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adjusted to allow more precise diagnosis of nutrient status. Much 

 work is needed in evaluating the potential of various types of 

 materials for foliar application, their safety and effectiveness when 

 applied as concentrate sprays, and their compatability with newer 

 pesticides . 



Pruning practices vary considerably. Mechanical hedging of 

 trees is more common in the Lake Ontario region. Alar sprays offer 

 some help in controlling shoot growth of hedged trees, but further 

 study is needed to establish the best rates and timings according 

 to vigor of the variety and orchard involved. Combining hedging 

 with follow-up manual pruning and growth regulators may offer a 

 means of reducing pruning labor in the future. Summer pruning is 

 also gaining in use as a means of controlling tree vigor. This 

 practice is particularly effective with high-density plantings where 

 close control of tree vigor is essential. 



Spraying methods must also be mentioned. The machinery avail- 

 able covers the range found throughout the industry. Many orchardists 

 have been spraying dilute, others at concentrations of 3X, 15X, 20X 

 and higher. Variations in tree size and configuration have created 

 confusion as to correct dosages of materials required under various 

 conditions. In an attempt to overcome some of these problems, our 

 recommendations were revised to include guidelines for tree-row volume 

 spraying. Essentially, this amounts to calculating tree-row volume 

 (tree height x tree width x length of row per acre) and applying 

 approximately 0.7 gallon of dilute spray equivalent per 1,000 cubic 

 feet. On this basis, dilute spray equivalents used per acre may vary 

 from approximately 100 gallons on some trellis plantings to 450 

 gallons or more on large standard trees. We feel that this type of 

 adjustment is necessary in order to avoid the use of excessive amounts 

 of materials in higher density plantings and to ensure that adequate 

 amounts are used to obtain satisfactory pest control with large trees. 



These comments illustrate some aspects of the New York fruit 

 industry as it exists today, some of the changes taking place, and some 

 areas in which further attention will be directed. The industry is 

 large, diverse and dynamic and will continue to adapt to meet challenges 

 as they arise. 



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