should be applied to equal a certain amount of actual nitrogen, potash or phosphoric 

 acid. Therefore, it is hoped that the following discussion will eliminate some of 

 the misunderstanding. 



In our fertilizer recommendations we state that a tree capable of producing 

 25 bushels of apples should receive approximately one pound of actual nitrogen. 

 If we are going to use some common nitrogenous fertilizer how many pounds must be 

 applied to equal a pound of actual nitrogen? To determine this, divide the actual 

 amount of nitrogen needed by the per cent nitrogen in the nitrogenous fertilizer. 

 For example if you are using a nitrogenous fertilizer containing 33 per cent N, 

 divide 1.0 pound by .33 which will give an answer of approximately 3 pounds of the 

 nitrogenous fertilizer that must be applied to be equivalent to 1.0 pound of actual 

 nitrogen. 



Similarly, suppose you want to apply 1.5 pounds of actual nitrogen and you are 

 using a nitrogenous fertilizer containing 45 per cent N, divide 1.5 pounds by .45 

 which will give an answer of approximately 3.3 pounds of the nitrogenous fertilizer 

 to be equivalent to 1.5 pounds of actual nitrogen. 



Suppose you are using a 5-10-10 fertilizer, how many pounds must be applied to 

 equal one pound of actual nitrogen? How many pounds of potash and phosphoric acid 

 will be added when enough 5-10-10 is added to equal one pound of actual nitrogen? 

 A 5-10-10 fertilizer contains an amount of total nitrogen as would be equivalent 

 to five per cent of nitrogen, an amount of available phosphorous equivalent to ten 

 per cent of r>^iosphoric acid and available potash equivalent to ten per cent of potash 

 (K2O) . Since the mixed fertilizer contains an equivalent to five per cent N, divide 

 one pound of actual nitrogen v/anted by .05 which will give an answer of 20 pounds 

 of 5-10-10 to add in order to apply one pound of actual nitrogen. If you apply 20 

 pounds of 5-10-10, two pounds of potash (K-0) and two pounds of phosphoric acid are 

 added. These answers are obtained by multiplying the 20 pounds of 5-10-10 by the 

 per cent potash and phosphoric acid respectively in the fertilizer. 



W. J. Lord 



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



EXCERPTS FROM THE PEAR SURVEY 



In the apple tree survey which V7as made in 1956 growers were requested to 

 record information relative to the number, variety and age of pear trees which 

 they had in their orchards. This information pertained to the situation which 

 existed in 1955. In reporting the results of this pear tree survey it should 

 be noted that only pear trees being grown in connection with commercial apple 

 orchards are included in this summary. Thus the total number of pear trees grown 

 in Massachusetts may be somewhat larger than is reported here. However, it is 

 reasonable to assume that a sufficiently high percentage of the pear trees are 

 included to indicate trends in the pear industry. 



Eighty-six apple growers or approximately twenty-five per cent of all apple 

 growers also grow pears. 



