This statenier.t, by its .frankness, is a narked contrast to frequent 

 extravagant statements in nursery advertising, v/hich ■aim to confuse and mis- 

 lead rather than to present the facts fairly. The latter t'^'pe of advertising 

 is illustrated by the folloxving statement taken from a recent issue of a 

 prominent periodical: "Bearing age plants yield in 60 days. Have plenty 

 of fruit to eat and sell this year. Send for these fruit- plants ready to 

 bear first season. Blueberries, boysenberries, strawberries, raspberries, 

 apples, peaches ." 



The extravagance of these statements' would be amusing except for 

 the fact that some people, whose knowledge of the bearing habit of fruits is 

 limited, are going to be lured into buying plants v/hich will prove a great 

 disappointment. The nursery v/ith the Dresden strawberry should have a host 

 of friends, v/hile the other nursery merits nothing but condemnation. 



' '•■; " 0. C. Roberts 

 Test Orchard Soils for Acidity " 



If the soil is very acid certain necessary plant food elements be- 

 come locked up, and are therefore unavailable. If the pH is as lov; as 5, an 

 application of ground limestone will tend to render more available some of the 

 mineral elements for which we pay h^rd earned cash. Two examples from veget- 

 able investigations will help to illustrate this point. (1) V. A. Tiedjens 

 of the N. J. Agr. Exp. Sta., says, "Acid soils tend to fix phosphoric acid. 

 For this reason, if v/e must farm acid soils, v/e must use a 1-2-1 or a 1-3-1 

 fertilizer ratio so that the plants will receive sufficient phosphoric acid. 

 V«''ith sufficient lime in the soil, a 1-1-1 or a 1-1-2 ratio would be suitable 

 because more of the phosphoric acid v.'ould be available. 



(2) Results of applying increasing amounts of -potash in growing 

 peppers on limed and unlimed soils in Hew Jersey, are strikingly shov/n in 

 the follov.'ing table; 



Fertilizer Unlimed Limed 



(1000 lbs. per acre) (Yield, bu. per acre) (Yield, bu. per acre) 



5-10-0 268 297 



5-10-5 268 324 



5-10-10 329 408 



5-10-15 356 . 405 



5-10-20 345 359 



From these figures it is apparent that lime increased the efficiency 

 of the potash in the mixed fertilizer. Lime is relatively- inexpensive. It 

 may be very much needed in your orchard. The cover crop is a good indicator 

 of soil acidity. Soil samples should be taken in each block since they are 

 likely to vary in degree of acidity. ^\nd if the soil in a given area tests 

 pH 5 or lower, an application of ground limestone this spring may prove a 

 very profitable investment. 



Do You Know ■ 



That apple pie holds top rank in the army camps of the U. S.? A 

 poll of the various camps conducted by the V,'ar Department shov;s that apple 

 pie is the favorite dessert of men in khaki. Ice cream is a close second to 

 apple pie. Others in order of preference are as follows; Doughnuts, chocolate 

 cake, cherry pie, coconut cake, mince pie, fruit cobbler, banana puddin^,. 



