-5- 



BullGtln 363, "Fertilizing Fruit Tr^jos v/itli Nitrogen", jmbliGlicd 

 by tho University of Missouri, Agricultural Expcrimont Station, 

 in April, 1936. Tlie author, A. E. Murncck, says, "There is a 

 prevailing opinion that tho greatest nood for nitrogen by fruit 

 trees is at tho tirao of flowering and loaf dcvolopmont. Hence 

 the fertilizer should reach tho roots and be absorbed early in 

 tho spring.. Not only fruit sotting is effected by nitrogen but 

 also the shoot grov;th and dovelopmont of loaves". This publication 

 suiTimarizes our present day knowledge of nitrogen needs in the or- 

 chard. Few principles in horticulture havo been demonstrated more 

 conclusively. We know now that tho high producing tree raust of 

 necessity develop its leaves early in the spring, and this develop- 

 ment requires plenty of nitrogen as v;ell as carbohydrates stored 

 tho previous fall. The tree v/ith a larger than nozTTial loaf area 

 at blossoming time has a decided advantage over a tree v/hich is 

 slow in dovoloping its leaves in the spring. This fact emphasizos 

 the need for storage of carbohydrates in the autuimi and for an 

 abundant supply of nitrogen in the tree at blossoming timo . 



G row M or e Humu s in the Orchard 



Quoting from a recent issue of the Rural Now Yorker, 

 R, E. Stephenson in an article on orchard cultivation says, "In a 

 certain orchard half the hum.us was burned out after 11 years of 

 clean cultivation. These results are typical of what occurs when 

 fertile soils are cultivated. The effect upon the tree is good 

 at first. Large supplies of plant nutrients are released by 

 tillage and tree growth is stimulated. In c. few years the picture 

 changes as the humus is reduced". We aro beginning to appreciate 

 tho value of organic matter in the orchard. Recent dry seasons 

 have brought many evidences of a fluctuating water supply. And 

 unless the orchard soil is deep and of good water holding capa- 

 city, the supply of organic matter takes on much importance as a 

 moans of preventing surface run-off and of holding a little extra 

 v/ater for a time of need. The easiest way to reduce the amount of 

 organic matter in tho soil is to practice constant cultivation. 

 This loss may bo partially reduced by cultivating for a shorter 

 period in spring and then making sure that a good cover crop is 

 grovm to replace the organic matter "burned out" through cultiva- 

 tion. While the trees are young and the ground not completely 

 sho-ded, v;e ought to treat the soil between the trees in such way 

 that it v;ill make a maxlmma contribution to the future profitable- 

 ness of the orchard. It is difficult to grov; a heavy cover crop 

 after tho branches begin to crowd. 



A Note o n Orc hard Irrigation 



In U. S. D". A, Technical Bulletin 491, Magnoss, Degman, 

 and Furr report tho relation of soil moisture to tree response 

 in irrigated and non-irrigated apple orchards in western Maryland. 

 The report shows that at some timo during each soason (1930-33) 

 there was a reduced fruit growth rate due to shortage of soil 

 moisture in spite of the fact that in three of the years the rain- 

 fall from May 1 to October 31 was above normal. In most cases 

 the groY/th rate of fruit of trees growing in silt loam or silt 



