304. Report OF THE HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
on the average, 169 pounds per acre of actual potash were 
applied each year; 72 pounds of phosphoric acid from the ashes 
and 57 pounds from the acid phosphate; and lime at the rate of 
32 pounds per tree, 1,536 pounds per acre. The amounts are 
in excess of the usual recommendations of these fertilizers for 
apples. 
8. The effects of the fertilizer were measured by two stand- 
ards, yield of fruit and color of fruit. 
g. The annual averdge increases per tree on the treated plats 
for the several varieties were, in bushels, as follows: Fall 
Pippin, .1.05; Roxbury, 2.65; Rhode Island Greening,— 0.34; 
Northern Spy, 2.55; Baldwin, 0.28. 
10. From a financial standpoint the results are practically nega- 
tive. The estimated increase in value of the crop on the treated 
plats for a hypothetical five acres is $99.00. The estimated value 
of the fertilizers for the above area is $74.50, leaving a gain of but 
$24.50, which does not more than pay for handling the fertilizers. 
11. An interesting fact is that both treated and untreated 
plats increased markedly in yield from 1893 to 1904. The 
probable explanation is, that prior to 1893 the orchard was in 
sod, but during the experiment was kept under cultivation and 
grew more productive under the treatment. 
12. The results as to color of fruit lack uniformity and were 
not decided enough in a sufficient number of the twelve seasons 
to enable us to state that the fertilizers applied improved the 
color of the apples. The influence on color was most marked 
in the seasons. when the climatic conditions were unfavorable 
to the development of the fruit. 
13. This experiment shows that 57 years of orchard crop- 
ping has not reduced the soil of the Station orchard to the 
condition where it needs a “complete” fertilizer. The fact 
that plowing under leguminous crops gives beneficial effects 
in the orchard shows that the soil is having a one-sided wear. 
It needs nitrogen and humus rather than potash and phos- 
phorie acid. 
14. The results of this experiment should not lead the fruit 
grower to conclude that his soil does not need the nutrients 
supplied. They suggest, however, since the soil of the Station 
orchard is an average piece of soil for western New York, that 
there may be many other orchards in the State that do not 
need these fertilizers. ‘ 
