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RESULTS OF LEAF ANALYSES 



William J. Lord and Bertram Gersten, Control Service 



Maintaining the desired nutritional level of fruit trees is a dif- 

 ficult task because of crop size, pruning, weather and tree-to-tree var- 

 iation. However, through leaf analyses, careful observations, some dif- 

 ferential fertilization and use of a foliar application of urea on weaker 

 trees, you can at least partially solve the problem. 



Leaf analyses have shown that low potassium levels have been preva- 

 lent for the last 2 years. We know that leaf potassium is generally 

 lower in dry growing seasons than in years with adequate soil moisture. 

 However, not all trees sampled were low in potassium and some of these 

 trees with adequate potassium were located on lighter soils. It would 

 appear, therefore, that low potassium levels weren't entirely due to the 

 dry growing season, and the rate of application should be increased in 

 some orchards. 



For the last several years, a number of growers have omitted or re- 

 duced nitrogen applications in order to increase fruit firmness and color. 

 Analyses of leaves obtained from commercial orchards during the past 2 

 summers, indicate that the rate of nitrogen application should be increased 

 in some orchards. At the time of sampling, we observed that many of the 

 Mcintosh trees were low in vigor. Terminal growth was less than 6 inches 

 on some trees. 



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VIRUS -FREE RED RASPBERRY PLANTS 



William J. Lord 

 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences 



The USDA has released for multiplication by nurseries, virus-free 

 stocks of Amber, Canby, Cuthbert, Fairview, Latham, Marcy, New Hampshire, 

 Newburgh, Puyallup, September, Sunrise, Taylor, Viking, and Washington, 

 varieties of red raspberries. 



Correspondence with nurseries having these mosaic virus-free stock, 

 indicates that only a very limited supply of these is available for sale 

 in 1965. It will be a year or 2 before anything but a limited number 

 of virus-free plants will be available. 



The January 1965, issue of Agricultural Research reports that virus- 

 free raspberry plants receiving regular insect control programs, remained 

 relatively free from reinfection in the field for 2 years or more. This 

 is a considerably longer period than had been anticipated. 



Growers desiring to make inquiries about purchasing virus-free red 

 raspberry plants, may write the Editor of Fruit Notes for the names of 

 nurseries to contact. 





