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Prepared by the Fruit Program Committee of the Extension Service

FEBRUARY - MARCH 15,1955

TABLE OF CONTENTS The Place of Dwarf Apple Trees in Commercial Orchards Pomologlcal Research The 1954-55 Storage Season Insect Control Recommendations for 1955 Strawberries Recommendations for Apple Scab Control - 1955

Issued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Associate Dean and Director, in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914; University of Massachusetts, United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating.

p..

;^3

YOUR POMOLOGY DEPARTI.IENT

Bailey, John S» - Associate Professor, Research - Stationed at East ViTareham Doing small fruit research on strawberries, blueberries and beach plvimso Mr* Bailey also handles considerable of the anall fruits extension pr ograme

Fish, Almon S« Jr. - Instructor

Teaches small fruits and general fruit growiiig courses, Mr. Fish is currently taking the place of Mr. J» F, Anderson vrho is on leave for further graduate study.

French, Arthur P« - Head of Department

Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small fruit variety testing, currently editor of FRUIT NOTES.

Roberts, Oliver C. - Associate Professor

Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental courses. Currently also doing research on fruit marketing,

Southvdok, Franklin W. - Professor, Research

Most of his time is q)ent in research on chemical thinning, pre- harvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutrition. Also, teaches in certain advanced courses,

Vifeeks, Walter D, - Assistant Professor, Research

Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety and strain tests and winter hardiness. Also teaches certain advanced courses,

^______^__^____ - Extension Fruit Sp cialist

Vfe hope to have this position filled before long«

Contributors to this Issue from Supporting Fields

Gilgut, Constantino J, - Extension Plant Pathologist Wheeler, Ellsworth H, - Extension Entomologist

FRUIT NOTES

February -March .195$

Vfith this issue FRUIT NOTSo iindergoes a permanent change of leadership fcr better or for worse. The originator aid fcrmer compiler, Professor M, H, Thies, has retired as reported in the January issue* His shoes will be hard to fill, but we are actively searching for the right man for the pesition of Extension Fruit Specialist, so that service to the fruit industry, through FRUIT NOTES and the fruit extension program, may proceed with as little interuptirn as possible.

Every effort will be made to bring you timely, interesting,; and we hope valuable information on a wide variety cf aspects of fruit growing* However, - your comments, criticisms and suggestions will always be welcome »

Regulations require that the mailing list cf such a publication be re- checked periodically. Therefore, sometime before long each of you will receive a request card which oust be sgned by you and returned if you wish to continue to receive FRUIT NOTEg^ Otherwise, we are required to drop your naice from the FRUIT NOTES mailing liste

JOB OPPORTUNITIES ni

The following is quoted from a recent nevrs letter from the Michigan State College, Department of Horticulture t "We have not been able to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for our graduates to fill positions as managers of nur- series, orchards, greenhouses and vegetable farmsj as field advisors and techni- cians and sales personnel mth organizations that manufacture chemicals and equipment used in horticultural enterprises* as inspectors, extension and research workers for the State and Federal governments, and so on. The attention of promising high school graduates contemplating college careers should be called to the many possibilities in the field of horticulture,"

Vfe have recent letters stating that two other states besides Massachusetts are currently looking for an extension man in fruit. One state has a good open- ing in fruit research.

There are excellent graduate assistantships open in several states. Three opportunities for a young man to work into an established orchard business have recently come across my desk. For none of these could we offer a single recom- mendation because of the s hortage of Pomology students in recent years. The opportiinities are there for the right persons with adequate preparation,

•sHf^A, P.French #############

"2 -

THE FIACE OF DWARF APPLE TREES IN COtMJlCIAL ORCHARDS

A recent story from Oregon on "Hedgerow Apples" has prompted the writing of this article in order to present our views en the pla ce of dwarf apple trees in commercial orchards*

The hedgerow system of growing apples as described ccaaisted ^f planting dwarf trees which had been budded on Mailing IX roots tocks. The trees were planted in rows 12 feet apart while the distance between trees in the row was fear feeto The trees were supportedby a three-wire trellis* Pictures of the hedgerow showed that the trees were allowed to develop into a thick, dense row of shod:s and foliage, Yields •£ 1,690 boxes per acre at the end of 7 years were reported for Roue Beautyp Advantages claimed for this sytem of culture were ease of harvesting, spraying and pruning along with high acre yields,

¥e have been testing and evaluating Mailing rootstocks at the University for the past 25 years, IThile we have never grown trees on Mailing IX in hedgercws, we have had considerable experience with their performance under Ifessachusetts conditions. In light of this experience, we should like to point out some serious disadvantages in the "hedgerow system" as it applied to Massachusetts conditions 9

Our experience with Mailing IX has shown that the trees will not toler- ate the competition ot grass and thus cannot be grown under a sod system of soil management. We do not believe it wise to go back to a cultivation system of soil management for apples in Massachusetts as such a system on our hillside orchards w«uld create a serious problem of soil erosion.

The trees on Mailing IX are very shallow rooted ad often suffer for water unless irrigation is provided. They are also very easily tipped over unless seme method of mechanical support is provided. The need for mechanical support adds extra expense and attention to detail which must be taken into consideration,

V/hile pruning under this system may be somewhat easier, it will be more detailed and may require more man hovirs per acre. This becomes particularly important as the trees get older, because it is not possible to maintain production without detailed pruning.

The control of apple scab in our humid climate would be extremely difficult in the dense hedgerows, as foliage inside the rows would be difficult to reach with spray materials and it would be very slow in drying.

Dwarf trees on Mailing IX are expensive and difficult to obtain. The initial cost in planting an acre of hedgerow trees could easily be so high as to prevent many growers starting such an enterprise. Even a planting distance of 8x12 feet would require U5U trees per acreo This would represent an initial in*> vestment of 9C0 to 1200 dollars per acre for just the cost cf the trees alone «

We do not believe that the "Hedgerow System" of growdug apples is practical under Massachusetts soil and climatic conditions. In the next issue cf FRUIT NOTES the possibilities of semi-dwarf trees for Massachusetts orchards will be (iscussed,

^HHs-W.D, Weeks

- 3 -

POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

2t The Influence of Orchard aid Post-Harvest Treatments on the Metabolism of Tree Fruits

Frcm this flowery sounding project title^ it has been our objective to de- termine the influence of orchard fertilizers and spray treatments on the rate of respiration, scftening, storage disorders, and marketable life cf apples*, In ad- dition, we are also concerned with the effect of post-harvest treatments such as wraps, chemical dips and vapors, temperatvire, variations in atmospheric gases (controlled atmosphere storage) on the various factors mentioned previously. Our basic objective, therefore, is to find ways of slowing the rate cf fresh fruit deterioration.

Seme information we have gathered while working on this project follows:

1» Excessive use of nitrogen has a pronounced influence on the firm?- ness and rate of ripening of apples. High nitrogen apples, although greener and less ripe looking, are actually softer and keep less weH than fruit from trees at a moderate nitrogen level,

2, All our pre-harvest drop hormones hasten ripening to some degree. Some of them cause much more ripening than others. Of the materials being sold in Massachusetts, 2,U,5-TP hastens ripening more than either 2,li,^-TA or NAAo The ripening effect on apples is much more pronounced when the trees are high in ni- trogen than when they are growing at a moderate level of nitrogen,

3, Maleic hydrazide applied as a spray is capable of slowing the rate of fruit ripening sLightly, One of ovir hopes is that some day a chemical ripen- ing inhibitor will be found which will significantly lengthen the marketable life of fresh fruit,

1;, ¥e have learned many things about controlled atmosphere storage constructirn and management during the past 3 years following commercial instal- lation of such rooms in this state,

i«H<-F ,W , S ttuthwi ck #############

Learn and See Thru Yfcur TV

The Massachusetts Extension Service in cooperation with Station IBZ-TV, Channel U, Boston, presents -

"Homecoming" - TiTednesdays 2rU5 - 3:00 PM

A program featuring many suggestions of special interest to the homemaker,

"Down To Earth" - Saturdays 8:30 - 8:5$ AM

For those folks interested in agri- culture acid the problems of the hemp gardener.

TEE 195h-'SS STORAGE SEASON

Fruit Firmness - The presence of too many soft Mcintosh in storage seems to te an annual problem. The best ways we knoTr for keeping Mcintosh in good shape in storage are: . .

