SOIL MANAGEMENT — FERTILIZATION OF ORCHARDS. 35 



Plot. 



Fertilizer. 



Pounds per 

 Acre. 



Barnyard manure 

 Ashes .... 

 Check, no fertilizer . 

 Ground bone . 

 Muriate of potash . 

 Ground bone . 

 Low-grade sulfate of potash 



20,000 

 2,000 



600 

 200 

 600 

 400 



The fertilizer and manure have been apphed on various dates, generally 

 between April 1 and IMay 15, though in 1906 they were not applied until 

 July 2. 



Soil Management. 



During the period from 1889 to 1893 various crops, such as barley, oats, 

 corn, vetch and soy beans, were grown in the orchard. In the fall of 

 1893 it was seeded to rye and grass, and the sod then established con- 

 tinued until the fall of 1910. For the first few years small circles around 

 the trees were kept free from grass by hand culture. Until 1902 the 

 grass was cut usually twice each year, made into hay and removed from 

 the orchard. In that year the first crop was made into hay and the second 

 allowed to lie in the orchard. Since 1902 no hay has been removed, but 

 the grass has been cut and allowed to lie where it fell. In November, 

 1910, four strips, each about 8 to 12 feet wide, were plowed the long way 

 of the orchard. These strips have since been kept in cultivation by 

 harrowing four to eight times during the summer; and usually about 

 August 25 a cover crop of oats or rye has been sown. The grass along the 

 tree rows has been cut and allowed to lie as before. 



The history of the soil management, therefore, falls into four periods: — 



1. With various intercrops ...... 1889-189.3, 5 years. 



2. In sod with grass removed ...... 1894-1902, 9 years. 



3. In sod mulch 1903-1910, 8 years. 



4. In strip cultivation 1911-1920, 10 years. 



The fourth period might be subdivided between 1916 and 1917, marking 

 the cessation of the application of fertilizer and manure. 



Orchard Management. 



The trees have been pruned in most years, at least since the}^ have 

 been in bearing. Heading back the new growth has been practiced more 

 or less, and all dead wood has been removed. 



During the early years apparentlj'^ no spray treatment was given. Be- 

 ginning in 1902 annual treatments for San Jose scale have been given 

 which have kept the pest from doing serious damage to the trees. Gen- 



