NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



931 



Woburn Exp. Fruit Farm, 4th Report, 1904. By the Duke of 

 Bedford, K.G., and Spencer V. Pickering, F.R.S. — The report points out 

 the difficulty in experimenting with fruit crops, due to the possible 

 inadaptability of the plant to the soil, to climatic conditions (frost, 

 irregularity of crop), and insect attack ; also that it is advisable not to 

 draw conclusions from fewer than three years' trial ; and that a conclusion 

 at one station, though suggesting probability, does not necessarily apply in 

 the case of another farm with different soil or conditions. Some of the 

 present conclusions of the results are given under the headings of 

 Strawberries, Gooseberries, and Apples. 



Strawberry Trials (pp. 10-34). — Strawberry plants were found to be 

 very sensitive to surrounding conditions. The experiments with dung 

 applied after planting showed a better return with a light dressing of 

 12 tons per acre than a heavy dressing of 30 tons. The application of 

 dung increased the size of the berries and lengthened the life of the 

 plants, but the increase in the yield compared with the unmanured was 

 not very great ; neither dung nor artificial manure affected the earliness 

 of the crop. A light dressing of artificial manure may give a better 

 monetary return than that from dung; those from dunged plots were 

 superior in quality. In other experiments plants were watered with either 

 plain water or water containing artificial manure during the month 

 previous to ripening, but neither kind of watering showed beneficial 

 results. 



The practice of manuring in the great Strawberry districts of North- 

 West Kent is to dung heavily, say. thirty or forty tons before planting, and 

 afterwards not to manure. It would appear that experience may have 

 proved this system to be the best, both practically and scientifically. 



Gooseberries (pp. 35-44). — Whilst dung increased the growth of the 

 bush throughout, and the crop after the third year, artificial manures had 

 no appreciable effect on the crop and only slightly increased the growth. 



The dunged plots yielded fruit much superior in size, and the growth 

 and vitality of the bushes were greater, the foliage being larger and more 

 luxuriant. It would again seem that an increase in the dressing beyond 

 twelve tons per acre is not productive of any increase in the crop, 

 although it may increase the growth of the bushes. The value of the 

 dung would appear to be in its physical action, the soil becoming more 

 workable, with a smaller growth of weed than on the other plots ; also, 

 as shown by trial, the soil contained more moisture where dung was 

 applied. 



Bushes dressed with artificial manure were little better than those on 

 unmanured land, and were worn out and dying after seven or eight years. 



In Kent the practice is to dung moderately once in three years. 



Currants (pp. 45-49). — Live longer on dunged than on other plots. 



Average crop has been 20 cwt. per acre ; after nine years' growth the 

 average weight of the bushes was 200 cwt. per acre. 



Apples (pp. 53-90). — Neither dung nor artificials have given appreci- 

 able increase in the way of growth or fruit, and it is advised not to spend 

 money in manuring Apple trees, especially in heavy or fairly fertile soil, 

 unless it is ascertained, by trials extending over several years, that such 

 manuring would repay its cost. 



