-6- 



pounds of sulfur spread over an aroa of 100 square foet. For oxaxaplo, if 

 the pH is 6.5, it is 2 pH units ovor the 4,5 optimum and so would require 

 20 X .075 or 1.5 pounds of sulfur per 100 square feot." He cautions against 

 the use of sulfur • vrithout knowing the soil thoroughly. Carc^ful tests of 

 acidity should be made before any sulfur is applied. 



That the meadow mouse population in most llassachusotts orchards is 

 unusually high? Robert 11. Borg of the Fish and VJildlife Service, says, "Many 

 Massachusetts orchards are providing ideal habitats for an abundance of mice. 

 If climatic conditions are normal this fall v/e may expect damaging populations 

 of Microtus. Mice v;ere present under nearly every tree examined in 25 mulched 

 orchards in 4 counties (Vforcester, Essex, Middlesex, and Franklin). Food and 

 cover conditions v;ere ideal everyv";here. In one better than average 1 acre 

 habitat (orchard) in Middlesex County 28 meadow iiiice were taken in one day." 



That highly favorable weather conditions during September in the 

 important apple producing areas of the Northeast have brought about a further 

 increase in the apple crop? The October estimate for New England is ZT/a 

 above the 1942 crop. The United States crop is :iow placed at 128,386,000 

 bushels which is nearly 2 per cejit above last month's estimate. 



That apple storage conditions in an underground stravir lined pit are 

 almost ideal? Vuth relative humidity around lOOJo and v;inter temperatures a 

 little above the freezing point, v;e have very favorable conditions for apples 

 which would otherwise shrivel in an ordinary cellar. The writer remembers 

 Russot apples stored that way on the homo farm in Hichigan. On removal from 

 the pit in April thoy wero unbelievably crisp. V/ith a shortage of storage 

 this fall somo growers are considering a return to this old method. 



TESTING ORCHARD SOII^ FOR. A CIDITY 



Ev-iry fruit grovifor in Massachusetts sliould be interested in maintain- 

 ing tr°e vigor through the use of . materials other than nitrogen. Present re- 

 strictions on nitrogenous fertilizers make this problem increasingly pressing. 

 We must devise substitutes for the annual spring tonic which we have learned 

 to administer through the use of nitrate of soda and other high nitrogen forti- 

 zers. ViThile we have dosed our orchards \vith nitrogen we ha-^e paid little or 

 no attention to the increasing acidity of the soil, a condition brought about 

 by^ liberal applications of sulfur in the form of sprays or dusts. Many orchard 

 soils are now so acid that only the more acid tolerant plants vrill grovf. 

 Grasses of all kinds have in many cases disappeared from the area beneath the 

 branches. Under these conditions an application of potas)i or phosphorus may 

 be partially wasted since these elements may not remain in available form. 

 Furthermore, the scanty cover crop results in a very slight addition to the 

 supply of organic matter. In a few words, the problem may be summed up as fol- 

 lows: Orchard soil improvement may be brought about by (1) a test for soil 

 acidity, (2) an application of high magnesiuin or dolomitic lime as needed, 

 preferably harrov;ed in, and (3) the establishment of a leguminous cover crop. 

 We need a state wide carapaign on the testing of Massachusetts orchard soils 

 for acidity. A liberal application of lino, long delayed, offers a partial j 

 solution of tho tree vigor problem. This practice should supplement or precede 

 the bringing in of additional mulch material. 