1, Only apples which are quite firm at harvest are suitable for long storage. Apples testing Ih lbs* or less at harvest time will not keep well beyond Christmas time* Mcintosh lose about one pound of firmness about every 3 weeks,

2« Place apples in cold storage the same day they are picked or at least within 2^ hours of harvesting e Every day in the orchard at 70°F. takes a week off the marketable life of an apple o

3» Get the apples cooled to 32°F, m thin U or 5 dayse This means for some storages more cooliiag capacity, better stacking methods, and better air circulation. An apple will ripen much more rspidly at 36-iiO°F, than at 32°F,

Although Mcintosh have about a weeWs marketable life at room tem- perature after they reach 10 Ibso pressure, Mcintosh apples are much better eating at aro\md 12 Ibso In other vrords, you'll make more friends selling a 12 lb, Mcintosh than a 10 lb, one,

A pressure tester is a rather valuable toolfor keeping track of the storage condition of apples « There shea Id be many more of them being used today. One costs about 1)30,00 but we believe it is worthwhile as an investment. The address of the manufacturer can be p: ovided upon request.

Storage Humidity - The subject has been discussed many times but many storages

still have humidity problems. There is a very good atomiser on the market which can be hooked up to the water line and will adequately humidify apple storages© A line strainer and .. : 2 nozzles cost less than $10,00, A humidity measuring sling

psychrometer should be standard equipment in all storages o They may be had for less than ^lOcOO, Information concerning these items may be had upon request, also, Why have apples which show some shriveling when it can be prevented by proper storage management.

Storage Scald - This year we've been lucky! No great amount of scald has appeared even en Gortlaid, a very scald susceptible variety o How come? In general, it seems that when we have a cool growing season such as the one just past, scald is much less of a problem than when we have a hot, dry growing season, Vife are testing mineral oil sprays, as suggested ty Ve Shutak at the University of Rhode Island, to determine their valiae on Greening, Cortland and Rome, Since so little scald is developing we shall not bring our treated apples out of storage vmtil JIarch or April when we hope there will be some scald to control.

Controlled Atmosphere Storage - This type of storage seems to be gaining acceptance.

■".Je now have capacity for about 1^0,000 bushels of Mcintosh in Massachusetts o It will not surprise us to see our capacity rise to 100^000 bushels or more within the next 2-»3 years if results obtained from present rooms are favorable a New York State now has a capacity for more than 500,000 bushels. . All rooms operating in this state have been run

very well. It now appears that rooms can be made sufficiently gas tight without the use of sheet metal, Vfe are anxious to provide any assistance we can to those interested in constructing such rooms,

■sHHfF ,Vif , Southwick

#######//#####

YOUNG TREES IN AN OLD ORCHARD - When a young tree is planted T/here an old one is taken out, growth is frequently disappointing. At one time it was thought that a mature tree left something toxic in the soil. But that ideahas been very largely discarded. The scanty groiirth of the young tree is explained in this way: (l) Certain elements may have been depleted leaving a lack of balance in the soilo (2) The organisms vhich bring about decay of the dead roots require nitrogen ard therefore compete with the young tree, (3) If other mature trees with mdely ranging root systems remain standing nearby, they also offer serious competitiono (U) Use of sulfur in s cab control over a period of years lowers the pH to a level unfavorable for the growth of the young tree. After removing an old tree a soil improvement program is frequently essential. This involves more than a mere surface applicaticn of lime and a complete fertilizerc These materials incorporated into the soil, plus a rank grov/th of cover crop will help to restore the depleted soil to its former condition, A year spent in growing fertilized cover crops will be time well spente If manure is available it can be used to good advantage o The soil must be handled in such a viay that the young tree makes good growth from the starto If 'vre allov/ a young tree to loaf along, making one year's growth in three, we lose both time aad money,

###### # # # # # f!' #

Orchards Old ard New - According to J, R, Magness of the USDA, no commercial apple producing area has ever made a reputation for its product from old orchards. He estimates that not more than k% of the national commercial apple crop is produced in orchards more than kO years old. To stabilize commercial production and to maintain orchards in a more profitable age group, it is essential that new plantings be made each year and old plantings discarded,

(This statement appeared in the December 1937 issue of FRUIT NOTES, It is just as true today as then,-^!),)

6 -

INSECT CONTROL REC0M1'IEI€)ATI0NS FOR 1955

I am happy to report but few changes in our fruit insect control reccmmenda- tions for 1955 • All of you are aware of the extremely rapid introduction of new materials that took place in the years follovjing the end of World War lie This made rather drastic changes in recommendations necessary and oftentimes led to much confusion.

Through the sorting process carried out by you growers in your orchards,, as Tsell as by those testing the many materials in their experimental set-ups, much of the chaff has now been separated from the wheatj I feel that we are on much firmer ground when making most of our recommendations*

It should not be overlooked that at least part of the confusion and the necessity for rather extreme changes in our recommendations during the past sever- al years resulted from the appearance of pests not considered important previous to the use of some of our newer materials. You know what I mean when I name red- banded leaf roller, yellow mite and 2-spotted mite« This is a strong argument in support of the lead arsenate program for the growers who do not have serious cur- culio or codling moth problems.

The development of air-blast sprayers and the use of concentrates.iiave.' in- fluenced greatly some recommendations with respect to the uses of certain materials. As fungicides and methods of combatting diseases are changed, it is often necessary to re-evaluate the insect control program, Vifith the development of each new mat- erial there must come a consideration of its compatibility with all the materials with which it may be used or irahich it may pre cede . or followo

The changes in recommendations are not arrived at lightlyj they are intro- duced only when it is believed growers will be benefitted,

A great majority of the apple growers in Massachusetts were very suc- cessful in controlling insects and mites during the 19$h season, YiTe were helped to some extent by the weather, but I believe that use of the right materials for your particular situation, and their thorough application at the proper time were very important contributing factors in your success. If you are one of those growers who did control insects and mites successfully in your orchards in 195U, I would urge you to use the same materials, timing and application techniques in 1955 o

A new program should be used only where it can be shown there is a dis- tinct advantage to you or where some insect or mite has not been well controlled. Try experimental programs on tank-sized or smaller blocks worked out in such a way that you have direct comparisons between the new program and a more standard one,

Nov/ let's consider some of the individual pests and materials, keeping in mind that the ideas expressed here are to give you additional help if the program you have followed has not given satisfactory results.

Rosy Aphid; This aphid caused a groat deal of damage on susceptible varieties in 195 U; we have no way of knovdng whether there will be a repeat per- formance in 1955* Outstanding control can be obtained with a DN material in the Dormant if the application is thorough. Fortunately, vire now have alternative measures such as BHC added to oil or to an early scab spray in Delayed Dormant, Good to excellent control is attainable vdth a phosphate material such as malathion or TEPP used in 1 or 2 Pre-bloom fungicide spr^s. Check your 1955 Spray Chart for compatibilities and details.

Bud Moth; This insect is well controlHed by a thorough Dormant ap- plication of DNc It may be handled also with malathion or parathion in a Pre-blocm application. Even minimum concentrations of parathion used in 5"th or 6th Cover will provide complete control of the summer broodc

"Superior" Oil; It is advisable to use oil at least once every three years* Many growers are using oil every year and swear by it» The complete omission of oil, every year, may lead to a build-up of San Jose Scale, Also, the lack of oil may hasten the time when you can no longer control red mite mth one of the phosphate materials such as TEPP, malathion or parathion because strains re~ sistant to these materials also develop. It is best to try to kill them in several different wayse

There is a new wrinkle to consider. If you plan to use the fungicide, captan, to protect against scab early in the season, then the oil spray must be put on be- fore any green tissue is showing in the buds. Leaves may be severely injured if sprayed with oil and then with captan,

Gypsy Moth; This insect may be more of a problem in 1955 in many orchards in Worcester, JliSdle sex, Essex arid Berkshire counties* Much depends upon hew soon the Department of Natural Resources sprays woodlands surroimding your orchard if you are in one of the towns where the gypsy moth reached the outbreak stage in 195U. I would suggest that you be ready to include a poimd of DDT-50 in the Pink Spray if there is any evidence that gypsy moth is at a peak or near-peak in your area*

Red-«Banded Leaf roller; This insect continues to surprise growers with the amount of damage it does during the 3-U weeks follovdng Petal Fall, To prevent these losses and to reduce the potential for 2nd brood, we are recommending that TDE (DDD) be included with materials ueed against curculio in either the Petal Fall or 1st Cover Sprays, Plase note that with the fungicides, captan and glyodin, only the wettable powder types of TDE are safe, whether it is being used early against 1st brood or late in the season against 2nd brood.

