ORCHARD NOTES. 139 



THE TOP-WORKED ORCHARD.* 



The work in top-grafting was suddenly terminated by the cold 

 winter of 1906-7; practically every tree in the orchard being 

 killed or badly injured. Not only the top-worked trees, but the 

 Ben Davis trees left for comparison, suffered. The work is 

 therefore abandoned without the possibility of drawing conclu- 

 sions. The following record was made in October, 1907. 



Condition of Top Grafted Orchard, October, 1907. 



Baldzvin — 1 tree killed by winter, 1906-7; 1 tree, previously 

 weak, dead ; 4 trees badly injured. 



Ben Davis— 4. original trees, left as checks, more or less 

 injured; several original trees, not directly included in this 

 experiment, but intended for further trials, killed. 



Sutton- — 4 trees killed by winter, 1906-7; 1 tree injured by 

 winter; 1 tree apparently in good condition. 



Jonathan — 1 tree killed by winter, 1906-7; 4 trees badly 

 injured by winter; 1 tree apparently in good condition. 



THE EISHER FORMUEA.t 



For 4 years a comparison has been made between the highly 

 nitrogenous fertilizer, made after the commonly known "Fisher 

 formula," and a fertilizer containing less nitrogen and more 

 phosphoric acid and potash. The "Fisher formula" i calls for 

 about 8.6 per cent nitrogen, 3.3 per cent phosphoric acid, and 

 1 1.9 per cent potash. The formula commonly known as the 

 "Station formula," calls for about 3 per cent of nitrogen and 6 

 per cent phosphoric acid, and 8 per cent potash. The "Fisher" 

 fertilizer costs about $42 to $43 per ton ; the other about $32. 



The total number of trees included in this comparison is 48, 

 of which 40 are Baldwins, under cultivation, and the balance 

 are Tolmans in "sod mulch." The Baldwins were about 30 

 years old and in an exhausted condition when the work was 

 commenced; the Tolmans were about 20 years old and in good 

 vigorous condition, though not large. 



Both lots of trees responded freely to the treatment, and have 

 borne every year since. The annual yields are given in detail 



* Bulletin 122 of this Station, p. 198; and Bulletin 139, p. 56. 

 t Bulletin 122 of this Station, p. 196. 

 t loc. cit. 



