-4- 



That tho supply of nitrogenous fertilizers available to farmers this 

 season v/ill be about 35^.0 greater than in any previous year? There v/ill, 

 therefore, be more nitrogen in mixed fertilizers and for direct application 

 as top and side dressings. This increased supply will be equivalent to about 

 850,000 tons of annonium sulfate. Ammonium nitrate is at the present tine, 

 and may continue to be, a lov; cost source of nitrogen for direct application. 

 More than 200-,000 tons of ammonium nitrate will go into mixed fertilizers in 

 1944. 



That a probe for hot haymows is now available? This piece of equip- 

 ment consists of a pipe with a thermometer inserted in a pointed nose. A 

 reading as high as 150*^- F. indicates danger from spontaneous combustion. 

 If a similar gadget were available for investigating the subsoils in some 

 of our orchards, we venture the opinion that the cause of poor yields would 

 be apparent. Unlike haymows, some of them would probably register "not so 

 hot." 



That an individual in Stevirardstown, Pa. is interested in buying apple 

 logs, for which he pays $40 a thousand board feet? The logs must be green, 

 not dead or wormy, and must measure 13 inches or over in diameter at the 

 small end, and may be as short as 3 feet. For further information, consult 

 R. B. Parmenter, Extension Forester, M.S.C. 



That the ability of a rye plant to withstand deep freezing of the soil 

 may be due in part to the elasticity of the roots? Unlike the roots of many 

 other plants,, including strawberries, a rye root may stretcli an inch or more 

 without damage. Thus the rye plant possesses at least two advantages as a 

 cover crop, namely, its ability to grow in late fall and early spring, when 

 the temperature is too low for most other plants, and the ability of its 

 roots to withstand stretching. 



That thavdng of the soil in spring takes place both from above and be- 

 low? In view of the fact that the soil just below the frozen layer is con- 

 siderably above the freezing point, thawing from below may be relatively rapid. 

 Thus a deeply frozen soil is ready for tillage much oarlior in the spring than 

 if all the thawing were to take place from above. 



That one of the most efficient packers of apples in the Wenatchee 

 district in Yfashington is totally blind? At first she packed about 50 boxes 

 per day although now she is able to pack more than 90. 



That the interval between full bloom and fruit maturity is fairly con- 

 stant from year to year for a given variety? The apple is more consistant 

 in this respect than other fruits which have been studied. There appears to 

 be a greater variation in the bloom-maturity interval in early maturing than 

 in late maturing varieties. H. B. Tukey of the Geneva, N.Y. Experiment Sta- 

 tion suggests that growers, by keeping records, may obtain information v;hich 

 should be useful in planning their orchard operations. M. H. Haller of the 

 U.S.D.A, in a study of four varieties, T/illiams, Jonathan, Grimes Golden, and 

 Yellow Newtov/n, found that regardless of locality and seasonal variation, the 

 number of days from bloom to maturity is quite constant. VJ'ith the above var- 

 ieties, he suggests that harvest should not begin until at least 70, 130, 135, 

 and 150 days, respectively, after full bloom. The optimum maturity stage 

 v/ould be somev/hat later. 



