Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-15

there is in II SO much to be learned
and known, and the longer one con-
tinues in the work the more ne real
ICES there is to be discovered and
worked out. At "0rehard Farm we
began tree planting on soil that for
more than a century had been produc-
ing general farm crops, and naturally
in that time its original supply OF
plant food should have been consider
ally reduced This fact was discover
ed in the rather unsatisfactory quail
itv of the fruit that was produced
The Question arose as how to most
economically bring up a higher pro-
ductiEeness.
For a time we put in sheep and
steers and fed for the manure they
would furnish, but. as there We're a
hundred acres to be laid out for or
chards it was a slow process TO try
Ia produce enough manure to cover
SO rauch land.
Commercial fertilizers were at
tempted but that required more CAPT
/ tai than was available to carry out
/ that plan, and their value was not
altogether certain on this soil, which
Is a glacial drift, gravel loan, lime
SiDiAt With h4A8A1 - i=A'
over the farm.
Stable Manure Better.
IT became evident that where stable
manure was used more positive results
were observed, but as this was not
10 DC had in sufficient quantity,
svstcm of clover culture was attempt
ed. for the purpose Of blowing IN TO
furnish. what the manure added, the
hunlus which this sell had lost and
which it was evident it needed more
than anything else.
It was q struggle for several years
to get a satisfactory growth OF clover
In fact. for three years on the same
soil. 1t seemed more Of a failure than
anvthlng that had been attempted,
hut there was some gain and the policy
was pursued until a most marked M
nrovement began to develop, when
what seemed like a discouraging fail
IRE began to show promise of real
success.
From the time that good stands OF
clover were obtained, marked improve
ment in the soil, in the growth Oh
trees. and in the yield and quality OF
the fruit have been realized.
We have been carrying out some llnes
of work with commercial fertilizers 10
cover a period of seven years, tour
wears of the time have passed. We have
used a complete fertilizer, feeling thaI
in so long a period of the production on
cereals there had been depletion oil the
principle food clements IN the soil.
on peach trees there has been de-
cided showing of results. Inc trees lhal
have had a liberal application Of
PpR Roa1a c acid 5it . and pounds -, q
potash for four years, nave IA , .aia,
time made great d grown " fI anf i TSe
peaches have been later in matuf-
ing and have not had the fine color thar
the check trees have shown, Gndoubted-
" more nitrogen has been applied than
the peach has required. and that Will
be reduced or left out hereafter.
Effect of Fertilizer.
On apple trees The results have not
been 50 marked. on rev OF Rhode
Island Greetings, an orchard now 40
wears old, the second year after apply
ing - pounds of Basic Stag for phoS-
phoric acid, 20 pounds of sulphate OF
potash . pounds of nitrate of soda per
! Tree, the foliage upon that row was ol
distinctly darker green in color than the
rest OF the orchard. The apples We're
also Of a decided green in color, while
en- the other trees there was more of the
yellow shade, near maturity Inc SIZE o.
the apples on the fortified row was
larger For the past two years there
perceptibie difference noted
+ In all of the orchards clover is being
sown for a cover crop, and plowed In,
excepting the past season, when buck
wheat was substituted. The first SIX
trees on the fortified row of apples have
made larger growth ana nave pro-
duced more apples than the unfertilized
row next to it. Yet. there are individual
j trees over the orchard that without fer
tilizers applied have made equal growth
of wood, and have produced as many and
as good apples
The six trees of the fertilized row
stand in soil that has more moisture in
1t than other portions of the orchard.
| There are so many factors that enter
into the problem of the growth Of trees
that it is somewhat difficult TO know,
how 10 give credit to the fertilizers used,
especially where the soil Is in good
productive condition.
Select Good Soil for Orchards.
Over much of New England. as in
other sections when orchards have been
planted. too often land has been selected
that was not the best for the farm crops.
This has been, and is mistake.
The best soil should be selected for
trees. for upon such, orchards Will make
more rapid growth; They may be made
to produce profitable crops several years
/ sooner. while the cost for fertilizers may
be saved, If good tillage is kept up,
combined with legumous cover crops.
The value of the apple crop Is so mucA
greater than most farm crops, that i
pays TO give the orchards the best land
on the farm.
oman OTSHdTQSs
One of the most valuable lessons of the
year 1911 is that of the small orchard
well titled. Such have produced in a sea-
son of unusual drouth large yields of eX-
cellent fruit.
a well cultivated orchard of five acres
for a majority of growers Will produce
more profit than larger orchards with
only ordinary care II in sections where
the conditions OF soil and climate are
favorable for orchardng. every farm
should have fVe-acre orchard put out
and given the care il requires IL would
produce more income one year with an
other than the entire balance of the
farm This has been the secret of the
success of the orchards of the North
west There a vast territory of land is
covered with small orchards. Water has
to be used in irrigating the land, and as
this is expensive, he small acreage is
enforced, but they have brought large
returns from the high care and culture
that have been required under the condi-
tons. Thousands of acres of orchards
may now be seen under intensive cul-
ture through portions of Oregon, Wash
ington, Idaho and Colorado. Their fruit
is being sent into our Eastern markets
in large quantities and unless we I'M
prove our Eastern methods, the West
will hold the best trade in our Eastern
markets.
The question is constantly being raised
with the very general interest that is
awakened in apple growing. is there not
from Recommendations