FRUIT NOTES - January, 1942 



W. H. Thies 

 Extension Plorticulturist 



Here 's An Idea 



Y/'ith a heavy demand for nitrogen in the making of munitions, 

 several of the nitrogenous fertilizers are entirely off the market while 

 others will be both scarce and expensive. This will probably mean that 

 many of our sod orchards will either go mthout the annual spring tonic, 

 or some other means of stimulating the trees will have to be devised. 



If a good yield is to be obtained in 1942 and in 1943, tree vigor 

 must be maintained. In a sod orchard, additional nitrogen is almost certain 

 to be needed eventually, and if 10 pounds of nitrate of soda per tree gave 

 good results last year, we naturally would like to continue with the same 

 fertilizer program. But suppose vm cannot obtain the same nitrogenous 

 fertilizer used last year. It is obvious that a complete fertilizer car- 

 rying, let us say, one-quarter as much nitrqgen as the nitrogenous ferti- 

 lizer, would have to be applied at the rate of 40 pounds per tree to pro- 

 vide the same amount of nitrogen. Such an application v;ould, of course, 

 be a fine thing for the cover crop but might be hard on the pocketbook. 

 A broadcast application of a complete fertilizer would occasionally be 

 very desirable, particularly where a "nitrogen only" program has been 

 followed for a number of years, although a complete fertilizer applied 

 at the usual rate per acre camiot be depended upon to supply as much ni- 

 trogen as the trees may need. 



But there are at least five things which Massachusetts growers 

 may v/ell consider as possible substitutes for the commonly applied nitro- 

 gen carriers. (1) Use more mulch. Almost' anj'thing in the way of organic 

 matter found within hauling distance, regardless of the time of year, will 

 pro-ve beneficiAl in our sod orchards. Hay, straw, corn stalks, potato 

 vines, saxvdust, or seaweed may be used to compensate for the anticipeted 

 shortage. (2) Use poultry manure where tree and grass groirth show that 

 it is needed. Precautions concerning amount and time of application should 

 be observed. (3) If the sod is reasonably heavy, harrow the orchard once 

 or tv;ice in early spring. In many orchards, there is an accumulation of 

 organic matter iRhich dates back 10 or 15 years or more. This may be the 

 year to cash in on a little of this material. A light harrowing during May 

 will give the grass a setback and bring about the decay of some of the or- 

 ganic matter and thereby provide some nitroi_,en for the trees. Harrowing 

 should be done in such way that erosion ir avoided. (4) If the trees are 

 at all brushy, somewhat heavier pruning nay be in order. This may be the 

 year to do the pruning v;e intended to do last year. By pruning out vreak, 

 shaded, downward grovdng parts of branches, and by a fairly liberal thinning 

 of poorly located wood throughout the top, we can bring about a more effi- 

 cient distribution of the available nitrogen, and thereby invigorate the 

 rest of the tree, (5) Cut out extra trees. In nanj'- orchards there is 



