March, 1933J Agric. Research in New Hampshire 15 



is some indication, however, that the vase form of tree has been pro- 

 duced without removing as much wood as in the case of the semi- 

 leader and full-leader heads; but this may be because more primary- 

 branches were left in the early years of the orchard's growth than was 

 necessary. In all cases more pruning was required to train the North- 

 ern Spy trees than the Mcintosh. {Hatch Fund) 



Best Nitrogen is Readily Available 



Nitrogen in the readily-available forms of nitrate of soda and sul- 

 phate of ammonia seems to give better results than complete fertilizer 

 for orchard use, according to tests at Durham, Wilton and Pittsfield. 

 A portion of the nitrogen in the complete fertilizer was supplied in 

 tankage. 



The three-year average yield from the complete-fertilizer plots was 

 distinctly less in the sod orchard of mature Baldwins and somewhat 

 less in the sod and cultivated Mcintosh orchards, reports G. F. Potter, 



The complete-fertilizer sod plots also showed a significant decrease 

 in the percentage of blossoms setting fruit, but an increase in the per- 

 centage of color. These differences were not found in the cultivated 

 orchard. The lower set, smaller yields and higher color are all typ- 

 ical of a reduced nitrogen supply. {Hatch Fund) 



Nitrogen Boosts Peach Yields 



Nitrogen boosts peach yields but potash is not valuable as a supple- 

 mentary fertilizer, conclusions of 10 years of work show. G. F. Potter 

 reports a 10-year average yield of 65 pounds of fruit per tree for plots 

 fertilized with nitrate of soda, 63 pounds for potash and nitrogen, and 

 44 pounds for no nitrogen. The nitrate was applied at the rate of 

 two pounds per tree. {Hatch Fund) 



Best Apple-Storage Temperatures Suggested 



In general, results with cold storage at 30° with both Mcintosh and 

 Baldwin have been disappointing owing to the low quality of the fruits 

 ripened at this temperature. Railroad worm larvae are killed after 35 

 to 40 days at both temperatures, possibly slightly more rapidly at 30°. 

 If no railroad worm is present, common storage at 40° to 50° gives best 

 results with fruit intended for fall use. 



These are indications of 10 lines of storage investigations by E. J. 

 Rasmussen. 



He reports on the effect of storage temperature on railroad worm in 

 Mcintosh and on other results as follows: 



At 30 degrees no larvae were living at the end of 22 days, but about 

 six per cent of the fiiiit was tunneled with large runs. At 32 degrees 

 one per cent of the larvae was alive at 22 days, but none at 37 days. 

 Fifteen per cent of the fruit carried sizeable runs in storage at 32 degrees. 



Scab spots on Baldwins and Mcintosh in storage increased in size 

 from November to July. The most rapid growth was on Baldwins, 

 the diameter increase totaling about 50 per cent by July 18 in 32- 

 degree storage. A further check on Baldwins indicates that scabby 

 apples lose moisture 25 to 75 per cent faster than uninfected fruits. 



