33 



Table X shows the effect of manures in both young and old or- 

 chards on color and size of fruit and on growth of trees. The 

 effects have been fairly distinct in all cases, — reducing the color 

 with one exception, and apparently increasing size of fruit and tree- 

 growth."" In all cases, the color is least on the plots receiving stable 

 manure. In the old orchard, manure shows some advantage over 

 commercial fertilizer in wood growth and in size of apples, with 

 effects reversed in the young orchards. The greater effect of com- 

 mercial fertilizer in the young orchards is probably connected with 

 the smaller area over which it is distributed, thus giving relatively 

 stronger applications. 



The above data are obtained from extensive work through a 

 short period. In Table XI, we have data from the reverse condi- 

 tions, — one experiment continued over 21 years. 



^We say "apparently" increased the size of fruit, since the matter of size 

 is undoubtedly primarily dependent on soil moisture and number of fruits 

 on the tree. Thus any fertilizer effect must necessarily be indirect, as in 

 the case of color. 



TABLE XI. 



Massachusetts Experiment on Apples, 1889-1910.^ 



Treatments and Total Yields per A., to Date. 



Plot. 





2 



3 



4 



5 



Annual 

 Treatment. 



Manure, 

 10 Tons. 



Wood Ashes, 

 1 Ton. 



Check. 



Bone & K Ci 

 600 & 200 



Bone & Low G. 

 Sulfate, 

 600 & 400. 



Average Girth, 

 Ratios, - - - 



38.25 in. 

 136.7 



33-23 in. 

 118.8 



27.98 in. 

 100 



32.27 in. 

 115.3 



37.02 in. 

 132.3 



Yields, lb., - - 

 Ratios, - - - 



24934 

 632.8 



12841 

 325.9 



3940 

 100 



14453 

 366.8 



21863 

 554.9 



Color and Size. 



4 



I 



5 



3 



2 



These results are similar to those recorded in the preceding 

 tables with the differences in some cases even more distinct. In 

 every respect the treated plots have proved superior to the untreated. 

 Manure leads in yield and growth but falls next to the check in 

 quaHty. It is closely followed in yield and growth and much sur- 

 passed in quality by plot 5, which received ground bone and low 

 grade sulphate of potash. The superiority of 5 over 4, which differs 

 only in the carrier of the potash is very interesting. Whether it is 

 due to the magnesia in the sulphate or to a harmful effect of the 

 chlorine accumulating from the muriate, or to a soil difference, 

 cannot yet be stated. It will be recalled that our results of the 

 third year corroborate it, in plots which compare only sulphate and 

 muriate. 



^Data furnished by Dir. Wm. P. Brooks, of the Mass. Expt. Sta., Decem- 

 ber, 1909. 



