I 



Does Organic Matter Accumulat e? Organic matter is a general term referrii*^ to 

 the remains of plants and anilrnals in various stages of decomposition » In a 

 poorly drained area the soil takes on a darker color because there is not 

 enoagh oxygen to supply the decay organisms and as a result the organic mat- 

 ter actuai]y builds up. Muck and peat are good examples. But in a well dra iu- 

 ed soil under cultivation the organic matter tends to disappear faster than 

 it accumulates. It literally "burns up". Even a heavy cover crop plowed 

 under in a sandy soil will disappear in a relatively short time. But iii the 

 process of decomposition it makes a real contribution to the productivity of 

 the soil. The crop growing on the land reaps benefits through the release of 

 mineral elements in available form, improved moisture relations, and in other 

 ways. This ccnplex material, whether in the form of manure or other plant 

 remains, if accompanied by conditions favorable for^ecay, cem transform a 

 sturlle soil into a fertile soi, Yie add organic matter to the soil not with 

 the idea t;!" storing it for use in tiie future but for its influence this year 

 and next. If the objective vrere a mere accvmiulation ;ve might use only mater- 

 ials low in nitrogen, such as straw, or iTood, in fact almost anything resistant 

 to decay. But the most profitable use is through gradual decomposition and 

 prompt replenishment, 



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TtiE FRUIT VARIETY PROBLHVi IN YUGOSLAVIA 



In the course of my travels, amounting to about 10,000 miles by automobile 

 and jeep, I was' impreosed many times with the importance of the fruit variety 

 question. Taking apples as an exaiaple, at least 80 diffei'ent varieties are novr beinr; 

 prown in Macedonia, many of them sv;eet apples of Turkish origin which are no longer 

 popular. Horticulture. leaders in that area have selected a list of 15 varieties 

 Tihich they consider well adapted. It is planned to propagate these varieties in the 

 future and gradually eliminate the others, I asked how many of the trees at the 

 present time are outside this list of 15 varieties. The answer was 60^, Imagine, 

 if you can, the difficulty in marketing such an assortment of apples either locally 

 or through export channels. 



In an apple producing area in Slovenia there is a considerable percentage of 

 trees of early varieties, more in fact than can be used locally, I was informed 

 that only one cf the European countries has shown an interest, in years {^aat, in 

 apples of early varieties, namely Czechoslovakia, The principal demand in other 

 countries vras for hard, winter apples, 



Abrut 20 years ago propagating material of five American apple varieties was 

 introduced into Yugoslavia, - Delicious, Jonathan, Rome Beauty, V/inesap and Yellow 

 Newtown, The first t'f.'o. Delicious and Jonathan, do very well under the s oil and 

 climatic conditions in that country and bid fair to replace some of the older sorts. 

 Good Yiinesaps can be grown in Macedonia, In years past, practically all of the 

 varieties were of European origin. The Budimka, a local sort, is one of the most 

 comiaon in Serbia, It is an apple of very mediocre quality but is quite resistant to 

 apple scab. This characteristic has induced Serbian farmers to plant the Budimka 

 variety since usable fruit can be grown without fungicidal applications. 



Another example of variety significance is found in sweet cherries which 

 ttirive in certain localities. The fruit is of large size and excellent quality. 

 But only the early ripening varieties are likely to be free fran cherry maggot 

 (Rliagoletis cerasi) a close relative of the two species found in this country, A 

 fe^v varieties of sweet cherry, ripening in late May, find ready sale locally and in 



