ORCHARD -NOTES. 131 



In 1905, the cultivated Tolman trees gave an average of 4 

 bushels per tree, while the mulched trees yielded but 2.8 bushels 



In 1906, when the season was excessively dry during the late 

 summer and fall, the difference between culture and mulch was * 

 "about as 1 to i\ 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 correspond- 

 ing number 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 (one-half bushel) 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^ baskets the other 10 baskets." There 

 is little doubt that the relatively late harvesting of the Tolmans, 

 in connection with the dry fall, had much to do with the recorded 

 yield. 



In 1907, the largest crop in the history of the orchard was 

 produced. As in the previous year, the mulched Tolmans gave 

 better returns than did the cultivated trees ; and the general 

 health and vigor of the trees seemed about the same in each 

 case. Unfortunately, in the absence of the writer, some thin- 

 ning of the overloaded trees was done in this orchard, and this 

 may vitiate the yield record for this year. 



In general, the behavior of the several Tolman trees since 

 coming into bearing is indicated by the table. The Gravensteins 

 are omitted because of the great irregularity caused by destruc- 

 tive weather conditions. 



From the table it will be seen that there is a marked individ- 

 uality in the bearing habit of the several trees, e. g., numbers 14 

 and 21, cultivated, and 53, 56, 58 and 61, mulched, may be 

 characterized as heavy bearers. Numbers 16 and 24, cultivated, 

 and 54, mulched, are noticeably light yielders. Numbers 13, 

 15, and 19, cultivated, and 55, 56, 58, 59, 60 and 63, mulched, 

 bear regularly; while 16, 18, 20 and 23, cultivated, and 53, 60 

 and 64, mulched, are alternate in bearing habit. 



* Bulletin 139 of this Station, p. 52. 



