IvlASSACI-iUSETTS STATE COLLEGE 

 UNITED STATES DEFAETI'ffiKT OF AGRICULTUHE 

 AUD COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICES IN AGRICULTURE AND 

 HOLffi ECONOMICS COOPERATING 



ITIUIT NOTES, MY 1936 



W. H. Thies 

 Extension Horticulturist 



Back in the Trenches 



Work lias been resumed in the study of root distribution and its re- 

 lation to tree behavior. This project was begun last fall in cooperation with 

 the departments of Agronomy and Botany, when trenches were dug in 10 Massa- 

 chusetts orchards, as follows: Middlesex County 5i Worcester County h, Hampshire 

 County 1. At least two trenches were d-og in each of these orchards with the 

 idea of studying subsoil conditions in relation to tree behavior. Some strik- 

 ing comparisons were thus obtained which throw considerable light on such 

 things as small size and color of fruit, early drop, and leaf scorch. We are 

 beginning to feel that the water relations in the orcliard are tremendously 

 important. Apple trees have been planted on all sorts of soil ranging from 

 those -anderlain by porous gravel to others having a subsoil of extremely 

 compact, fine sand. Waterholding capacity of the subsoil may vary from 15^ to 

 50^. Roots in some cases penetrate to a depth of only two feet and in other 

 cases, six feet . 



Thus far this spring a careful study has been made of soil conditions 

 in four orchards, in each of which illustrations have been made by Mr. Stephen 

 Hamilton showing the details of root distribution and of soil type including 

 depth and color of the various layers. Work will be resumed this week in 

 Essex and Bristol Counties. The orchards thus far studied this spring were 

 located in Stow, Sherborn and Amherst. As the work progresses, we intend to 

 include a study of orchards on all of the major soil types in Massachusetts. 

 When this information is assembled, we shall then have a better understanding 

 of the relation between soil type and tree behavior. With these facts in 

 mind, we sliall be better able to advise regarding the adaptability of soils 

 to tree fruits and at the same time wc shall be able to diagnose more accurate- 

 ly water deficiencies which now exist in so many orchards in the state. The 

 cooperation of Itossachusetts growers thus far has been very encouraging. 



Limitations of Soil Analyses 



There are still some people who like to believe that the soil 

 chemist caii take a handful of soil and with a few simple analyses tell just 

 what that soil needs for any kind of crop. In reality, what he can actually 

 tell is of little value in the absence of such information as soil drainage, 

 slope, type of subsoil, and the water relations which determine the ability 

 of the plant to get water throughout the season. We would not for a moment 

 underestimate the value of such things as the measurement of soil acidity. 

 In our opinion such measurements are very inpox'tc^it . But when it comes to 

 a measure of the amount of potash in orchard soils, there seems to be little 

 relation between the actual potash content in a soil sample and the behavior 

 of a tree growing on that soil. Some surprisingly good orchards seem to be 



