The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-24
RESEARCH SOLVES
APPLE PROBLEMS
North Carolina Ranks 18th
Among States In Produc-
ton Of Apples

corne years the crop brings in a
,nillion dollars in cash income. The
commercial apple industry of the
ctate is conferred in the northwest
orn section. That is why the North
carolina Agricultural Experiment
Station of State College establish.
I'd an apple research laboratory
near North Wilkesboro three years
ago.
Carl Z. Van Deman is the hor.
ticulturist in charge of the Station.
The laboratory is located on High
uay 16 near the Alexander-Wilkes
county line, but Van Deman is
working to conquer fruit problems
in orchards scattered throughout
The Brushy Mountain area. In the
short period of time the expert.
mental work has been underway,
fine apple growers of that section
have been saved literally thou
sands of dollars through increased
knowledge of insect and disease
control. soil management and fer
tlization. pruning and thinning.
Other research work in progress
includes variety tests and breed
inc studies. and investigation OF
storage problems. A new project
this year is the Use of plant hor-
none sprays to prevent premature
dropping of apples, especially from
tree of the Bonum and Delicious
varieties.
As an example of the valuable
Information being obtained from
the experiments, Van Deman re-
ported as follows on a thinning
and fertilization test made in the
orchard of E. P. Lowe last year:
Thirty-two trees of LimbertWig va
riety we're selected for the ex-
pertinent. All had prospects of a
good crop.
NITRATE INCREASES YIELDS
In late May IL of the trees we're
hinned very heavily, and six of
these we're fertilized with a pound
Of nitrate of soda each. The other
70 trees were left unthinned. but 10
Of these were given applications
Of one pound of nitrate of soda
zach.
The trees that were thinned had
al average of 4 IL bushels OF
their apples over 2 ID inches in
size; the trees that were not thin
ned had only 3 3-4 bushels of their
apples over 2 IL inches in size.
The trees that received the extra
pound of nitrate produced a bushel
per tree more apples than those
which did not receive the extra
nitrogen.
Van Deman says that the thin
ming work in connection with the
summer application of a nitrogen
i%ertilizer is designed to encourage
reduction of a crop the year. after
q heavy crop as we'll as to in
crease the size and qualify of the
fruit during the heavy crop year.
In addition to Mr.. Loves orchard,
pruning and thinning experiments
are being conducted in the orch
ards of Clarence Hendren, H. c.
adams, and Warehouses; Harvey
cutter orchard.
Other apple growers in Wilkes
and Alexander Counties with whom
Van Deman is working includes:
Floyd Hendren. Howard Broyh1ll,
Perry Lowe, D. E. Davis, Carl
Former. Roby Daniels, F a n K
Childers, V. A. Jennings, c. F.
Brethell, w. H. H. Waugh, I. j.
Rroyhill, N. C. Andrews, n
Davis, and others.
The insect control tests are cen
tered around studies of the cod
ling moth, it's life and habits. BY
placing bands around go trees IN
10 orchards last summer, 6,OOO
eodling both larvae or worms were
collected. The larvae were placed
IN cages suspended in the trees,
and their development and meth
DDS of attach are being studied,
with the view of developing Ell
icient control methods to combat
hem.
SPRAYING TESTS VALUABLE
Spraying tests have already
Proved that l l-2 gallons OF a lime
sulphur spray will control scab as
we'll as 2 IL gallons. in common
Use, if the spraying is done thor
oeughly. The soil management and
!erllization experiments are prov
ing the value of legumes and COW
ef crops to build up the soil, and
mulch to hold moisture. Van De-
man also is advising growers
asalnst application Of lime to o
vlose to the trees, as many OIL
mem have been doing, since 1t
aas been found that lime is harm
Jul to soil low in boron.
Among the new varieties OF ap-
[ reS oelng tested are: Lodi, VIII
1afns' Early Red, Summer Yellow
nehclous. Sarly Mcintosh, Melba'
Sl!lon, hume, Lobo, and Wealthy,
raleh are early varieties;
ssOrtland, Sweet Delicious, Gala
seauty, Turley, Red Rome, Web
eer' Orleans, Lowry, Medina, Ma
som, and Kendall. Van De-
0l says that perhaps only one
TWO of these varieties will be
r vuno worthy to plant in large
tia anloers for commercial produc-
S@' under North Carolina condit-
iS s' and the experimental work
HI saving the orchardists the trou-
n,n, ana expense of growing a large
p0oa oef OF trees to find one or two