-o- 



stony and very low in fertility. After the removal of this peach orchard 

 followed by a few years of plowing in green manure crops to build up the 

 soil, the site was again set to peaches in 1940. Contour lines were laid 

 out with a surveyor's level, terraces built up v;ith road machinery, and 

 the trees set at the outer edge of the terraces. In most orchards the ex- 

 pense of building terraces would not be justifiable. If the trees are 

 planted along the contour lines, cultivation will build up terraces in a 

 few years. On very steep slopes terracing gives protection during the 

 first fev/ years required to build the terraces by cultivation. 



Certain results of this method of planting in the College peach 

 orchard are worth noting. First, the soil has been much improved by the 

 cultural treatment, and this improved soil has been held in place. Second, 

 run-off of water has been prevented thereby improving the moisture content 

 of the soil. This has been particularly noticeable in the spring when 

 large quantities of water vifere present. At times the terraces have looked 

 like a series of rice paddies. This water has percolated into the soil in- 

 stead of running off. And lastly, the grovrth of the trees has been improved. 

 Following the very severe winter injury during the winter of 1342-43, the 

 trees made an astonishing recovery. They did this in spite of a shortage 

 of rainfall during the summer of 1943 when precipitation Viras considerably 

 below normal in three of the five growing months. The conservation of 

 moisture must have contributed greatly to this result. 



Anyone planting an orchard, particularly a peach orchard, where 

 cultivation is to be practiced would do well to consider carefully the con- 

 tour system of planting. 



— J. S. Bailey 



FALL NITROGEN APPLICATI ONS .fiJID V miTER INJURY 



Experiments i.i N-^w Hampshire seem to show that fall applications 

 of nitrogen rendered app^. ? -.reGs iriore susceptible to winter injury. At 

 the Maine Station nitr.>[;;-vn cirrj.ed in nitrate of soda, cyananiid, and manure 

 have been appii ;d in Ifey; ;'V,(-a.st. September, and October to bearing trees 

 over a period of four y^ars, No significant dif feri=^n.-*,e in yield or in re- 

 lationship vn. bh winter r'.rcjury haa been found. Our experiments in Massachu- 

 setts agree with those D.r M'^ine in that there is little or no relationship 

 between carrier or season of upplication and yioldo We have seen winter 

 killing which we thougnt v.'as related to fall applications of sulphate of 

 ammonia, Vrhether and v^hy rhe difference in winter injury is a problem, 

 perhaps climatic differences may be the reason. 



— J. K. Shaw 



HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE MEETING 



Last yeir the l]f^.vr England members of the American Society for Horti- 

 cultural Science heir' a meeting in Worcester. It was so successful that 

 another meeting "ms held at "che Universicy of New Hampshire at Durham, on 

 December 28 ai.d 29. Ihr^ att-jndanoe v.-a.- good, over 40. including about a 

 half dozen practical fruit growTrr. Ivloro thaii ?.0 papers wer- presented. 



