Pomological Paragraph 



Nitrogen Level of Mcintosh Trees High in 1967. An unusual number 

 of Mcintosh apples were harvested during October, 1967, because 

 the season was late and red color development was slow. Leaf an- 

 alysis indicated that high nitrogen (N) levels may have been part- 

 ly responsible for the slow red color development in some orchards. 



Research has shown that in comparison with fruit from Mcintosh 

 apple trees maintained at moderate levels of N (1.80-2.00 per cent 

 on a dry -weight basis), high N levels (higher than 2.15 per cent) 

 tend to delay both the red and yellow color development of Mcintosh 

 apples. Analyses of leaf samples taken during late-July and early 

 August in 1967, from 29 bearing Mcintosh blocks in Massachusetts 

 and southern New Hampshire showed that the N level in these blocks 

 averaged 2.3 per cent, which is in excess of the N levels condu- 

 cive to good red color development. 



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NO LADDERS IN PEACH ORCHARDS? 



Ernest G. Christ 

 Extension Horticulturist 

 Rutgers - The State University 

 New Brunswick, N.J. 



(Since most growers are interested in minimizing ladder use in 

 peach orchards, the following article reprinted with the permis- 

 sion of E.G. Christ from the January, 1967, issue of Horti cul tural 

 News , New Jersey State Horticultural Society, should be of inter- 

 est. The pruning system discussed below requires careful pruning, 

 particularly during the formative years of the peach tree--Edi tors 



Several successful peach growers have told me they cannot 

 afford ladders in peach orchards and have not used any for many 

 years. Others are looking toward the elimination of ladders be- 

 cause the economics of peach growing may not permit the use of 

 ladders in the near future. Labor may use a short ladder and go 

 up one or two steps but the seven and 8-foot ladder is probably on 

 the way out. 



To eliminate the need for ladders for pruning, thinning and 

 harvesting peaches, it is obvious the trees must be kept low or 

 about seven feet maximum in height. The main framework of the 

 tree must be kept at about five feet maximum in height with annual 

 fruiting wood extending to seven feet. This is done entirely by 



