Arizona republican., 1916-09-18
HANDLING OF APPLE TREESTOPREVENT
 THE ROOT ROI

In answer to an inquiry regarding | the cause of apple trees dying out in | large numbers. Farm Advisor Paschall | of Cochise county has written the fol- | lowing:
 Concerning your fruit trees, which 1 you state are dying, il may be that the trees have root rot This is a very common disease among apple trees in your region. It is a fungus disease, | which seems to be the same as that which attacks alfalfa tomato and sev- eral other kinds of plants. No prac- tical cure is yet known for this dis ease Scientists are now working on it and it is hoped that a remedy may soon be found. However. I believe that the trouble with your trees is too much water and not enough cultiva- tion, for your particular kind of soil. You may remember that we examined the soil near one of the trees and found the soil was very wet (almost water logged). while the surface of the soil was sufficiently dry to apparently need [ irrigating. The soil in your orchard, while being somewhat sandy on the surface. has a fine clay subsoil which does not afford good under drainage. With such type of soil irrigation should be done with care. Apple trees will not stand wet feet" especially
  l drainage to allow the surplus water to l pass away. The tree roots can also be ! 'smothered" by shutting off the soil air. When the soil Is water looged all ! the spaces between the soil particles
 are filled and there Is no room for air. | A fine sandy or silt soil with d clay | subsoil. such as yours. when once well ! supplied with water will hold the mois- ture for a long time. If given too much ..Ns ..l...4 T
 moisture move ment \ in the sail is checked which checks the formation of
 food fof She plants, the roots will use
 up the supply of available food and
 the trees wiil then die: this also causes an accumulation of alkah or other
 harmful elements. if such should be in
 the soil around the roots, the trees stop
 growing. the leaves at tips of branches
 turn yellow and will finally die. The
 remedy is to examine the soil for al
 least a foot deep before irrigating Dc not irrigate unless the trees need the
 water-but do not wait until the soil
 becomes too dry. Do not allow the
 water to run closer than two feet tC
 the young trees. Cultivate well after
 each Irrigation. In setting out young } trees do not put them too deeply-tw, or three inches deeper than when they were in the nursery is sufficiently deep: Tn coarse, deep sandy soil the [ trees may be set deeper.
 , The trouble which l have outlined } to you seems to be the common troubl, with young fruit trees in your To. Ecality.
 When the time to set out fruit tree! P arrives l shall be glad to assist you 1T the selection of varieties setting ou
 the trees, giving further directions fol
 caring for the orchard. etc. I sugges . that in those places where the tree, k have died you take out the trees within . the next two months, leave the dul l. holes. two and onehalf to three fee { across and three feet deep, open unti 0 near time to set out, fill the holes t, Q near about where the roots are to b, - set with good sand; sand from 'aroun, Q a mesquite clump would be the best