-7- 



'^-aiccLo /<uia 



ABSORPT I ON OF NI TROGEN THROUCzH APPLE LEAVE S 



All v;e 11- informed fruit grov/ers laiow that their trees obtain min- 

 eral nutrients, includinij nitrogen,, from the soil. Some people have been 

 very skeptical of the ability of leaves to absorb mineral nutrients, but it 

 is now viTell established that they may do so. However, it is unlikely that 

 the spray outfit will replace the fertilizer distributor. One difficulty 

 is that soluble minerals, as nitrate of soda, applied in a spray are likely 

 to burn the leaves. The Geneva Experiment Station has shown that Urarion 

 (urea) applied in the regular pesticide sprays, 5 lbs. per 100 gallons, v;ith 

 lime, did not burn Ilclntosh leaves but resulted in a typical nitrogen color 

 response and increased the nitrogen content of the leaves. These trees were 

 obviously deficient in nitrogen. I.hen applied to trees well supplied with 

 nitrogen, there was little or no response. It is suggested that this method 

 of supplying nitrogen may offer means of a more exact control of the nitrogen 

 supply of the tree. (Proc. Aner. Soc. for ilort. Sci. Vol, 43: p, 125.) 



— J, K. Shaw 



POTASH AMD LIAGI-JES lUl i DEFICIENCIES 



Many Massachusetts fruit growers know Dr» A. B. Burrell and also 

 Dr, Damon Boynton who formerly managed an orchard in A;nherst. They have been 

 studying potash deficiency in apple trees in the Champlain Valley, They dug 

 in 3 pounds of sulfate of potash in a narrov; band under the tips of the 

 branches in successive years. In the second year, leaf scorch was strikingly 

 reduced and in the third year was almost eliminated and shoot grov-rbh was in- 

 creased. In the fourth year, potassium leaf scorch disappeared, shoot growth 

 about doubled and the potash content of the leaves also doubled. But there 

 appeared a ''fertilizer injury" to the leaves; the writer is willing to bet 

 a cigar that it was due to magnesium deficiency. On other trees, a \% sol- 

 ution of sulfate of potash applied 6 times as a spray, and sulfate or muri- 

 ate dug in or applies on the surface all increased the potash content of 

 the leaves and also increased growth. No increase in yield is reported. 

 Potash deficiency seems more prevalent in the Champlain Valley than in other 

 parts of Nev; York. (Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. 5ci, Vol, 43, page 61.) 



— J, K. Shaw 



POT.^ SH CONTENT OF /iPPLE LEAVES 



It has been found by Baker in Indiana that the application of 

 potash to culvivated orchards did not consistently increase the potash con- 

 tent of apple leaves over those from trees not fertilized with potash. How- 

 ever, v;hen trees were mulched with straw or tobacco and even witli paper, 

 sawdust, or glass wool, the potash content of the leaves was consistently 

 higher than that of leaves from trees not mulched. This is interesting as 

 it suggests that not all the greater available potash under a mulch cTmes 

 from the mulching material] there must be an effect of the mulch on the 

 potash of the soil. (Proc, Amer. Soc. for Hort. Sci. Vol. 43: p, 7). 



— J, K, Shaw 



