71 



as yet and hence those that are actually least expensive or most 

 convenient should be chosen. All applications should be made an- 

 nually, subject to the variations indicated below. 



Time and Method of Application. 



The time of application we believe to be of distinct importance, 

 especially in the case of nitrates. While our evidence on this is 

 by no means complete, yet there are good indications that nitrates 

 can easily be applied too early in the season and thus be wholly 

 lost to the trees. Other evidence leads to the opinion that distinct 

 harm may result from their application about fruit-setting time, — 

 especially in the case of the peach. We feel, therefore, that the 

 nitrates should be applied not earlier than petal-fall in apples and 

 probably not later than the middle of July. In general, about the 

 middle of this period should be very good, though some of our best 

 results have come from applications made as late as the 8th of July. 



With the peach in Missouri, Dr. Whitten reports that the time 

 of application is very important and that very large increases in 

 yield have been obtained from moderate quantities of nitrate of 

 soda alone when ''applied at the right time."* This is considered 

 to be "after the main length growth has taken place in early sum- 

 mer." Such applications kept the trees from going into the rest 

 period too early, and maintained a green and healthy condition 

 throughout late summer and autumn without renewing the growth 

 in twig length. It may also be noted that in the English work, at 

 the Woburn Experimental Fruit Farm, July applications proved 

 beneficial, while those made in February were of no avail. 



An incidental advantage of the delayed application appears in 

 the fact that it gives an opportunity to vary its rate somewhat in 

 accord with the size of the crop set on the trees. When the crop 

 is light, much smaller applications are required, because of the 

 natural tendency of the trees to develop a sufficient number of 

 fruit buds in the off season. Proper utilization of this fact should 

 save much in a series of years, and also enable one to secure the 

 maximum return for the fertilization applied. 



In the case of the mineral ingredients, with their lower solu- 

 bility and slower action, the time of application is less important. 

 Some of the most careful observers in commercial work regularly 

 apply their phosphates and potash in the fall on their peach or- 

 chards, and believe that this gives best results. Thus far, however, 

 we have felt that the time of application for the minerals is of 

 relatively little importance, since they are rather quickly fixed in the 

 soil, in any case, and they do not leach readily. We therefore, apply 

 them along with the nitrogen, at the time we consider best for it. 



The method of application that we have followed is merely 

 to scatter the fertilizer or manure broadcast over the surface of 



*See Proceedings of the Society for Horticultural Science 191 1, p. 37. 