Plum Curculio ! Dieldrin has provided excellent control of curculio^ The small quantity required, just one-half pound of the S0% powder: in 100 gallons, makes it possible to use dieldrin at a saving even though it is absolutely essential that TDE be used with it at least once and that DDT be added to it when codling moth must be controlled, Dieldrin is very toxic to bees; applications to blossoms of any kind being worked actively by bees should be avoided, Methoxychlor also continues to give outstanding control, but may need TDE added to handle moderate to heavy outbreaks of leafroller.

Codling Moth: In Massachusetts DDT still seems effective against this pest although reports of rather high resistance in some strains continue to come in from orchard areas to our west. If you have a codling moth problem and are not satisfied v/ith the control being obtained and you are sure that it is not because of poor timing or the lack of coverage, then you may wish to supplement^ the DDT with a pound or more of the 25^ malathion wettable powder as indicated in the 1955 Spray Chart.

Apple Maggot; This insect continues to be a seriov® threat. The last several years in particular the appearance of flies late in the season has caused much concern and too much damage. Whether these flies are those which emerge late or whether they are migrants is not well understood, but the fact re- mains they are flies ready to attack our fruit. It seems absolutely essential that .

- 8 -

growers keep very close ivatch of their susceptible varieties and make -use of the regularly recommended sprays or dusts for apple maggot control plus emergency ap- plications of methoxychlor closer to harvest. If organic materials such as DDT, IDE and methoxychlor are depended upon entirely for apple maggot control, then it is unsafe to stretch the interval between applications beyond 10 days,

European Red Mite; Oil used in Delayed Dormant (Dormant in the captan schedule) is still very desirable for the control of this mitec If you want to do a 100^ job, this oil application can be supplemented in Pink or in 1st Cover or later ty some of the other miticides such as malathion or TEPP,^ Some trials have been made with ovex (Ovotran, Orthotran, etct)» Results have been excellent. Care must be taken, however, not to overspray and not to exceed the recomraended dosages of l/k lb, of $0% ovex in Pink and If! t Cover and l/2 lb, per 100 in any later application.

If no oil is used, then it is very desirable to plan a mite control program using one of the foliage type miticides such as malathion, TEPP or for extensive trial, the ovex mentioned above. Such programs are well outlined in the 19^5 Spray Chart,

TtTO-Spotted Mite? This mite continues to be a problem in orchards on the schedule making full use of organic insecticides. It appears relatively late as compared to red mite and thus is not well controlled with the applications put on during the early part of the seasono There is some indication that the full ovex program of four sprays such as Pink, 1st Cover, 3-d Cover and ^th Cover, may also handle two-spctted mite, I am of the opinion that the amount of ovex applied to the ground cover during the process of spraying the trees might have a great deal of influence upon the effectiveness of this program against the 2-spot,

If two-spotted mite does develop and aphids are not a problem vinder hot; dry conditions, Aramite is one of the most effective materials that can be used. If aphids are also a problem one of the phosphates such as malathion would be more logical,

Demeton (Systox, etcc)» This newer phosphate which is described more fully elsewhere in this report, is worthy of limited trial on bearing trees. Its compatibility with other materials that may have been used earlier or vfill be used along with it, is not well known. This is a good reason for limited trials. For the control of red mite, two-spotted mite and green aphid, demeton may be tried in a single application used late in June or early July at a rate equal to 6-8 ounces per 100 gallons. On young or non-bearing trees, there should be no need for hesitation in the use of demeton to control green aphid or mitese Ei+her BHC or lindane could be used on non-bearjjig trees and might prove more economical and certainly a lot less hazardous to those applying the material, Demeton must be handled TJith the same safety precautions necessary with parathion.

Residue Tolerances; For many of our commonly used pees tic ides definite residue tolerances on harvested crops have been or are being established nan ty the Federal Department of Health, Education and Vvelfare, Eventually, it will be unlawful for new pesticidesto be sold vmtil a residue tolerance on harvest crops has been established for the material wiien used for the proposed purpose.

It is important for all growers to understand the significance of t his amend- ment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, It is even more important for growers to use pesticides in a manner which provides a high degree of pest control while at the same time assuring crops at harvest time free from residues in excess

- 9 -

of established tolerances.

To the best of our knowledge, excessive residues should not result from using any of the products named in the ^est Control Charts if they are applied as reconniended,

(This article is used in FRUIT NOTES through the courtesy of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association, 1955 Annual Report, — EDc)

^HHi-E .H.Wheeler #############

STRAWBERRIES

Three new red stele resistant strawberry varieties, Orland^ Ifeine 55 and Monmouth, are suggested for trial in the recent revision of Special Circular Noc 212-.D available from the Mailing Room or your county extension office* These three varieties appear to be mid-to late-season, high yielder, of better than average quality but not too firm, in limited trials to date. At the moment, Orland looks somewhat better than the other two, but all three should be worthy of trial where red stele is a problems

Speaking of red stele, a report by Ee K« Vaughan, etalo in Phytopathology, October 195U, indicates that Douglas Fir sawdust mulch caused a significant increase in the seriousness of red stele o Under a four inch mulch 36?5 of the plants vrere affected by red stele whereas under clean cultivation only 8% were visibly injuredo A similar amount of sawdust vorked into the soil caused only slight increase in red stele o Since the reason given for more red stele under a sawdust miilch is thought to be lower soil temperature and higher moisture content, one might expect that aiy kind of sawdust would have the same effect iJrtien used as a surface mulch o

Virus-free strawberry plants are being offered for sale by several northeastern nurseries this spring. Pomology Department Sheet No, 12, which may be had for the asking, lists the local sources of such plants of vhich we know,

•»HH«-A. P.French

############## BEES AND GRAPES

"Grape growers frequently see bees sucking the juice from grapes and there fore blame the bees for destroying their fruit© It has long been known that bees do not have mouth parts which can cut the skin of fruit. In the Bee World (England), Go Giordani, Bologna, Italy, reports experiments which inj- dicate that bees are not capable of damaging smooth skinned fruit, although they will suck the juice of fruit previously damaged by birds, wasps and other insects,

"Giarvarini in 193U showed that bees in cages died of starvation when grapes were the only source of food, unless the skin had been previously pierced,"

•»H«5-from Yi/isconsin Horticulture

- 10 -

RECJMMEMIIAnjNS FOR APPLE SCAB CONTROL - 19^5

Apple scab can be controlled satisfactorily on a protective schedule with the modern fungicides. In such a program, the fungicide must be applied thoroughly before each rain which is long enough for infection to take place or during such a rain before infection has taken place.

However, there are times when it is not possible to apply a f\ingicide before an infection rain or, if the fungicide was applied on time, it was v/ ashed off by prolonged and heavy rain so that green tissues are no longer protected toward the end of the infection period. Fortunately, there are fungicides and combinations of fungicides which have the ability - called "kickback" - to inactivate the scab organism in the early stages of infection, A knowledge of the fungicides which have "kickback" and the length of time after the beginning of an infection period that such action is effective can be used to advantage in controlling scab.

Finally, if scab has not been prevented or stopped, and scab spots appear on the apple leaves, the grower still has a chance. It is a drastic measure and consists of using a powerful chemical to eradicate or "bum out" the scab spots, Becaiose of the element of risk grovrers are urged to make a conscientious effort to control scab by protection and use of "kickback" fungicides so that there will be no need for eradication.

There are three basic protective schedules to choose from with variations for "kickback". All of them will give satisfactory scab control is used properly.

Basic Ferbam^ulfur Schedule

In: this program, Ferbam 3 A Ih. is combined with Sulfur at half strength. No sulfur is used in 2nd Cover or later and Ferbam is reduced to 1 lb, heire or in 3rd Cover if there is good primary scab or if the weather is dry. Combinations are at he If strength each.

Delayed Dormant Up-To-Pink

Pre Rain

In Rain

Post Rain

Basic DiseSse Control

Ferbam 1-1/2 lbs.

Variations

Neutral Copper Fungicides (gO^)-l lb,; 25^2 lbs.

