318 Report oF THE HortTIcULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
fertilizers to five acres of orchard, which practically offsets the 
gain. So that in practice, if not strictly in fact, the results 
from the fertilizers as to yields have been negative. 
COLOR OF FRUIT. 
It is commonly thought that out of the baker’s dozen of ele- 
ments made use of by plants, potash is the one which gives 
color to fruits. The statement is not infrequently made, too, 
that phosphoric acid has a decidedly beneficial effect on the color 
of fruit. This phase of the present experiment is therefore 
approached with some interest. In the Station orchard apples 
do not color well and if the addition of these fertilizers would 
heighten color their use might be desirable, even though there 
was no great gain in yield. On sandy soils, apples as a rule 
take on their brightest colors, while on clay they run to duller 
hues. Because of their influence on color, potash and phos- 
phoric acid are thought to be especially valuable on clay soils. 
The clay soil of the Station orchard was, therefore, a very 
favorable one upon which to try these substances to influence 
color. 
The records for the twelve years for the varieties in question 
run as follows: 
1893. Slight improvement was noted in the color of all the 
varieties on the treated sections. Even the Roxbury was 
smoother and more highly colored on the treated than on the 
untreated section. 
1894. Fall Pippins were smoother and fairer on the treated 
plats. Baldwins showed but little difference and that in favor 
of the untreated trees. Rhode Island Greenings had a riper 
appearance, more yellow and a tinge of red on treated plats. 
No difference discernible with Northern Spy and Roxbury. 
The results for this year were not at all uniform. 
1895. Effects were not more noticeable for this season than 
in the previous one, Rhode Island Greenings and Northern ‘Spys 
showing best color in untreated plats and Baldwins and Rox- 
burys highest colored in treated plats; no difference noted be- 
tween the plats of Fall Pippins. 
1896. Colors developed as well on untreated plats as on 
treated. 
1897. Crop comparatively small and poorly colored on both. 
treated and untreated plats without noticeable difference. 
