-4- 



economical procedure, if it can be accomplished without going in debt. When 

 the war is over, a thrifty, young orchard may look even better to the owner 

 than it would now. Bui this is not the time to buy a new fruit farm on borrow- 

 ed capital. The present plantation should be consolidated and improved. It 

 should be made to produce more high grade fruit per acre through better manage- 

 ment. All equipment should be kept in good running order. If possible it 

 should be repaired and overhauled instead of buying new equipment. 



Seven steps have been proposed by our federal authorities to prevent 

 inflation and to halt the rising costs of living. These include: (1) tax 

 heavily, (2) place price ceilings on goods and rent, (3) stabilize wages, (4) 

 stabilize prices of farm products, (5) encourage increased purchases of war 

 bonds, (6) ration all essential commodities that are scarce, (7) discourage 

 installment buying and encourage the paying off of debts. 



As we face an extremely critical time in our history, the fruit grower 

 can contribute his part to the nation wide price control program by (1) paying 

 off all debts possible, (2) putting surplus money into war bonds, (3) making 

 essential improvements without expanding in a way that requires essential war 

 materials and skilled labor, (4) spending no money for things which are not 

 essential for the fruit enterprise or for family living, (5) cooperating whole- 

 heartedly in the nation wide program to control inflation through price ceil- 

 ings, rationing, and other means which may be devised for winning the peace 

 as well as the war. 



Conserving Poultry Manure 



During this period of nitrogen shortage every farmer should be inter- 

 ested in the conservation and more efficient use of poultry manure. Reports of 

 dumping this valuable material over a bank on one largo poultry farm have re- 

 cently been received. A nearby farmer might have it for the hauling. This is 

 an example of inexcusable v/aste. 



R. W. Donaldson, Extension Agronomist, offers these suggestions for 

 storing poultry manure where it is not possible to distribute it immediately: 

 "If storage is necessary, a miniuium area of surface should be exposed and com- 

 paction secured by added water to reduce aeration. Insulation of surfaces 

 with absorbent loam and superphosphate to catch escaping nitrogen are import- 

 ant. Storing in a pile as deep as possible (5 feet or more), v;ith perpendicu- 

 lar walls and concave top to catch and retain moisture is advised. A layer 

 of earth (an inch or so) and 300 to 500 pounds of superphosphate scattered 

 over each cord will do much to catch and retain escaping nitrogen. A deep 

 pile benefits from absorbed rainfall, and vdll not leach. During dry spells, 

 wotting down of piles may he advisable." 



If a pile of poultry manure is allowed to dry out nitrogen is lost, 

 as evidenced by the aimnonia odor. If the pile is kept wet and compact, par- 

 ticularly if loam and superphosphate are added, the nitrogen is conserved. 

 Fruit growers are missing a real opportunity if they fail to obtain poultry 

 manure wherever it can be had in quantity within easy hauling distance. Most 

 poultrymen vmnt the manure removed regularly. And if it is hauled at a time 

 when it may not be applied with utmost safety in the orchard (July to mid- 

 winter) it should be properly stored, or it may be used outside the orchard 

 for grovfing mulch material. Any sod orchard with scanty growth of grass or 



