May, 19 19 



BETTER FRUIT 



Page 31 



which have been made by our chemists 

 indicate that this may be true. 



Of course in tlie more friable, better 

 drained and less acid soils the processes 

 of nitriflication doubtless serve to keep 

 up a constant though often insuflicient 

 supply of nitrates, and it is significant 

 that spring injury rarely, if ever, occurs 

 to orchards on such soils. 



But the processes of nitrification, or, 

 at least the rate at which these 

 processes operate, are determined by 

 the more or less favorable conditions 

 of heat, air and moisture which prevail 

 in the soil. Thus it is that the most 

 serious spring injury occurs upon cold, 

 heavy, often acid and poorly drained 

 soils where the processes of nitrifica- 

 tion are not sufliciently active to main- 

 tain the available supply of nitrates. 



In brief, then, the theory which I am 

 presenting for your consideration is 

 that "spring injury" is due to acute 

 nitrogen starvation induced, first, by 

 tlie leaching from the soil of the accu- 

 nudated supply of nitrates, and, second, 

 by conditions which inhibit the pro- 

 cesses of nitrification and thus prevent 

 (he production of new supplies of 

 nitrates at a time when they are most 

 needed. 



Should the theory prove to be tenable 

 it explains, I think, not only the cause 

 of "spring injury" or "sour sap" but 

 may also explain the cause of "Cherry 

 Tree Gummosis," which, so far as I am 

 able to determine, differs from the 

 spring injury of other trees only in the 

 fact that the cherry tree has a tendency 

 to gum more or less profusely when 

 injured. It would also doubtless ex- 

 plain the cause of the rapid and very 

 noticeable "yellowing" of thousands of 

 acres of grain on poorly drained soils. 

 It might also account at least in part 

 for the slow early season growth of 

 spring-planted crops upon our colder 

 soil.s. 



vShoukl experiments and experience 

 demonstrate that the theory is sound it 

 would apparently follow that spring 

 injury and related troubles can be 

 largely, if not wholly, prevented by 

 taking such measures as may be neces- 

 sary to provide an available supply of 

 nitrates to tide the trees over the crit- 

 ical period from a week or two before 

 blossoming to two or three weeks after, 

 or until the weather and soil conditions 

 become favorable for the processes of 

 nitrification. The quickest and most 

 readily available method of supplying 

 the necessary nitrates would be to make 

 a light application of nitrate of soda to 

 the soil, say ten days before the trees 

 are to bloom. Early cultivation, where 

 possible, the liming of acid soils, drain- 

 age, the grovkth of cover crops, and 

 other practices whicli tend to favor 

 nitrification will doubtless suggest 

 tlicmselves. If the natural processes of 

 nitrification are to be depended upon 

 to supply the necessary nitrates it is 

 evident, I think, that the soil must be 

 put in the best possible condition to 

 l)romote these processes some time in 

 advance of the blossoming period and 

 must be kept in that condition until 

 danger of injury is past. If for any 

 reason the soil cannot be placed in the 



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