-8- 



nutrition. Even thoui^h thero are liberal supplies of mineral elements in the 

 soil the tree is unabl& to get them either because the roots have been des- 

 troyed or they are failing to function. Instead of being able to exploit 

 the soil to a depth of 6 or 8 feet the tree must get v/hat it can from a depth 

 of 2 or 3 feet or less. 



This situation suggests a need for doing something more than applying 

 this or that mineral element. It is easy enough to apply magnesium sulfate 

 around a magnesium deficient tree. It might bo more profitable to drain the 

 soil before attempting to make up the deficiency. And in case the soil is 

 already over drained a heavy mulch may go a long way toward improving growing 

 conditions. In a season of heavy rainfall magnesium deficiency symptoms are 

 likely to appear on a porous soil because of excessive leaching. Thus we may 

 find similar leaf sj^mptoniG in a soil Vvrhich appears to be too vret and one which 

 appears to be too dry. In both cases the tree is unable to obtain its require- 

 ments of one or more min'-;;ral elements. 



DOBS LIQUI D LIIE SULFUR DETERIORATE ? 



A report just received from Robert B. Smith of Eastern States Farmers' 

 Exchange helps to ansvvor this question. Laboratory studies have be'^n made by 

 this concern to determine the effect of freezing on lime sulfur solution. 

 Quoting from Mr. Smith's letter, "Our laboratory reports that the temperature 

 of Lime Sulfur Solution can go well below the freezing point of water (32 de- 

 grees Fahrenheit) before ajriything happens. They found that somev/here in the 

 range between 10 and 15 degrees crystals began to appear on the surface. As 

 soon as these first crystals were formed more and more crystals developed 

 dovm -through the solution as the temperature was gradually lowered. They also 

 found that if the container v/as jarred that the crystals v/ere formed more quick- 

 ly. At about 5 degrees FeJirenJrieit the entire sample became a mass of two types 

 of crystals. One v;as ice and the other a sulfur compound. At this point con- 

 siderable pressure was developed in the sample and this pressure affected the 

 thermometers to the point v;here they became unreliable. 



I believe that this development of pressure due to the freezing of the 

 solution is probably the most important point in connection with damage which 

 might be caused to the solution. This pressure would, without a doubt, burst 

 or opon the seans in the drum and thus allov; the solution to leak out. Upon 

 thawing the sample, the solution appeared to go back to its original state v/ith 

 the exception of a fev; crystals of Sulfur which remained around the top edge of 

 the solution. As far as the laboratory could determine this solution was per- 

 fectly usable and seemod to be normal except for the presence of these few 

 crystals of Sulfur." 



SA LE OF FRUIT GROTffiRS' EQUIP! lENT 



A complete line of fruit farm tools and accessories v;ill b e sold by 

 the ovmer of a large Hrunpden County orchard. Included are refrigeration equip- 

 ment, conveyer, grader, duster, disc harrow, and many other items. Any in- 

 terested grower may obtain further details from County Agricultural Agent W. T. 

 Locke, Hampden County Improvement League, VJest Springfield, Mass. 



