1905.] 



Manuring of Apple Trees. 



437 



Reinette " and the same number of " Schoner von Boskoop " 

 were selected. The soil was a light sandy one, and was, prior 

 to planting, manured with 16 cvvt. of basic slag, 19 cvvt. kainit, 

 and 24 cwt. of lime per acre, while, in addition, it received an 

 application of farmyard manure. The fact that the orchard 

 was so heavily manured before the experiment was begun may, 

 it is thought, have affected the trials, but the results are, perhaps, 

 worth noting. 



The 81 trees were planted in three rows, and as nine methods 

 of manuring were to be tested, a different manure was applied 

 to each cross row of three ; the results from the nine trees similarly 

 manured were therefore obtained from three different parts of 

 the orchard, any variations due to the soil being thus minimised. 



Some of the points dealt with in the experiment may be 

 summarised as follows : — 



Kainit and basic slag applied to the trees at the beginning 

 of April in quantities of about 2\ lb. each per tree, proved 

 injurious to such an extent that it was still noticeable three 

 years afterwards. As stated above, this result was obtained on 

 land previously heavily manured with mineral matter. It is 

 possible that this result might be prevented if the manure were 

 applied during the winter, and the fact that manure applied at 

 the beginning of March in small quantities in the second and 

 third year gave a favourable result, seems to support this view. 

 Chalk marl in quantities of 2\ lb. per tree had a useful effect, 

 notwithstanding the fact that the soil was already well furnished 

 with lime. It was observed that in several instances the lime 

 diminished the injurious effect of the over-manuring with kainit 

 and basic slag. 



The addition of nitrogenous manures acted in the same way 

 as the lime, and the application of 2\ oz. per tree of sulphate 

 of ammonia promoted the growth of wood. The latter manure 

 was also found to be much superior to nitrate of soda. The 

 after effect of the nitrogenous manures was distinctly noticeable 

 in the second year. 



; In connection with the above experiment, it may be remem- 

 bered that in the trials continued over nine years at the Woburn 

 Experimental Fruit Farm, it was found that neither moderate 

 nor heavy dressings of dung or artificials, nor of both combined, 



