The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-08-15
KINDS OF FERTILIZER NEEDED
FOR OUR APPLE ORCHARDS.
County Agriculturist Gives Sugges-
tons That Should Be Followed
Soil Needs Attention

The following suggestions are given
to assist persons contemplating the
purchase of orchard fertilizers in de-
termining for themselves the kinds
and quantities of fertilizers to use.
To determine this for yourself, and
you should learn to be your own Judge,
note carefully first the soil and next
the tree and tree growth.
Soil conditions seem to effect APP
pie production in two distinct ways.
one by the plant food contained in
the soil, the other by the physical
condition of the soil.
The physical condition of the soil
can best be judged by careful exam
ination as follows: Walk about thru
the orchard; if the soil seems springy
and loose you likely have considerable
humus in the soil. On the other hand
if the soil seems extremely firm to
the foot further investigation is nee
essary. If there is water in the irri-
eating bitches note the amount that is
flowing at both the upper and lower
end of the bitches. If there is about
the same amount of water flowing at
each end of the ditch the soil very
likely does not take water owing to
poor physical condition and lack of
humus. Next take a shovel and dig
outward from the irrigating bitches
and note the distance the water has
subbed, also note the color of the soil
If the water does not sub to the side
of the ditch and the soil is yellowish
or light in color a poor physical con-
dition and lack of humus is indicated.
AS you go about examining the soil
take careful note of the tree, first as
to color of foliage, second as the
amount of terminal growth and third
as to the size, set and growth of the
fruit.
Small green leaves that have a ten
dency to roll together may indicate
plenty of nitrogen and other plant
foods but poor physical condition
of the soil causing lack of water.
This is usually accompanied by short
terminal growths on the new wood
and small green apples. This condi-
ton is often found in dark colored
heavy soil that is run together in the
subsoil and has humus only on the
surface.
Take careful note further as to the
color of the foliage. If it yellowish
or light green, the fruit yellowish in
color and light colored bark on the
tree this may and usually does indi
cate lack of nitrogen and humus.
Trees in this condition may make con-
|. siderable terminal growths of a sick
~ appearance and an abundance of
water sprout growth early in the
season, both of which indicate lack
of plant food. Apples, too, will fail
to develop normally and will color
early but usually fail to get a good
rich coloring.
With the trees just finishing their
growth for this year and the leaves
and apples on the trees ana with the
soil in the state of condition that you
expected would produce good crop
it would be well for any grower to
look his orchard over very carefully
and Judge for himself if conditions
are satisfactory to him. If he is not
satisfied he will then have some log
ical basis upon which to determine
his orchard practice for succeeding
years.
Get well acquainted with your own
orchard and on August % compare
your orchard with the 1000 box per
acre orchards that will be visited and
likely you will hit upon method of
orchard practice that will increase
your yields.
VIM. MEIKLE, County Agent