ASHES IN THE ORCHARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 68, 13 December 1907, Page 2

ASHES IN THE ORCHARD.

OF DOUBTFUL VALUE. Wood ashes seem to be of little valuo in an apple orchard, judging from the result of tests conducted by tho ISew York State Government. The tests were originally begun with tho two-fold object of ascertaining the valuo of wood ashes (1) as a scab euro, and (2) as a fertiliser. At the end of fivo years tho effect on scab was found to bo nil, and that phaso of the' test was dropned. Acid phosphates wore then added to tlio ashes in tho subsequent tests. Tho trocs operated oil numbered 04, and were 43 years oid at the beginning. They consisted of Baldwin, Fall Pippin, llhodo Island Greening, Roxbury, and Northoru Spy. Tho orchard was divided into eight plats, four treated and four untreated. Tho ashes were applied at the rather liberal rate of 1001b. per treo, or 48001b. per aero; and tho acid phosphato was applied at tho rate of S.Jlb. per treo, or 4081b. per aero. It was calculated that these quantities gave, per aero per annum, 1691b. of actual potash; 721b. of phosphoric acid from tho ashes and 571b. from tho phosphate; and 103Glb. of lime. Tho results of the test woro looked for in tho increased colour and yield of tho fruit. All excopt Northern Spy gavo a very slight increase of crop, but the colour was only improved in bad seasons. However, tho increase of crop was only worth 24i dollars on fivo acres —baroly enough to pay for tho extra cost of labour, so that the ashes wero actually applied at a loss. What tho experiment did prove was that cultivation counts beforo manuring. The orchard, which before tho test began had beon down in grass, was ploughed up and kept cultivated, and tho wholo orchard, manured and unmanured, gave continuous increases of oi'ojj.

There are some points that, are not quits* satisfactory in the tests. Ono',would liko to ;now if tho 1001b. of ashes'were applied lose around the treo or ovenly over the eniro orchard surface. Probably it was tho attor. Tho quantity of ashes used would, iu iny case, probably prove too strong for •oots, and thus produco a false conclusion. ashes ajono were appHdtl for five rears in succession, contrary to'tho general sxperisnco that of all solitary maftures those >f a phosphatic nature are, on most Foils, tha nost beneficial. A surplus of potash alone rould scarcely be expected' to be" welcomed jy any tree, and it would accumulate, someivjiat to tho taw's detriment. Tho'cxcessivoloss of the applications appears njpVo: clearly ivhen we remember that an average crop of lpplcs is estimated to remove, from the soil July about 161b. of potash per acrc v . In this jxperiment the trees received during -the ten rears over 20 tous of wood ashes: per'acre, :ontaiuing about 17001b. of pure potash. As to the acid phosphates and their negative ro--sults, it seems to emphasise the general view that trees liko to get thoir phosphates best' through an animal medium, sucli 4 As bone dust. There aro few soils in which 'dressings of bone dust ploughed under do. not,'greatly increase tho vigour and yields of frurLtreos.