-3- 



HAY IvIULCH . m[ LONG DOES IT PAY DIVIDENDS ? 



We are all familiar v;ith what a heavy mulch can do for tree grovrbh and soil 

 nutrients, but we have not been too sure for how long a period we could expect to 

 receive benefits after mulching vras discontinued. Recent results of soil tests 

 which were taken from one of our long term niulching experiments reveal some 

 interesting information on the question. In 1922, Dr. Shaw began a mulching 

 experiment here at the University. For 16 years 2 plots received heavy applications 

 of mulch in the form of low grade hay. Two similar plots were kept in cultivation. 

 In 1939 the differential treatments were discontinued and the plots v;ere continued 

 as sod orchards except that the mulched plots did not receive any fertilizer. In 

 19li8 soil samples were t,aken from the different plots and analyzed for total nitro- 

 gen, phosphorus, available potassium, magnesium and calcium. The analyses revealed 

 that 10 years after the mulch had been applied the soil in the mulched plots 

 contained twice as much nitrogen and potassium as the cultivated plots, fear times 

 as much magnesium, eight times as much phosphorus, and nearly tvdce as much 

 calcium. The performance of the trees on the mulched plots and the results of the 

 soil analyses indicate that we may expect to receive benefits from mulching long 

 after it has been discontinued. 



Here are possible reasons for larger amounts of available mineral elements in 

 the mulched plots, considerable quantities of minerals are added by the heavy 

 application of hay. As this material decays, the organic matter not only yields 

 these mineral elements in available form, but tends to retain them against leaching. 

 Prevention of soil erosion by the mulch also helps the mulched plots to retain 

 more nutrients. 



i 



■* -;;- -;«• -ss- * * 



W. D. Yv'eeks 



-Y- * 



"Phony Peach" 

 knovm t 



Leafhoppers are now 



spread the serious disease of 

 peaches known as "phoney peach." Four 

 species of leafhoppers have been found 

 capable of transmitting the disease . 

 They are general feeders, but at 

 certain seasons they suck the juice of 

 peach trees. The disease causes dv;arfed 

 trees which produce limited numbers of 

 small peaches. More than a million 

 peach trees have been lost in south- 

 eastern states since 1935 because of 

 "phony peach" disease. There is no 

 known cure for it. 





COUITTY AGEIJT'S CORNER 



Bad Time for Apple Curculio in Franklin 

 ;County~Tly d7"T. Thayer) 



You can sweat over scab, be miserable 

 jover mites, and rent your garments over 

 j red-banded, but you've never had it so 

 I good unless you've tangled with the virile 

 {hill tovm strains of apple curculio. Ask 



genial Don Howes of Ashfield's Apple 



Valley: 



j Not too long ago, Don might rest on 

 jhis porch of a warm summer's nooning, and 

 ifrom the Wealthy block might hear the 

 I little Tachypterellus quadrigibbus sneer- 

 jing at his fine lead cover amid the patter 

 iof little apples. Storing his pent-up 

 •vfrath for a real hot, still day, Don and 



Grapevines on Light Soil Respond to 



Fertilizers Four tons of grapes per 



acre are considered a reasonable goal in 



certain vineyard areas in the Middle 



•-Yest. The average yield in the Lake Erie 1 crew would sally to the Wealthy block and 



grape belt is said to be approximately , pluck the invaders with nimble thumb and 



1 1/2 tons per acre. Growers Virhg are 

 getting a ton or less are applying little, 

 if any, fertilizer. Hoviever, grovrcrs v/ho 

 are applying a complete fertilizer annual- 

 ly and manure every U or 5 y^s, are har- 

 vesting 3 1/2 to I4 tons per acre. 



finger. But that's a losing game, so r^c 

 and saw were resorted to, in the belief 



