- 4 - 



difftrtint techniqua. Any grovvur intorastod in studying Vc.rious rocor.J7ionded 

 nethods of covvsring treys i~ invittd to look over Lauflot 178, "Spraying 

 and Dusting Fruit Trees." A copy nuy bb obtainwd from your county ugant 

 or fron. thu State Collago. Spraying r.iothod s are described and illustroitid 

 on pages 18 to 24. 



Another connon nustake in spraying fruit trees is found in the amount 

 of naterial used per tree. It takes a clever driver to propel a tractor at 

 just the right speed to enable the operator of a spray nozzle to spray each 

 tree with thoroughness. One tree nay require 5 gallons and the next one 15. 

 Suggested anounts for trees of different sizes aru indicated on page 19 of 

 th J above leaflet . 



No one would question thvi importance of using the right spray ul.- 

 tericils. It is a natter of cocjnon knowledge that considerable differences 

 rr.ay be found in the various branjis on the market. But after all is said 

 o.nd done, the brand of naterial is of far less importance than the nanner 

 in which it is applied. Most crops of scabby, misshapen apples are trace- 

 able to faulty coverage and poor timing. If these two items ^re given due 

 consideration there will be less need for discussing the merits of this or 

 that brand of material. 



Determinint^; the Fertilizer Nee ds of the Soil 



In a recent issue of Virginia lixtension Division News, N. A. Pettin- 

 ger, Agronomist of the Vu- Agr. iixp. Sta., outlines sever t^i cor.u;,on sense 

 methods of dtiternining what fertilizers should be used. He says, "Many 

 people iiavc the idaa that all thi.t is ndudod to determine whet plant foods 

 are lacking in any pto-ticulur soil is to make a coi.ipljtc chemical analysis 

 of it. Almost every day the soils analyst here p.t Virginia Tech receives 

 samplas of soil accompanied by requests for a complete chemical analysis 

 in order to determine its fertilizer requirements. The college does not 

 comply with these requests as a rule, for two reasons, (1) the state does 

 not provide the college with funds for this type of work, and (2) a chemical 

 analysis is not a reliable guide to fertilizer needs. The last part of 

 this statement is justified by the fact that v;e now know that plants can 

 use only u part of the pl^nt foods contained in soils." 



The writer suggests that v;e study the symptoms or conditions which 

 indicate the need for the various plant food elements. 'If these symptoms 

 fit your particular soil you are justified in applying a fertilizer contain- 

 ing the plant food element which that deficiency indicates. For example, 

 nitrogen is usually deficient, - (1) If the soil is sandy. (2) If the soil 

 is grayish in color. (3) If the soil is very acid. (4) If the soil is 

 deficient in organic matter. (5) If the plants grow slowly and the iaaves 

 are pale green or yellowish in color. (6) If the top soil has been washed 

 avmy. (7) If legumes have not been grovm regularly in the rotation. 

 (8) If the land has btsen burned over from time to time. He suggests that 

 nitrogen is usually abundant in a soil well supplied with organic matter 

 where plants ^re making good rapid grovrth and tne leaves cjre d..rk green in 

 color. 



One of the best W;^ys of determining whether a soil is deficient in 

 lime and other plant food elements ie to cv^.ply them separately in a field 

 about which information is desired. If a crop does better where a certain 

 element h^s been added the ch^vnces ..re thj.t the soil is deficient in that 

 element. Obviously, such a method is not as applicable te orchards as to 

 vegetables er grass crjps. In the c^se ^f fruit trees the cover crop is 

 generally a geod indicator ef mineral deficiency. 



