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Leaf Analysis as a Means of Determining Fertilizer Needs of Fn.iit Trees 

 Determining the availatle nutrients in tlie soil as a means of 

 learning fertilizer requirements for crops has received some attention in 

 recent years. There is not a perfect correlation betvjeen nutrients in the 

 soil and in fruit trees though there is usually some correlation. Determin- 

 ation of nutrients in the leaves may suggest the fertilizer needs of the tree, 

 Workers in the U.S.DjA. find that a potassi'om content of over 1% in apple 

 leaves and 1,5^ in peach leaves indicates an ample potassium supply. As it 

 falls below these points there is increasing likelihood that a potassium fer- 

 tilizer will be beneficial. 



Last July and August there appeared symptoms of a nutrient deficiency 

 in one of our young apple orchards at the State College. Leaf burn v;as evi- 

 dent and the older leaves fell prematurely. The symptoms resembled those on 

 other trees growing on a soil knoT/^Ti to be low in magnesium. Determination of 

 magnesium in leaves from (1) partially defoliated trees, from (2) a tree in the 

 same orchard but carrying its leaves, and from (3) a tree in another orchard 

 that was making very good grov;th, followed the pattern of tree grovd;h. The 

 very good tree was highest in magnesium content, the partially defoliated trees 

 lowest, and the other tree intermediate. It iiiay be significant that these de- 

 ficient trees v;ere fertilized v.-ith potash (and nitrogen) last spring. Potash 

 fertilization has been shov.T^ to bring out symptoms of magnesium deficiency. 

 Y,e expect to find out next season if these trees are actually suffering from 

 a lack of magnesium. 



Y«'e have found that long continued liberal nitrogen fertilization may 

 develop symptoms of potash shortage. These and other facts show the signifi- 

 co.nce of a proper balance between the many chemical elements necessary for sat- 

 isfactory groi»,i:n and production of orchard trees. This does not mean that 

 everybody should change his orchard fertilizer from nitrogen only, to a com- 

 plete fertilizer, perhaps including calcium, magnesiiim, boron, copper zinc, 

 manganese and other elements that have been shown to be necessary for fruit 

 tree growth. If nitrogen alone results in satisfactory growth and production, 

 continue to use nitrogen only, but if performance of the trees declines and 

 especially if deficiency smptoms appear, it is time to study the situation and 

 find the remedy. J. K» Shaw 



Origin of Some New Apple Varieties 



Probably not more than 5^ of the national apple crop coines from 

 varieties of knovm parentage. Most of the commercial varieties are chance 

 seedlings. Only v/ithin recent years has the product of the plant breeder 

 found its way into our commercial markets. The Cortland is one example of 

 a commercial variety v:hose parentage is known. Most grov.-ers are familiar 

 v.-ith this variety and know that it represents an attempt to combine the high 

 qualities of the Liclntosh with the keeping and shipping quality of the Ben 

 Davis. . The follov/ing list of other nctv varieties is presented to clear up a 

 misunderstanding as to their parentage. 



The Macoun variety is a cross betv»een Mcintosh and Jersey Black. 

 The origin of such varieties is expressed by placing the letter "x" between 

 the parent varieties: Macoun (:.;cIntosh x Jersey Black). 



Kendall (Kclntosli x Zusoff) 



Early Ilclntosh and Milton (Mcintosh x Yellow Transparent) 



Sv/eet Mcintosh (Mcintosh x Lawver) 



Lawfam (Fameuse x Lawver) 



Lodi (Yellov: Transparent x liontgomery) 



Sweet Delicious, Medina, and Nev/fane (Delicious x Deacon Jones) 



