I46 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1908. 



The Fisher fertilizer was made up after the well known 

 "Fisher formula," and applied broadcast at the rate of 10 pounds 

 per tree. As actually used, for the 40 trees, this fertilizer was 

 as follows: Nitrate of soda, 140 lbs., sulphate of ammonia, 60 

 lbs., sulphate of potash, 92 lbs., acid phosphate, 88 lbs., kainite, 

 20 lbs. (Kainite was substituted for keiserite of the Fisher 

 formula). 



The Station fertilizer was applied at the rate of 10 pounds 

 per tree, in the same way, and as used was made up as follows : 

 Nitrate of soda 80 lbs., sulphate of ammonia 30 lbs., acid phos- 

 phate 200 lbs., muriate of potash 90 lbs. 



The trees responded at once. Although no fruit was pro- 

 duced in 1905, the trees made a vigorous growth, and the differ- 

 ence in color between the check rows and the others was most 

 noticeable. 



In 1906, and again in 1907, because of the exceedingly vigor- 

 ous growth induced, and because of the fact that the trees are 

 so close together, only one-half the amount of fertilizer was 

 used. Otherwise the treatment was as in 1905 ; a few young 

 hogs being allowed to run in the orchard the latter part of the 

 season. 



In 1907, the orchard was almost ideal in its general appear- 

 ance and behavior ; except that the trees are beginning to crowd 

 too much. The color of the fruit from the "Station" plat was, 

 as a rule, superior to that upon either of the other plats. There 

 were, however, as might be expected, individual exceptions to 

 this rule. In every instance the check rows were distinctly 

 noticeable by their relative lack of color and vigor; although 

 they would naturally get some benefit from the fertilizer applied 

 to adjacent plats. Records of annual growth were not kept, 

 but the yield of individual trees is given below. No comment 

 is necessary, as the work is incomplete. The records will be 

 continued, however. 



In the table, the trees of each row are placed in groups. With 

 reference to fertilizers, numbers 1 — 37 receive stable manure; 

 48 — 87, Station fertilizer; 98 — 141, Fisher fertilizer; 38 — 47, 

 88 — 97, and 142 — 152, no fertilizer. Trees marked with a star 

 (*), are Milding or Wealthy, and the fruit ripens earlier, so 

 that no record is kept. 



