FllTY-FIKST ANNUAL REPORT. 83 



Dr. Kraus: If it is a factor that is being constantly used up, doubtless 

 it should be continued more or less indefinitely as long as it goes into 

 the tree. It means that at least after a year or two the trees are growing 

 ahead of themselves and you will need to supply a supplement to the 

 Nitrogen. In order to get the full value of the Nitrogen we have to 

 begin adding these other materials to it. If we put on too much Nitrogen 

 it will make the trees "overgrow" themselves. 



Question: Does this discussion apply to cherry trees? 



Dr. Kraus: Yes. If cherrj'^ twigs are very short, the tendency is to 

 produce a leaf bud at the tip. The cherry buds are all blossoms. When 

 fruit is taken off it leaves a bare shoot. To go on for ton or fifteen years 

 the twig will be walking out continually and will bo ;i long line. Buds 

 produce cherries and are vacant second year, then tho twig will walk 

 out a little farther and produce a leaf on the end. 



Question: How may we eliminate bare spaces — what do you con- 

 sider good growth on twelve year old trees? 



Dr. Kraus: 9 to 10 would be better. Tho only thing would be to 

 prune. Prune from the top. 



Question: Have you ever known leaves or fruit spurs on bare twigs 

 where the leaves have been lost, by shothole fungus? 



Dr. Kraus: No. 



Question: Would you recommend applying stable manure to it? 



Dr. Kraus: Yes. 



Question: Would this time of the year be the proper time to apply it? 



Dr. Kraus: No, you would lose too much by leaching. 



Question: Would the same thing as far as time of application is 

 concerned apply to commercial fertilizers? 



Dr. Kraus: No because commercial forms go into solution so quickly. 



Question: In developing annual bearers would you prune on the 

 "on-year" or the "off-year"? 



Dr. Kraus: On the "off year". 



Question: What would be the best way to prune peaches — to high 

 top or low tops? 



Dr. Kraus: Does not make any difference. 



Question: Will trimming have any effect upon the bearing of fruit 

 the following year? 



Dr. Kraus: No — because the trimming is done too late. 



Question: I have a Spy orchard too close together and it affects the 

 growth. What would be the results of trimming the ends of those 

 longer limbs? 



Dr. Kraus: If you cut off limbs, it allows the others to have more 

 light. The buds would grow stronger. If the branches are tending to be 

 too thick, you would disappoint that effect by cutting. The buds would 

 be stimulated. The tendency would ])o to grow back into vegetating 

 shoots. You can use pruning shears. 



Question: Do j^ou find any difference in June and Spring pruning? 



Dr. Kraus: Yes — in case of spring pruning you will tend to remove 

 reservations that are held over winter. If you begin in June you will 

 remove that material which you would remove in winter time and you 

 tend to starve the thing out. June pruning is weakening to the trees. 



Question: Will the pruning of j'^oung orchards tend to keep them 

 from coming into bearing so early? 