Ferbam plus Sulfur Ferbam plus Sulfur

Ferbam 1-1/2 lbs,

Dichlone plus Ferb, or Sulf , cr Dichl«ne or Sulfur dust . Dichlone l/2 Ib.j Dichlone

plus Ferb, or Su3f .; Ferb.

plus phenyl mercury,

Pink	Same as Up-To-Pink
Bloom
Pre Rain	Ferbam plus Sulfur Ferbam
In Rain	Ferbam plus Sulfur Ferbam or Sulfur dust or spray
Post Rain	Ferbam plus phenyl mercury
Calyx	Same as Up-To-Pink
	For eradication, if needed,
	phenyl mercury full strength
	alone .

- 11 -

Basic Disease Control

Variations

1st Cover

Same as Up-To-Pink

Use no pl:^gon here or later.

Phenyl mercury alone for

eradication 8

2nd Cover

Use no Sulfur here or later. Ferbam 1-1/2 lbs, Captan 1 lb. or glyodin 1-1/2

pts.

Phenyl mercury for eradication only.

3rd. Cover	Ferbam 1 lb.	Captan 1 lb, or glyodin 1-1/2 pts.
Uth & 5th Cover	Ferbam 1 lb.	Captan 1 lb.
6th & 7th Cover	Captan 1 lb.	Glyodin 1-1/2 pts.

Comments on Ferbam-Sulfur program:

Red Delicious and Baldwin - Ferbam only early in seasonj no dichlonej no

sulphur if lead is used before 3rd Cover, Yellow Delicious: Captan only throughout c Phenyl mercury eradicant (full strength) may russet Red Delicious, BaldYiin

and Rhode Island Greening, Iviay be desirable to use at half strength with

other fungicide o Glyodin is left out in Uth and ^th Cover, when lead arsenate will probably

be used for insect control, to avoid injury to Cortland, Baldwin, Red

Delicious, Rhode Island Greening and tacoun.

Basic Captan Schedule

Captan at 2 lbs, is used as the basic fungicide. To avoid injury from captan and oil, put oil on in Dormant and start captan in Delayed Dormanto Combination at half strength each.

Delayed Dormant

Up-To-Pink Pre Rain In Rain Post Rain

Basic Disease Control

Captan 2 lbs a

Variations

C^ tan Captan Captan plus Mercury

Captan plus Dichlone

Pink

Same as Up-'i'o-Pink

Bloom

Pre Rain In Rain Post Rain

Captan Captan Captan plus ifercury

Calyx

Same as Up-To-Pink

1st Cover

Captan 2 lbs<

Captan plus mercury for "kickback"

2nd Cover

Ijth through 7th Cover

Captan 1 lb.

Captan 2 lbs.

Captan 1 lb.

- 12 - Connnents on Captan program;

Excellent fruit finish on all varieties in lead program. Best for Golden

Delicious. Injury is possible, if used after sulfur or dichlone, on Red Delicious and

Baldwin, Do not use with or right after oil, Frogeye and leaf yellow-

IJig. For Rusts, use at half strength with half strength ferbam, before rains in

Pink, Bloom and Calyx,

Basic Glyodin Schedule

Glyodin is used at 1 qt« and reduced to 1-1/2 pts. in covers and Captan sub- stituted where there is danger from lead arsenate injury. Suppresses red mite if season is started with lovf mite populations.

Delayed Dormant

Basic Disease Control

Ferbam 1-1/2 lbs. if oil is used

Variations

Glyodin;, if no oil used or Neutral Copper $0% - 1 lb., 2^% - 2 lbs.

Up-To-Pink Pre Rain In Rain Post Rain

Glyodin 1 qt, Glyodin 1 qt. Glyodin plus Mercury

Pink T Bloora ) Calyx: )

Same as IIp-To-Pink

Ist Cover

Glyodin 1 qt.

Glyodin and mercury (1/2 str, each) if needed for "kickback".

2nd & 3rd Cover

Glyodin 1-1/2 pts.

Uth through 7th Cover Captan 1 lb.

Captan 1 lb.

Glyodin 1-1/2 pts. if no lead arsenate is usedc

Comments on Glyodin program:

For rusts use ferbam 3/U lb, with glyodin 1 pt, in pre-rain applications in

Pink, Bloom and Calyx, Do not use on yellow and green varieties nor with lead arsenate in covers on

Cortland, Baldwin, Red Delicious, Rhode Island Greening and Macoun. Hfercury eradicant, full strength, may russet Baldvd.n, Red Delicious, and

Rhode Island Greening, May be desirable to use at helf strength each,

mercury and glyodin, Glyodin with TEPP or emulsifiable concentrates of insecticides may cause injury.

(This article is used in FRUIT NOTES through the courtesy of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association, 19^5 Annual Report, — ^EDa)

■}HH«;;J,Gilgut

Publication Approved by George J, Cronon, State Purchasing Agent #19

APRIL 15, 1955

POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Explanation of the U. S. Weather Bureau's Forecasts for New England

Hew to Keep Those Strawberries Virus-Free

The Mcintosh Outlook

Pomological Research

Apple Variety Survey

Clean Up Week

A New Water Repellent

Local Supply of Bees for Pollination is Short

Ismued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Asaociate Dean and Director, in furtherance of the Acta of May 8 and June 30, 1914; University of Massachusetts, United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating.

Publication Approved by George J. Cronin, State Purchasing Agent, No. 19.

YOUR POMOLOGY DEPARTlffiNT

Bailey, John S« - Associate Professor, Research - Stationed at East ViTarehem Doing small fruit research on strav^berries, blueberries and beach plums, lir, Bailey also handles considerable of the small fruits extension program.

Fish, Almon S, Jr. - Instructor

Teaches small fruits and general fruit growing courses. >'ir. Fish is currently taking the place of Mr, J, F, Anderson who is on leave for further graduate study,

French, Arthur P, - Head of Department

Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small frvdt variety testing, currently e ditor of FRUIT NOTES.

Roberts, Oliver C, - Associate Professor

Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental courses. Currently also doing research on fi^it marketing*

Southwick, Franklin W, - Professor, Research

Most of his time is spent in research on chemical thinning, pre- harvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutritim # Also^ teaches in certain advanced courses*

Weeks, Walter D, - Assistant Professor, Research

Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety and strain tests and winter hardiness. Also teaches certain advanced courses,

- Extension Fruit Specialist

We hope to have this position filled before long.

Contributors To this Issue from Supporting Fields

Henry, Carl B, - U.S.Fish & V/ildlife Service

Parmenter, Robert B, - Extension Forester

Shaw, Frank R, - Associate Professor in Entomology &. Beekeeping

li/heeler, Ellsworth Hs - Extension Entomologist

FRUIT NOTES

April 19^5

EXPIANATION OF THE U.S. WEATHER BUREAU'S AGRICULTURAL FORECAST FOR NEW ENGLAND t AI^O DEFINITIONS OF TERtIg USED IN WEATHER FORECASTS.

I vfant to urge each county office to have this information duplicated and sent to all commodity nailing lists.

During April, I.Iay and June this information will be of particular use to fruit and vegetable growers. The definition of terms regularly used by the Bureau in its daily forecasts should be of interest to all readers of county publications and to many others as well.

U.S» WEATHER BUREAU ACaUCULTURAL FORECAST PROGRAM IN NEW ENGIAKD

The purpose of this program is to provide special forecasts for agriculture in order to give the farmer the weather information he needs for planning and conducting his operations. These forecasts are "tailored" to particular operations such as maple sugar production^ fruit-tree spraying, crop planting, spraying, dusting or harvesting, frost protection and the like»

The U«S,Vifeather Bureau forecast center at East Boston issues detailed agricul- tural forecasts every v/eekday morning for Inclusion on the early farm radio programs. These forecasts cover the New England area wliich has been divided into convenient "weather" zones. They are also made available to local Vifeather Bureau Offices in each state and are used as a basis for specialized local forecasts which they issue for use on special farm programso

The "weather" zones used at present are:

Eastern llassachusetts - from southern tip of Maine south to Cape, and inland

15-20 miles. South Central N.E. - Most of Conn., R.I., central Mass., including Conn.

Valley. Berkshires - highlands in western Conn., lilass,, ard southern Vt. North Central N.E, - southern N.H. except near coast, southeastern Vt, Northern Vermont - northern half of state. Northern N.Hj - northern half of state, J.Iaine - subdivided by special local forecast areas.

Radio provides the most adequate means of disseminating these agricultural forecasts. If a radio farm program director decides he does not wish to read these special agricultural forecasts, there is little ttie Weather Bureau or other federal, state or county employees can do to change his mind. The people who use tliese fore- casts and find them helpful are the ones v/ho can bring pressure on radio stations and farm program directors, VJrite, call or see them and emphasize your desire to hear those special agricultural forecasts.

