ORCHARD NOTES. 



141 



Annual Yields, "Fisher" vs. "Station" Fertilizers, — Tolman. 





Yield per tree, in 



bushels. 





Treatment 



and number 



of tree. 



1905. 



1906. 



1907. 



Remarks. 



Fisher 



Formula 



No. 6 



11 



13 



20 



4.5 



1.1 



.5 



2.8 



10.2 

 8.3 

 2.1 

 9.3 



4.5 

 7.3 

 2.0 

 3.8 





Average 



Station 



Formula 



No. 4 



5 



12 



19 



2.5 



* 

 '.'8 

 2.5 



1.8 



7.5 



4.5 

 9.0 

 3.0 

 6.3 



4.4 



12.8 



14.5 



5.3 



3.0 



Average per tree for 3 years, 4.8 bushels. 



*Tag lost, 1905; Number 4 and 5 adjoined 

 "hog-culture" orchard and were thus 

 stimulated, 1906. 



Average 



1.7 



5.7 



8.9 



Average per tree for 3 years, 4.1 bushels. 



From field observations each year, from a study of annual 

 individual yields, annual average yields, or the average total 

 yields for 3 successive years, the writer is unable to point out 

 definite results. While unquestionably the "Fisher formula" 

 is useful in quickly starting a vigorous growth, in the case of 

 neglected, sod-bound trees, it apparently is not, in a series of 

 years, superior to a less expensive and better balanced formula. 



After a study of all the factors involved, the following tenta- 

 tive conclusions seem justified : (1) The percentage of nitrogen 

 in the Fisher formula is too high for the best results with fruit. 

 (2) On most soils the Fisher fertilizer is unnecessarily expen- 

 sive, and is wasteful of available nitrogen. (3) The Fisher 

 fertilizer results in the production of fruit which is large but 

 of poor color and coarse texture. (4) The Station fertilizer, 

 or some similar mixture containing about 3 per cent of nitrogen, 

 6 per cent phosphoric acid and 8 to 10 per cent of potash, with 

 a supply of humus in the form of cover crops or as a mulch, 

 is most satisfactory for general orchard use for a term of years. 



