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<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] Frost damage symptoms?</TITLE>
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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Today the Glocester (RI) Conservation
Commission weeded the orchard (see pictures). We were pleased to see
that most of the seedlings that looked dead two weeks ago with their shriveled
brown leaves are showing new growth. Now that the area is mowed and weeded, we
were going to apply Osmocote fertilizer. However as we weeded and removed some
saplings that didn't survive, we noticed tiny yellow Osmocote fertilizer
pellets that I applied last September. I thought by now that these would have
dissolved. The guys think they really aren't fertilizer, but plastic, and that's
why they didn't dissolve. </FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Should I go ahead and
fertilize, or hold off?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The photos also show the southern part of the field
(left side of photo) where we have cut down lots of white pine to double our
available orchard space. The area is not yet ready for planting as we need to
move branches and pull the smaller stumps, but we are making progress. On the
right side of the photo near the road you can see the sign board that has the
three ACF panels.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Roy Najecki</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Glocester RI</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>