ORCHARD NOTES. 135 



In spite of the injury wrought to many of the trees by the 

 severity of the past winter, a full crop of very fine fruit was 

 produced. A record of the yield is given in the accompanying 

 table of annual yields. 



The results of another season's observations but confirm the 

 conclusions drawn last year,t viz. : "The effect of treatment 

 given this orchard is visible as far as the orchard can be seen, 

 and from a hillside one-half mile distant the different plats can 

 readily be distinguished by reason of differences in color and 

 vigor of foliage. On those plats from which nitrogen has been 

 withheld, there is now a decided lack of color and a weak growth 

 indicative of neglect; while on the plats receiving nitrogen, 

 whether alone or in combination, a vigorous growth and deep 

 green foliage are evident. On this particular hillside, nitrogen 

 is the one thing lacking; potash and phosphoric acid, either 

 alone or in combination, giving no better results than are found 

 with the check trees. The plat receiving all three elements, 

 however, is decidedly the best in the lot, although if there is 

 any difference in the soil, this is the poorest corner of the 

 orchard." 



The work in this orchard has clearly shown that it is wholly 

 practicable to take an old, unprofitable, rapidly degenerating 

 apple orchard and, in spite of three unusually severe winters, 

 at close intervals, (i) to bring that orchard into a profitable 

 bearing condition; (2) to force Baldwin trees, by proper feed- 

 ing, to produce fruit every year, instead of on alternate years; 

 (3) to produce profitable crops of fruit by the aid of "chemicals" 

 only, in connection with intelligent culture, pruning and spray- 

 ing. It has further been shown, (4) that upon the particular 

 soil involved, all expenditures for fertilizers, unless these ferti- 

 lizers contain some nitrogen, is an absolute waste of money; 

 (5) that, apparently, the excessive use of nitrogen, in the 

 absence of potash or phosphoric acid, or both, is distinctly inju- 

 rious to the fruit; and (6) as a corollary to the other points, 

 that the best results are obtained from a complete, well balanced 

 fertilizer, rather than from an excessive use of any one element. 



t Bulletin 139 of this Station, p. 53. 



