ARTIFICIAL MANURES AND HORTICULTURAL PRACTICE. 59 



more marked every year. The trees on plot 1, which have 

 received no manure since the commencement of the experiment, 

 are making but feeble growth and show but little fruit. On 

 plot 2, which receives nitrate of soda alone, the trees differ from 

 plot 1 only in the colour of the leaves, which are darker. On 

 plot 3, receiving superphosphate alone, the leaves are large and 

 more uniform in size than on plots 1 and 2 ; there is a better 

 production of fruit, but it is reported of small size. On plot 4, 

 with muriate of potash, the leaves are not so large or uniform 

 in size as those on plot 3 ; they are, however, of a darker colour, 

 and the fruit is fully as good if not better in quality. Plot 5, 

 receiving a mixture of nitrate of soda and superphosphate, shows 

 leaves of good colour, uniformly large size, and increased pro- 

 duction of fruit. Plot 6, with a manurial mixture of nitrate of 

 soda and potash, the trees are reported to have a peculiar 

 appearance, nearly all the small lower side branches have died, 

 and the main branches are long and bare of foliage, except 

 towards the top where they appear healthy and fruitful ; conse- 

 quently this plot gives a smaller production of peaches than 

 plot 5 or than plot 7, which receives superphosphate and potash, 

 but no nitrogenous manure. On plot 8, receiving a mixture of 

 superphosphate, potash, and nitrate of soda, the trees are of 

 uniform size, leaves healthy, and fruit of good quality. These 

 are reported as the best row of trees in the orchard. On plot 9, 

 receiving an application of twenty tons of farmyard manure per 

 acre the trees are reported to have suffered somewhat from the 

 over-bearing in the season of 1890, and it is thought a few 

 will die." 



Looking at the figures given in Table IX., the results show 

 in a very remarkable manner the influence of climate on fruit 

 production. The year 1889 produced in most cases the smallest 

 quantity of peaches per acre, while the immediately succeeding 

 year 1890, gave by far the largest quantity of fruit per acre, 

 both without manure and under all conditions of manuring. It 

 is seen that in 1889, the worst year of the five, the range of 

 produce is from eleven baskets of fruit obtained without manure 

 to 167 baskets obtained by the application of nitrate of soda and 

 potash, being slightly in excess of the production by farmyard 

 manure. In the best year of the five, namely 1890, the range 

 of produce is from 247 baskets of peaches obtained by nitrate of 