Ellsworth H, Wheeler Extension Entomologist

•^nore-

- 2 -

DEFINITIONS OF WEATHER TERMS (Prepared by Dr, Oscar Tenenbaum, Meteorologist in Charge^ Airport Station)

I. STATE OF SKY

A) Clear - Sky free or practically free from clouds (average for period less than l/lO of sky covered),

B) Cloudy or Overcast - Sky completely covered or nearly so (average for period more than 9/10 of sky covered).

Intermediate conditions betrreen clear and cloudy taken into account by use of the folloTfdng terms j

C) Scattered Clouds - Average cloudiness l/lO-^/lO sky covered,

D) Partly Cloudy - Average cloudiness 3/IO-7/IO for period,

E) Considerable Cloudiness or Mostly Cloudy - Average partly cloudy to overcast for period.

Modifying Terms

Increasing cloudiness - Progressive increase in cloudiness, either in amount of sky covered or in density of cloud layers.

Decreasing cloudiness - Progressive decrease in the amount of sky covered, and/or density of clouds.

Clearing - (in general, used only after pscipitation has occurred) - Clearing sky follovdng a period of mostly cloudy weather.

Variable cloudiness - Variable amounts of cloudiness. May range from nearly clear to cloudy or vice versa in a small interval of time,

II. VJEATHER

A) Fair - Broadly speaking, free of precipitationo Usually means not much cloudiness, but can include high thin clouds which do not obscure the sun, moon or stars, but only dim their intensity. In other words, the term ordin- arily means sunshine most of the day, and moon or stars visible at night,

B) Showers - Precipitation intermittent and of short duration. Characterized by suddenness with -viihich precipitation starts and stops and its rapid changes

of intensity. Often accompanied by rapid changes between dark, threatening clouds and clearing conditions «

1, General Showers (often indicated by use of word "showers" alone) means that showers are expected over major portion of area,

2, Scattered shovrers - Showers expected to affect 30-70^ of the area,

3, Widely scattered or local showers - Showers expected to affect 30^ or less of the area.

- -3 -

C) Rain - Precipitation of comparatively long duration as distinguished from showers. Precipitation expected over major portion of area,

lo Occasional rain - Precipitation at infrequent intervals and not prolonged, but rather v/idespread ,

2, Intermittent rain - Precipitation of more or less general and prolonged character but frequently interrupted for short periods.

Modifying Terms for Shovver and Rain Forecasts

In Terms of Amount Expected In Terms of Bate of Accumulation

Very light - less than ,03"

Light - less than ,10" Tvr to ,10" per hour

Moderate - ,10" to ,50" .11" to ,30" per hour

Heavy - more than ,^0" over ,30" per hour

Very heavy - more than 1,0"

•M-T indicates a trace of rain, i,e,, an amovmt too small to measure,

D) Drizzle - Precipitation consisting of numerous tiny droplets which appear to float in the air. Usually accompanied by loi/, stratus type clouds and fog,

E) Thunderstorm - liVhen thunder is heard a thixnderstorm is considered to be occurring. It may or may not be accompanied by precipitation. If a shoiver does accompany the thunder it is termed a "thundershower", (Treated similar to showers in forecasts,)

F) Fog - Minute water droplets suspended in the atmosphere (results in reduced visibility) ,

G) Dew or Frost - Widespread liquid or frozen condensation on surface objects. May be modified by the terms "light" or "heavy", or by "killing" in the case of severe frost,

III. TEMPERATURE

In general, temperature forecasts, actual readings (usually maximum and minimum) v/ill be given. However, in trenci forecasts for longer periodsthe following terms apply;

A) Ylarmerr or not quite so cool - The high or low teirperatures during the period will be at least four degrees higher than the comparable extremes occurring during the same period 2k hours before,

B) Colder, cooler, or not quite so warm - The high or lovx temperatxires during period will be at least four degrees lower ttian the cwnparable extremes occurring during the same period 2k hours before,

C) Little change - High or low temperatures during the period will not differ by more than seven degrees from the comparable extreme occurring during the same period 2k hours before.

IV. WIND

V/ind forecasts will include direction and velocity with velocity given in miles per hour,

Modifying Terms Applied to V/ind Direction

a) Variable - Irregular « Usually subject to sIovt or moderate changes of varying magnitude •

B) Changeable - Irregxilar changes of direction of a more decided nature and magnitude than "variable",

C) Mostly - A modifier used when winds will be subject to some variability, to indicate viiat direction will predominate,

V. HTO/HDITY OR DRYING CONDITIONS

The drying rate is a fvinction of wind velocity, sunshine, temperature and rela- tive humidity. The first three of these elements have already been covered, and the forecaster ^7ill combine his forecast of these elemenlswith expected re- lative humidity to evaluate the drying rate, Eiying coiditions will then be forecast as being in one of the following classes;

1, Poor drying: 2, Fair drying; 3, Good drying: It, Excellent drying,

VI. FORECAST PERIOD

A) " Today" covers today's daylight hours, if the forecast also mentions this evening or tonight<i iJ'hen the latter tvfo are not mentioned, "today" covers the period until midnight tonight,

B) "Tonight" covers the hours of darkness, or from sunset to sunrise,

C) "Evening" covers the p riod from about two hours before sunset to about two hours after sunset,

D) "Tomorrov/" covers the period from about sunrise to siinset the following day, unless the night period is not mentioned. If the night period is not men- tioned, "Tomorrow" begins from midnight tonight and ends at sunset tomorrow,

E) "Forenoon" covers the period from about sunrise until noon,

F) "Afternoon" covers the period from noon to sunset.

Length of forecast period. The agricultural forecast ordinarily covers the period of today and tomorrow. An outlook for the day after tomorrovf is given if the current weather pattern is such that a forecast for the third day can be made with reasonable assurance of verification.

-5 -

HOW TO KEEP THOSE STRAVfBERRIES VIRUS-FREE

Almost all strav/berry plants gro^dng in the northeast are infected wth one or more virus diseases. It is very likely that wild stravirberries also are infected.

At least three species of aphids^ knorm to occur in the northeast, serve as virus carriers. After feeding upon diseased plantethese aphids may transmit the viruses to healthy, virus-free strawberries. Certain other ai:^ids, also found on straviTberries occasionally, have transmitted vimses experimentallyo

Virus-free strav/berry plants grovm for fruiting next season, AMD WXT SEASON ONL^i do not require protection from aphids. Viruses contracted by these plants — ' Wrough aphid feeding should have little or no effect upon their growth or yield.

Plants grgym in nurseries for subsequent sale as virus-free plants, MUST BE PROTECTED from aphids in the nursery to keep them in a virus-free conditiwu This becomes even mere important in stock beds from Tiiiiich the nurserymai vdll set his new stock beds and plant beds for succeeding seasons.

Virus-carrying aphids must not feed on plants which the nurseryman or anyone else wants to keep virus-free.

How Aphids Move From Field to Field

Winged forms are produced in some generations of most aphid species. In straw- berry aphids, only the vdnged forms are able to move from one plant bed to another, (An exception would be the movenent of plants, infested virith wingless forms, from place to place,)

This Is the Problem

Our problem then is (l)to prevent cringed aphids from developing on knovm virus- infected plants or on plants which may have virus, and (2) to prevent any vdnged aphids that do develop on such plants from establishing colonies or even feeding upon cur virus-free plantings,

TiHiat the Nurseryman Can Do

¥inged apliidsdo not travel great distances unless carried by wind or \3y some other means; therefore:

(1) Locate virus-free stock and p]a nt beds in places isolated from possible sources of aphids and virus - 3000 ft, is suggested as a reasonably safe distance - any distance is better than none. Such isolation is helpful but distance in itself does not guarantee immunity to aphids and virus.

Winged qshids restilt -vtien strawberry aphid colony reproduces rapidly and becomes overcrowded. They occur principally during Ilay and Jiine aid again in September, October and November, Some may be found during summei«months also, therefore:

- 6 -

(2) Dust all new and old plantings at 12-11^ day intervals after ggrowth starts in April and during !Jay and June (except during bloom and within 2 weeks of harvest on fruiting beds.)

