-?5- 



A Fruit Tree In a Lav'H 



A tinrlfty Deach tree grovlng without cultivation is of 

 uncoaimon occurrence except vhere the grass is clipped regularly 

 and left lay around the tree. In fact, vigorous fruit trees in 

 la\Mis are the rule rsther than the exception. Nitrogen in young 

 grass seems to be in a rather readily available form and capable 

 of being vashec back into the soil. A regularly clipped lav;n 

 therefore returns to the soil much of the nitrogen taken up by 

 the grass. The layer of grass also adds a small amount of laulch- 

 ing material, thus aiding in the conservation of moistuie. And 

 so the fruit tree in a lavin fares lauch the same as the tree in 

 cultivation. Yhether or not the orchard sod should be moved every 

 Saturday is a debatable question. The cost ^'ould prob^^bly exceed 

 the returns. 



Futu re of the Suck er Filled Bsldvin 



A mass of suckers around the inside is a characteristic 

 of the Ealdvin tree recovering from frost bited of 19S3-Z4. In 

 many Baldvin orchards little, if any, of this nev grovth has 

 been removed and this is in agreement with a no pruning policy rec- 

 ommended for such winter injured trees. Nov the question arises - 

 V'hat of the future? Certainly ve can't leave this crovded assort- 

 ment of surouts to remain indefinitely, and if we 'orune this year, 

 what shall we remove? The vriter suggests two fundamental ideas 

 "'hich should be kent in mind as we reshaoe the 'cripnled tree. 

 (l) replacements should come from those parts of the tree now 

 making good grovth. Often a vigorous shoot or sucker is tne logi- 

 cal successor for an older, weaker branch vhose ^rovth has slowed 

 down. V'herever possible 'active grovth should be salvaged in the 

 rejuvenating process. (?) A general thinning of the entire tree 

 is better than a skinning of the inside. An occnsional shoot or 

 sprout left here and there may, through its own leaf area, con- 

 tribute to the winter hardiness of nesrbv tissues. V^e ought not 

 to be in too xnuch of a hurry to remove all inside secondary grovth. 

 Pruning an apple tree involves a gradual renewal of the fruiting 

 wood, not through wholesale slashing, but through replaceiiients all 

 over the top. In the sucker filled Baldv>'in v^e have a good chance 

 to trade ooor branches for others of greater promise. 



Another Rem inder About Infe sted Droos 



The season of maggot infested "drorjs" is here. A single 

 worthless apole on the ground in August may be responsible for 

 half a dozen maggot flies in the tree next July. Drop anples 

 from the trees of suamer and fall varieties are much more dangerous 

 from the standpoint of breeding maggot flies than are the drops 

 fron winter varieties. Eighty per cent of the maggots in V.'ealthy 

 drops may mature into flies, vhile only 10.^ of the maggots are 

 likely to mature in Baldwins. Moral - Pick up and destroy promptly 

 all those infested droos which soften up readily if you would sira- 

 r)lify the task of controlling maggot in 19Z6. 



