-3- 



FLESH FIR1.!NESS OF THE SPARTAN APPLE 



Many Massachusetts fruit growers Kho attended the recent fruit meeting in 

 Worcester will remember hov/ much they enjoyed eating the Spartan apples which were 

 passed out at one of the sessions, A few of the apples were left over and taken 

 baok to Amherst, Fruit firmness was determined with a pressure tester and the 

 average pressure was found to be 13.5 pounds. Thus, these apples were 3 to 3-1/2 

 pounds firmer than most of the Mcintosh which were in storage at that date. If 

 this characteristic of fruit firmness is maintained by the Spartan apple it v/ould 

 appear that this is the variety we have been looking for to extend the marketing 

 season of high quality dessert apples. 



— ^W, D. Weeks 

 //////////////// 



APPLE FERTILIZER REC0ia£E^E)ATI0MS FOR 1956 



It should be recognized from the start that it is not possible to give specific 

 recommendations for individual orchards in an article of this nature. These recom- 

 mendations are presented to serve as a guide to the fruit grower for determining 

 the fertilizer program in his orchard. 



In view of experimental evidence and the results of leaf analyses taken from 

 several growers' orchards, it is no longer possible to recommend a nitrogen alone 

 program for fertilizing Iviassachusetts orchards. In order to prevent the occurence 

 of potassium, magnesium and boron deficiencies it becomes necessary to apply fer- 

 tilizer materials which will supply these elements. 



The following tables give suggested rates of fertilizer to use vrhich will 

 supply the nitrogen and potassium requirenents of the tree. The first table pre- 

 sents two plans in vrhich ammonium nitrate is used in combination vdth muriate of 

 potash or 0-15-30. Tlie second table sho^Ts the amounts to apply of two different 

 mixed fertilizers viriiich ^/vill supply equivalent amounts of nutrient elements. 



Suggested Rates of Fertilizer for Bearing Apple Orchards 



Potential bushel 

 Yield of tree 



Suggested Rates of Fertilizer for Bearing Apple Orchards 



Approximate amounts per tree 



Nitrogen 

 required 



Potassium 

 required 



5-10-10 



8-16-16 



Less than 15 



15-25 



More than 25 



Pounds 



0.66 

 0,66-1.00 

 1.33-2.00 



Pounds 



1.3 



1.3-2.0 



2,7-U.3 



Pounds 



13 

 13-20 

 26^U0 



Pounds 



8 



8-12 



16-25 