(3) Dust all plantings at 3-U vreek intervals diiring July and August,

(k) Dust all plantings at 12-11^ day intervals during September and October,

The Right llate rials to Use

Dusts have proved superior to sprays although this may not hold true under all conditions. Materials must be driven into the buds and ujnder the foliage a Strawberry aphids are found in these places,

(5) Parathion - 1-2/^ dust is recomnended T^idelyt Observe all Safety Precautions with this material,

(6) Halathion - h-S% dust should provide as good control^ it will cost more but is much safer for the man doing the job.

Your Equipment Muat Be Good

Hand dusters are not adequate on any but the smallest plantings. Power dusters should have nozzles arranged so as to drive the dust into the buds and under the foliage, A trailing canvas apron, 12-20 feet long, to confine the dust increases effectiveness,

Ell8\Torth H, Wheeler Extension Entomologist

EXCESSIVE CULTIVATION DECREASES GRAPE YIELDS * ■«•■)**** ^- * -x- ^;- * % ^ ■«■ -ji- ^^ * -:;- -it ,•«•

Recent experiments in Ohio show rather conclusively that excessive cviltivation is detriments to high yields in vineyards. Deep plowing and too frequent cxxltivations tend to cause a compact soil structure, to reduce the water holding capacity of the soil, and to damage the vines by cutting off roots. Discing of the overvTintering cover crops in the spring is a more desirable practice than plowing. Three or four light cultivations with a disc are sufficiente Laborious and costly hoeing between the vines in the row can be avoided with two or three spray applications of dinitro. The recommended rate of application is two pints of $$% dinitro-ortho-secondaiy butyl phenol (Dov; General), 10 gallons diesel fuel oil, and water to make 100 gallons. This mixture should be applied at the rate of ^0-100 gallons per acre depending on the size and number of weeds. The first application sho\ild be made in May vhen the weeds reach 6-8 inches in height. Repeat applications shovQd be made at three to four week intervals •

0,C, Roberts

0 // ###/;#### # i' #

J

- 7 -

Look For Mouse Injury

During the past \miter there was little, if any, snow covering in most orchard areas. Consequently, fruitgrowers might feel complacent in regard to mouse injury© Hovrever, the combination of hurri- cane-loosened trees and deep-frozen groxmd increases the need for careful exaiaination of tree bases for signs of girdling. Several quite severe cases of mouse injury have been found in matvire orchards, where tall grass, mxilch, or weeds have been allowed to accumulate directly against the tree trunks* It is suggested that grovrers examine trees in suscep- tible areas in their orchards so that inarching or grafting may be done this spring*

Carl B, Henry # # # # T-;;- # # # # f!' # # #

THE MCINTOSH OUTLOOK

It looks like re can expect a heavy bloom on Mcintosh this spring following a rather light crop in 19Sh» With a big crop in prospect, poorly colored or small apples cannot be esqjected to be worth much by fall.

This looks like a spring vriien it would be desirable to use a littln less nitrogen than usual to help reduce the tendency for over setting and eventual small, green apples. Also, Mcintosh trees which don't over set are much more apt to bloom and produce in 1956» Our data do not indicate that once a tree becomes biennial in bearing haavy applications of nitrogen are going to make the trees annual. In fact, a heavy nitrogen application in the spring of the "on" year, through its tendency to increase the set, may increase the tendency toward alternate bearing. Nitrogen is a very important and essential element in apple raising but v:hen used to excess it iiTill depress red color development, increase fruit drop, and result in a softer, poorer keeping apple also.

If exceptionally good weather exists at blossom time, it might be desirable to take colonies of bees out of the orchard after a day or tvTO of good pollinating weather. Of course, an overset m^ still occur if wild bees are plentiful.

It is recognized that even if the following suggestions are followed, Hclntosh may over set anyway. In this a. tuation chemical thinning seems to represent the best approach to reducing the set and maintenance of annual blooming. For those of you who may be interested in chemical thinning of Mcintosh, other apple varieties, and peaches, vre have available our 19SS revision of Special Circular #189, "Chemical Thinning of Apples & Peaches", This circular can be obtained from your County Extenp- sion office or from the Pomology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst upon request.

Apparently, peaches came through in good shape in Massachusetts with little or no winter bud killing,

F,W,Southwick

-. 8 -

POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

3» The Evaluation of Rootstocks for Tree Fruits

We have been conducting rootstock studies for the past 2^ years. It would seem that after 2^ years there would not be much left to learn about rootstocks, but wlien we consider that the life of an apple tree is 35-50 years it is easy to see that root- stock research is by necessity a long time proposition.

Up until the present time yre have been concerned with evaluating the performance of our principal apple varieties w^hen groim on the several East Mailing rootstocks. We have been looking for a rootstock which would produce a tree 1/2-2/3 the size of a seedling rooted tree* V/e also wanted the tree to come into production at an early age and to produce high acre yields.

The results indicate that a few of the lulling stocks appear promising in ac- complishing our goal, Mlling II and 711 produce trees which are 1/2-2/3 the size of seedling rooted trees. They come into production at an early age and have given high acre yields. There maybe a possibility of a weakness vdth these stocks in that the trees may not be too well anchored.

Mailing I is another stock which shows promise. It produces a tree about 3/U the size of seedling rootstocks. It comes into production early and is productive aid appears to be well anchored o

Mailing XVI does not produce a semi-dwarf tree, but is a vigorous stock. It is very productive and appears promising as a s took for weak growing varieties.

In our studies with the semi-dwarfing rootstocks we have found that the vigor of the variety determines to a large extent how much dwarfing effect can be produced by the rootstock. Very vigorous varieties are dwarfed slightly while weak growing varieties may be dwarfed too much by a given rootstock.

We have recently received a new series of semi-dwarfing rootstocks from England which are reported to be superior to the Ifeilling stocks. So it looks like we shall have to start evaluating rootstocks all over again.

Our future studies with rootstocks call for evaluating new rootstocks and deter- mining if the better Mailing stocks are practical for the commercial orchard,

VVJD .Weeks

### ^* ######## #

The Ear list Formed Stravfberry Runners Are Money-Makers - Research has shown that the earliest (June-formeci) runner plants are the ones T*iich will produce the largest yield the following spring. Early spring planting of mother plants will allow for June runner plant formation, Funner plants then have plenty of time to bui]d up food supply for use in forming blossom buds in fall.

The Moral ; Plant your strawberry mother plants early and take care of them.

o

en

CD

'/".•r'^V/A

4 4 f^ 4 f

* ♦ * ^

Do Not Remove

*• ^M seei ^) 'Jit filler. ^■i 'iit root-

'•« psrforance

ifce size of it an early

] the size of given high , tot the

e atxnt 3/1

^ 9 -

APPLE VARIETY SURVEY

The American Pomological Society is conducting a nation-wide survey of trends Ln apple varieties. Before Professor Thies retired he sent a copy of that questior^- laire to 25 llassachusetts -apple growers. Sixteen growers sent in their reports Tiiich le summarized and which is presented below for your information.

'ariety

APS Apple Variety Survey Growers ^Present/ ^^uture Reporting Planting Planting

% Increase or Decrease

[dintosh 16

laldwin 1^

elicious (Bud Sports) 1^

•' ortland 13

: arly Mcintosh 12

; allia & Red Rome 12

' ed Gravenstein 8

olden Delicious 7

acoun 6

orthern Spy U

Admitted, this represents a very small sampling of Massachusetts apple growers, flit at least it suggests the variety trend in future plantings by these groirers.

-. It is

the vigor 'oe prcdiiced laijrofiii?

-. ir^gland -sbill

6 7 $

h h k k h

U3 $ 16 11 8 8 6 8 9 7

-5 -10 +10

+ U

+ 3

+ u

+ 2

+ li

+ 3

A,P,French

#####// fS' ## f5' {} i'- #

% Vr ^ CLEAN UP UEEK^t '/<■ •»■ ^

,:,ieels

tbe

■JtNow is the time to get rid of the winter's accumulation of trash and junk - in ne attic, basement, barn and other out buildings.

*Let's clean up, not bum up. Inspect your attic, closets and basements, and emove those things that burn fast,

^Dispose of discarded clothing, draperies, rags, furniture, magazines and apers, linoleum and other materials that burn readily,

*Yfatch especially for oily rags, paint brushes and open containers of Lairanable apint, thinners or cleaning fluids,

■«-Stop the use of \ansafe vfiring - overloaded e]e ctrical circuits, v/om or frayed )rds and defective electrical appliances,

^fRemove high brush, weeds, grass and other trash along the roadsides and near )ur buildings. Remove standing trees, dead trees or limbs that may cause accidents fires,

•5€)o not burn debris, trash or other hazardous waste material outdoors on "7 and vri-ndy days, or close to your buildings.

i i

« 41

4 4 f

k sk i a » a I I 1 * ,.

