Sulph ur and Orcha rd Soil Aci dity* 



Except where heavy applications of dusting sulphur are made over a 

 period of years 5 Massachusetts fruit growers have little to worry about as re- 

 gards the acidifying effect of fungicides applied for disease control. It is a 

 well knovm fact that an application of sulphur tends to make the soil more acid, 

 whereas an application of calcium in the form of line, makes it more alkaline. 

 Grovdng plants require both of these elements, although calcium is required in 

 greater amounts. Fortunately, fruit plants are fairly tolerant of acid conditions c 

 Apple trees, for example, will thrive on soils ranging from '-quite acid to nearly 

 alkaline (pH 4.8-pH 6.8). The crop of grass and other vegetation between the 

 trees is a good indicator of the need for lime, better in fact than the tree it- 

 self. Thus, if the soil becomes so acid that only acid tolerant plants will grov;, 

 cai application of lime mil benefit the cover crop, and indirectly benefit the 

 tree. Furthermore, it should be remembered that our soils in humid Nev/ England 

 tend to become more acid each year by a leaching out of bcisic materials thus 

 requiring an occasional application of lime to im.prove growing conditions. 



In a certain Massachusetts orchard v/hich has received about l-g- tong/A* 

 of dusting sulphur during the past 15 years nothing but moss v/as found grov/ing 

 under the trees because of the extreme acidity. An application of about tv/o tons 

 of ground limestone per acre has remedied this condition. One ton of high cal- 

 cium lime is capable of neutralizing about 640 pounds of sulphur. This makes it 

 possible for the fruit grov/er to remedy the acid condition brought about by sul- 

 phur applications at little expense. In a spray program involving the use of 

 lirao sulphur, vrith its content of calcium and sulphur, there is little or no 

 ch^^ngc in the acidity rating of the soil. And if an occasional lim.o application 

 is made to take care of the cover crop we believe that fruit grov/ers have more 

 important things to v;orry about thaji the possible danger of acidifying the soil 

 through the application of sulphur fungicides on the trees. 



^D:lii.-ii°iS.?. Index. 



For the benefit of the occasional individual who keeps a file of 

 "Fruit Notes" an index covering the various subjects presented in the 12 issues 

 during 1940 vri.ll be included in the last issue v;hich will appear arou.nd the hol- 

 idays . 



Ti'/entyj^ iir^ Radio Spra y Mes sa,^es Durin g t he Current S_eascm . 



A total of 24 spray messages for fruit growers have been prepared be- 

 tv;een April 24 and J^ly 29 for broadcasting over half a dozen radio stations in 

 lassachusetts. The last message of the season appeared on July 29. 



Ap:ri culture and the Nati onal Def ens e Program:^. 



A memorauidura from the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, H. A* 

 Wallace, under dato of Juno 18, 1940, contains this statement, "It will not be 

 necessary to set up nev; Government services, or new organizations of farmers to 

 ca.rry on agriculture's part of the national defense prograi',i." Tlie Secretary be- 

 lieves that farm people themselves (through county extension organizations, AAA 

 committees, planning committees, etc.) and Government agricultural services (in 

 the Department and the Land Grant Colleges) are set up and staffed to do whatever 

 needs to be done. 



