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IHE RELATION OF FALL FEHTILIZiiTIQN TO #IMTER I]^1JURY. VJHY TAKE CMNCES? 



Fruit growing is naturally a l-iazardous enterprise, so every effort should be 

 made to eliminate as many hazards of the business as possible, Tjivoiding applicar • 

 tion d" nitrogeno]ds fertilizer in the fall is one way to eliminate one of the risks 

 in growing apples. 



Nitrogenous fertilizers applied in the fall predispose the tree to winter in- 

 jury. The reasons for increased susceptibility of fall fertilized trees to winter 

 injury are not clear, but there has been ample evidence established to show that fall 

 fertilization is associated with winter injury. This does not mean that fall ferti- 

 lized trees will be winter injured every year; certain climatic and tree conditions 

 are apparently needed for the development of the injury. However, these conditions 

 cannot be predicted, so while fall fertilization may be practiced for several years 

 without injury the threat of severe injury is always with us, Vfhen it occurs the 

 tree is either killed outright or so severely injured that its productive life is 

 drastically shortened. The Injury is usually characterized by discoloration of the 

 bark and wood and a separation of the bark from the wood all along the main trunk of 

 the tree. Sometimes the injury is noticed because the bark splits and curls away 

 from the wood. In many cases, however, the tree appears normal and no visual sign 

 of trouble is noticed until yellowing of the foliage takes place in mid-summer, 



l/Vinter injury to fall fertilized trees is not confined to severe winters, it 

 has been severe in comparatively mild winters, I recently observed severe winter in- 

 jury to a young Mcintosh orchard in Massachusetts after a mild winter. In talking to 

 the foreman I found out that the trees had been fertilized in late November and 

 early December, 



While mnter injury to fall fertilized trees may occur only once in a lifetime, 

 it cancause severe losses which are not worth the chance. Your orchard is subjected 

 to enough hazards, so why take a chance of subjecting it to winter injury by fall 

 fertilization? 



■JHi'^Yir.D.Yfeeks 



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Farm Fire Losses Up ^% Over 1952 . The losses from farm fires diiring 

 the past year will amount to about $11+0,000,000, an increase of about 

 ^% over 19$2, The prinicpal causes have been carelessness and faulty 

 building construction, December through March are the months of heavi- 

 est losses. The nation's staggering fire losses are the result of over 

 a million fires of all sizes. The total losses from all fires will be 

 about n% higher than last year. Have you checked your property for 

 fire hazards lately? 



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THE TALL TREE PROBLEM 



Anyone who has attempted to carry out a spray program or harvest the fruit in 

 an orchard of tall trees is familiar with the difficulties involved. Modern spray- 

 ing equipment tends to emphasize the problem. Complete coverage with the air blast 

 type of irayer, above a certain level, is qite impossible. And as trees become 