■4 ^ '•

'.S'

kk^
•>Ji
	1

»^»i

« 8 -

POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

3« The Evaluation of Rootstocks for Tree Fruits

We have been conducting rootstock studies for the past 25 years « It would seen that after 20 years there would not be much left to learn about rootstocks, but wlien we consider that the life of an apple tree is 35-50 years it is easy to see that root stock research is by necessity a long time proposition.

Up until the present time rre have been concerned with evaluating the perforraanc of our principal apple varieties when grovm on the several East Mailing rootstocks • Yii'e have been looking for a rootstock which wo\ild produce a tree 1/2-2/3 the size of a seedling rooted tree* life also wanted the tree to come into production at an early age and to produce high acre yields.

The results indicate that a fev; of the lulling stocks appear promising in ac- complishing our goal, tfelling II and VII produce trees which are 1/2-2/3 the size 0; seedling rooted trees. They come into production at an early age and have given higl acre yields. There may be a possibility of a weakness vdth these stocks in that the trees may not be too veil anchored.

Mailing I is another stock which shows promise. It produces a tree about 3/h the size of seedling rootstocks. It comes into production early and is productive s appears to be well anchored 0

Mailing XVI does not produce a semi-dv/arf tree, but is a vigorous stock, veiy productive and appears promising as a s took for weak grovring varieties.

It i

In oxir studies with the semi-dwarfing rootstocks we have found that the vigor of the variety determines to a large extent how much dwarfing effect can be produced by the rootstock. Very vigorous varieties are dwarfed slightly while weak growing varieties may be dwarfed too much by a given rootstock.

We have recently received a new series of semi-dwarfing rootstocks from England which are reported to be superior to the Mailing stocks. So it looks like we shall have to start evaluating rootstocks all over again.

Our future studies with rootstocks call for evaluating new rootstocks and dete mining if the better Flailing stocks are practical for the commercial orchard.

vV,D,¥feek£

###^* #########

The Earlist Formed Stravf berry Runners Are Money-Ma kers - Research has shown that the earliest (June-formed) runner plants are the ones which will produce the largest yield the following spring. Early spring planting of mother plants will allow for June runner plant formation, Funner plants then have plenty of time to buiM up food supply for use in forming blossom buds in fall.

The Moral; Plant your strawberry mother plants early and take ■~~~~ care of them.

k.

Bii^.

•^ '« '> 'K f »' ^•

I f t ^

> u ¥ k % V }> u i- V f

t »^> i» ^ )> r i ft f > I

i > ^ ^ h 9^ h y I' I ^

> I f # > ^ f f 9> * r .

»j.» M K> ^v» •> r> r« r>'.

Mdlntosh	16
^Baldwin	1^
Delicious (Bud Sports)	15
Cortland	13
Early Mcintosh	12
Gallia &. Red Rome	12
Red Gravenstein	8
Golden Delicious	7
Macoun	6
Northern Spy	h

T, 9 -

APPLE VARIETY SURVEY

The American Porno logical Society is conducting a nation-wide survey of trends in apple varieties. Before Professor Thies retired he sent a copy of that questior?- jiaire to 25 tiassachusetts -apple growers. Sixteen growers sent in their reports "viiich he summarized and which is presented below for your informationo

APS Apple Variety Survey Variety Growers ^Presenx ^^uture % Increase Reporting Planting Planting or Decrease

m h3 - 5

15 5 -10

6 16 +10

7 11 +h 5 8 +3 k 8 +li h 6 +2 k 8 + li k 9 +5 U 7 +3

Admitted, this represents a very small sampling of Massachusetts apple growers, but at least it suggests the variety trend in future plantings by these groirers.

A.P.French

#####//?;'##?;' i-;' c #

* * ^i- ^t CLEAN UP lEEK^t -s:- * ^

*Naw is the time to get rid of the winter's accumulation of trash and junk - in the attic, basement, barn and other out buildings.

*Let's clean up, not bum up. Inspect yoxir attic, closets and basements, and remove those things that burn fast.

■^■Dispose of discarded clothing, draperies, rags, furniture, magazines and papers, linoleum and other materials that burn readily.

•K-Vfatch especially for oily rags, paint brushes and open containers of flammable apint, thinners or cleaning fluids,

^«-Stop the use of unsafe wiring - overloaded ele ctrical circuits, vrom or frayed cords and defective electrical appliances,

^Remove high brush, weeds, grass and other trash along the roadsides and near your buildings. Remove standing trees, dead trees or limbs that may cause accidents or fires e

•M'Do not burn debris, trash or other hazardous waste material outdoors on dry and vdndy days, or close to your buildings.

- 10 -

*Check your fuses: use 15 ampere fuses in regular household circuits, and don't make any emergency repairs to fuses j keep wiring in good repairj have all the work done by an expert electriciano

*Check your ash receptacles: always put hot ashes into covered metal ccntainers. Hot ashes in wood boxes hst, fire to many houses. In the cellar, this is particularly hazardous, because flames quickly spread up through hollow walls of the building.

^General repaji-s: plan needed painting and r enovating this spring© Remodel and modernize your house for greater safety. Replace fauiy stair treads j install heavy flush type door Lt the head of the cellar stairs to hold the basement fires in check«

■M'Don't give fires a place to start. Clean up, and if you must burn brush, grass or trash, select a still, damp day, preferably after Us 00 PM, Have help and fire tools handy. Be sure fire is dead out before leaving it.

Inspection is the Removal of fire Enlist the cooperation

Fires result from first step in fire hazards pays of your neighbors in a

carelessness prevention dividends clean up campaign

Robert B, Parmenter

Chairman, Safety Committee

A NEiY WATER REPELLENT

Preservative for Yfooden Boxes, Crates, EtcT

Thanks to modern chemistry, a long-felt need for a safe, inexpensive preserve^ tive for use on wood items in contact with foodstuffs, has been filled.

Now it is possible to preserve wooden containers without damaging even the most tender crops. Boxes, hampers, and field crates last much longer. Contamination by fungi and mildew on food handling equipment is practically a thing of the past. And containers keep their new, clean appearance.

This moisture-repellent wood preservative vrcis developed at the request of, and in cooperation with, the National Wooden Box Association and the Natim al Wood Pallet Manvifacturers Association,

It is odorless 5 tasteless, non-toxic p Will not irritate the skin. It really lengthens the life of the containeiise Prevents blue stain and similar discoloration of wood, thus insuring a longer lasting clean, bright, sanitary appearance.

How to Apply This VJood Preservative

This wood preservative is pvirchased in the concentrated form and diluted at the rate of one (l) gallon of the concentrate to two (2) gallonn of mineral spirits (Stoddard Solvent),

Treat by any one of the folloi/ving methods:

1, Dipping - Use an open tank or a $5 gallon drum. For softwoods, a con>- plete immersion of 3-U seconds is recommended for adequate treatment. For hardwoods, 5-10 seconds is sufficient. Larger items than food

t

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en

CO

m

* ♦ ^1 ^

Do Not Remove

I

- 11 -

containers require immersion periods ranging from 1 minute upwards,

2« Brushing - Flow the treating solution on liberally rather than brush it on. Keep the brush dripping wet at all times. Tvto coats are advised on dense woods. After treatment, by any method, allow the solvents to completely evaporate,

3o Spraying - Use spray guns, Ee sure to apply a liberal coating to the wood, Apply two coats.

Name of product source will be furnished by the undersigned on request,

Robert B, Parmenter

#############

LOCAL SUPPLY OF BEES FOR FOLLIMATION IS SHORT

Inter Losses Heavy: Winter losses of bees have been high. This information comes ) us from various parts of liassachusetts and f rom other New England states as well, )sses have been so heavy as to warrant real concern among fruit growers and others 10 must depend upon bees for pollination.

)or Honey Flow in Fall of 1S$\x\ Undoubtedly, these excessive losses can be correla- id with the poor fall honey flow in mary parts of New England last year. The cooler lan normal summer and fall, hurricane damage to honey plants, excessive rainfall and |)ng periods of low sunshine were contributing factors to this situation. Colonies ,:rc:es,EtO|^ f nt into the winter with an inadequate food supply,

7: :r?sem" | rly Attention Needed to Assure Adequate Supply of Bees for Pollinationt It is very • kely that bees for hire will be scarce this spring. Fruit growers and others vfho J ed bees for pollination are urged to arrange early for their supply of these very I cessaiy insect helpers,

- ^"t^ To Do; Here are some suggestions which may help to solve your problem.

