keep out borers and give an occasional mulching. 



Subsequent treatment was, in brief, as follows : t In May, 

 1898, the whole area was given steamed bone at the rate of 500 

 pounds per acre. One half of the land, containing 40 trees, was 

 then plowed and thoroughly harrowed ; while the other half 

 was mulched, partly with sawdust and partly with stable 

 manure. On each plat thus made, 12 trees were left without 

 an application of fertilizer. One-half of the remaining trees 

 of each plat were given stable manure, and the other half a 

 complete commercial fertilizer. In other words, on an area of 

 approximately 2 acres, involving 80 trees, of 2 varieties, — Tol- 

 man and Gravenstein — the following distinct questions were 

 under consideration: (1) a comparison of culture and mulch- 

 ing as a practicable treatment for young orchards. (2) Is an 

 application of fertilizer necessary or desirable when trees are 

 planted in virgin pasture lands. (3) The relative merits of 

 stable manure and commercial fertilizers as sources of plant 

 food for young orchards. Certain broader scientific problems, 

 involving questions of plant physiology, must of necessity be 

 omitted from this discussion because of incomplete data. 



Exact figures are given in the accompanying tables, pages 128 

 and 129 compiled from field notes taken each year. These show 

 the annual growth during a period of five years, since the trees 

 commenced bearing, and the present condition of the several 

 trees under observation. For previous records of condition and 

 behavior, see Bulletin 89 of this Station, pages 5 and 6, and 



t For detailed statements as to treatment, with diagrams, see Bulletin 

 89 of this Station, pp. 2-4; and Bulletin 122, p. 184. Treatment in 1906 

 and 1907, same as in 1905. 



