equivalent to about 440 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre. Perhaps over a 

 period of several years, even 1 pound per bush may be excessive. To date 

 there has been no observable response to the Sul-Po-Mg applications. 



Leaves of some Rubel bushes were collected semi-monthly through the 

 summer and analysed chemically. Leaf nitrogen was very high in late May. 

 It dropped very rapidly to mid-July and then dropped very slowly till mid- 

 September, 



It is too soon to draw any conclusions from this experiment. 



John S. Bailey 



Bertram Gersten 

 A. F. Spelman, 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



SALES Gir^ICKS 



Many people enjoy obtaining branches of forsythia and pussy willows during 

 February and forcing them to flower by placing the stems in water at room 

 temperature. Apples, peaches, pears, plums and cherries also can be forced 

 into flower in February and March. One Massachusetts fruit grower takes advantage 

 of this by using prunings as a sales gimmick at his roadside stand. In advertis- 

 ing, he mentions that branches of fruit trees for forcing or which have been 

 forced can be obtained at his roadside stand. 



Customers are charged for the branches that have been forced by the grower; 

 branches that have not are free of charge. Prior to Christmas, the same grower 

 has boughs of evergreen trees which are available free of charge. 



Salesmanship like that mentioned above brings customers I 



W. J, Lord 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



HINTS ON CONTROLLING WOODCHUCKS IN ORCHARDS 



When woodchucks emerge from hibernation, they sometimes seriously damage 

 fruit trees by chewing the trunk. However, it is believed that the purpose 

 of this gnawing is to exercise or wear down the teeth rather than to consume 

 the bark as food. The most serious economic damage to fruit trees results 

 from an annoying habit that chucks have of digging extensive burrow systems 

 under fruit trees. This excavating often exposes the roots, causing them to dry 

 out and in extreme cases may result in killing the tree. The burrow system 

 also encourages mice by providing excellent harborage, as well as a readily- 

 available food supply in the form of exposed roots. The combination of rootlets 

 drying out and mouse damage to the root system reduces tree vigor, growth, and 

 fruit production. 



