51 



from applications as late as July 8th. 'Most any time during the 

 period indicated will probably get the most out of the nitrate appli- 

 cations. 



\\'ith the other less soluble and slower acting materials, the 

 time of application is much less important. We know some careful 

 observers, who even advocate the application of phosphate and pot- 

 ash in the fall on peaches, and claim that they get the best results in 

 that way. Our own feeling on this is that the time of application 

 for the mineral fertilizers is of relatively little importance. In any 

 event, they are rather quickly fixed in the soil and they do not leach 

 readily. Hence, we apply them along with the nitrogen, letting the 

 time of application for the latter, which w^e do consider important, 

 govern for all. 



Fertilization and Cultural Methods for Apple Orchards. 



R. A. Wickersham. A\'hat would have been the result if you 

 came into this section where they have good soil ? 



Dr. Stewart. Wt got some very good increases in our experi- 

 ment in the Tyson orchard this past year, which was the first full 

 crop on this experiment. 



Member. Do you prefer Nitrate of Soda? 



Dr. Stewart. We use it as a carrier of about half of the nitro- 

 gen. Dried blood or other carriers should be satisfactory for the 

 remainder. 



Dr. Mayer. Is the nitrate plowed in or harrowed in or put 

 on the surface? 



Dr. Stewart. It is put on the surface and left there to be 

 washed down in some cases, while in others it is harrowed in. I 

 should not plow it in. 



Member. AA'hat variety in the Johnston experiment? 



Dr. Stewart. Baldwin. 



Member. Did you try lime on sod ? 



Dr. Stewart. Yes, we tried it every way. 



Member. Did you try Basic Slag? 



Dr. Stewart. Xot yet. \Yq expect to begin something with 

 it next season. 



Member. Are you going to give us the formula ? 



Dr. Stewart. Yes, we will come to that afterwhile. 



Mr. Newcomer. How about the color of the fruit, is it a 

 high, brilliant color? 



Dr. Stewart. When we picked the fruit on the X-plots of 

 the Johnston experiment this year, there w^as more color and bright- 

 er color on them than had been on the checks. 



Mr. Allis. Have you figures on the average cost of fertilizer? 



Dr. Stewart. $14.00 per year. S14.00 per year has given us 

 an annual increase of 450 bushels of fruit. 



Member. How about the treatment where the grass grows 

 rank ? 



Dr. Stewart. If the grass grovvs rank, I w^ould try to get rid 

 of it. I would plow it up and plant vetch. 



Member. Have you had very good cover crops in that or- 

 chard ? 