Contact immediately the beekeeper who has supplied you with colonies in

the past. Find out -wrtiether he anticipates any trouble supplying your needs.

If your usual source of supply appears inadequate, ask yom* county agent for the names of other beekeepers. He is also in a position to bring your needs to the attention of county or other local beekeepers' associations.

Dealers in beekeeping supplies are often a valuable contact through vshich you may obtain additicaial names of beekeepers and some idea of the extent of their apiaries, A list of such dealers has been supplied to each coiyity extension office.

As an emergency measure, make use of package bees. Package bees are not as efficient as overwintered colonies. They may fail completely unless certain steps are taken to give them every possible chance to perform the job for which you have obtained them. For best results package bees should be installed lii hives, fed, and encouraged to develop as far ahead of bloom as possible.

	(1)
'■ -.4 Pallet	(2)
really
' --loratioB	(3)
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■- jCOf , .r^atnent. ^ar, feed
J 1	«

• I *

n I I f j^ ,.

I < f c

•Jr

js i»

v*w*

1 1 iii

1 /r «

*Check your fuses: use 15 ampere fuses in regular household circuits, and don't make any emergency repairs to fuses j keep wiring in good repairj have all the work done by an expert electriciano

*Check your ash receptacles: always put hot ashes into covered metal ccntainer Hot ashes in wood boxes net fire to many houses. In the cellar, this is particular] hazardous, because flames quickly spread up through hollow walls of the building*

■x-General repaji-s; plan needed painting and r enovating this spring, Remode and modernize your house for greater safety. Replace faulty stair treads j install heavy flush type door tt the head of the cellar stairs to hold the basement fires ii checko

■Jt'Don't give fires a place to start. Clean up, and if you must burn bru; grass or trash, select a still, damp day, preferably after li;00 Hi. Have help and fire tools handy. Be sure fire is dead out before leaving it.

Fires result from carelessness

Inspection is the first step in fire prevention

Removal of fire hazards pays dividends

Enlist the cooperation of your neighbors in a clean up campaign

Robert B. Parmente

Chairman, Safety Committee

# # # i^ # # # # # fJ' # # #

A NEIT WATER REPELLENT

Preservative for Wooden Boxes j Crates, Etc

Thanks to modern chemistry, a long-felt need for a safe, inexpensive preserve tive for use on wood items in contact with foodstuffs, has been filled.

Now it is possible to preserve wooden containers without damaging even the met tender crops. Boxes, hampers, and field crates last much longer. Contamination bj fungi and mildew on food handling equipment is practically a thing of the past, Ar containers keep their new, clean appearance.

This moisture-repellent wood preservative vreis developed at the request of, ar in cooperation with, the National Wooden Box Association and the Natioi al Wood Pal: Manufacturers Association,

It is odorless, tasteless, non-toxic p

Will not irritate the skin. It reall; lengthens the life of the containeiis. Prevents blue stain and similar discolorati( i of wood, thus insuring a longer lasting clean, bright, sanitary appearance.

How to Apply This Yifood Preservative

This wood preservative is purchased in the concentrated form and diluted at rate of one (l) gallon of the concentrate to two (2) gallonn of mineral spirits (Stoddard Solvent).

Treat by any one of the folloiving methods:

1, Dipping - Use an open tank or a 55 gallon drum. For softwoods, a com plete immersion of 3-U seconds is recommended for adequate treatment. For hardwoods, 5-10 seconds is sufficient. Larger items than food

'onimmnmHUi

le

f ^ !» * ^ » >

U ^ h % li

f f f '^ ^ ^ ^ i. I { / K

• > > > > h p h y f^ I t ^

- n -

containers require immersion periods ranging from 1 minute upwards.

2* Brushing - Flow the treating solution on liberally rather than brush it on. Keep the brush dripping wet at all times. Two coats are advised on dense woods. After treatment, by any method, allow the solvents to completely evaporate.

3. Spraying - Use spray guns. Be sure to apply a liberal coating to the wood. Apply two coats.

Name of product source will be furnished by the undersigned on request.

Robert B, Parmenter

## ## ### # # # ### LOCAL SUPPLY OF BEES FOR POLLINATION IS SHORT

Winter Losses Heavy: Winter losses of bees have been high. This information comes to us from various parts of liassachusetts and f rom other New England states as well. Losses have been so heavy as t) warrant real concern among fruit growers and others who must depend upon bees for pollination.

Poor Honey Flow in Fall of 195^ t Undoubtedly, these excessive losses can be correla- ted with the poor fall honey flow in many parts of New England last year. The cooler than normal summer and fall, hurricane damage to honey plants, excessive rainfall and long periods of low sunshine were contributing factors to this situation. Colonies went into the winter with an inadequate food supply.

Early Attention Needed to Assure Adequate Supply of Bees for Pollinatlont It is very likely that bees for hire will be scarce this spring. Fruit growers and others v;ho need bees for pollination are urged to arrange early for their supply of these very necessary insect helpers.

What To Do; Here, are some suggestions which may help to solve your problem.

(1) Contact immediately the beekeeper vrho has supplied you with colcnies in

the past. Find out ■v*ether he anticipates any trouble supplying your needs,

(2) If your usual source of supply appears inadequate, ask your county agent for the names of other beekeepers. He is also in a position to bring your needs to the attention of county or other local beekeepers' associations.

(3) Dealers in beekeeping supplies are often a valuable contact through \tiich you may obtain additicaial names of beekeepers and some idea of the extent of their apiaries. A list of such dealers has been supplied to each county extensicn office.

ih) As an emergency measure, make use of package bees. Package bees are not as efficient as overwintered colonies. They may fail completely unless certain steps are taken to give them every possible chance to perform the job for which you have obtained them. For best results package bees should be installed in hives, fed, and encouraged to develop as far ahead of bloom as possible.

- 12 -

Package bees may be purchased in 2-Foand packages for approximately $3 #00 to !!i)3.75« For larger units, add approximately ^1,00 for each additional pound, exclusive of shipping »

The size package required depends upon several factors; (a) The interval between installation and bloom on the crop to^ggllinated. Packages of two to three pounds, if handled properly, are'^aaequate if they are ob- tained and installed four to six -/reeks before bloom appears on the crop to be pollinated. If the interval between installation and bloom is less than four weeks, especially if only seven to ten days, five pound units are none too big. The shorter the interval between installation and bloom, the larger the unit must be and also the greater need for a larger number of packages e

(b) The weather during the build-up period is very important^ but we don't know what you can do about it. It seems obvious that larger units, and more of them, will overcome the adverse effects of unfavorable weather to some extent,

(c) The availability of nectar and pollen from plants blooming ahead of the crop to be pollinated. Here again, vre don't know what you can do about it except to see to it that the colonies are adequately fed as a substitute for the more desirable foods they could ©btain from plants.

If you do have to rely on package bees, why not contact local beekeepers and make arrangements with them to secure necessary hives and other equipment as well as some labor and "know-how" so as to assure the best possible returns for the money you have spent to secure the bees. In some areas cooperative arrangements have been worked out to the complete satisfaction of both growers and beekeepers. The growers needing bees, buy the packages; the beekeeper takes charge of them when they arrive, installs them in his hives and then keeps the bees as part-payment for the pollination service,

(5) Having exhausted all possibility of obtaining an adequate bee supply

locally, you may wish to contact beekeepers in other states. Some of these make the rental of colonies for pollination pxirposes a main partof their business. Transportation costs plus the rental fees may make this an ex- pensive procedure.

Protect the Beea; Do everything possible to avoid unnecessary destruction of bees through the unvdse use of insecticides. At times when bees are most active, whether on crop blossoms or on dandelions or other weeds, use those insecticides which are the least toxic to bees.

If you rent bees or have an arrangement with a beekeeper to handle package bees, make sure the owner has ample opportunity to get the bees away from the orchard before applying post-bloom sprays or dusts.

Experiments carried out last year and in many other parts of the cotmtry give us no reason to think the aerial spray program carried out for gypsy moth is deleter- ious to bees to the extent that colonies are greatly weakened or lost,

F»R,Shaw &. E,H,Virheeler Publication Approved by George J, Cronin, State Purchasing Agent - #19

H^->

POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST

MAY 15, 1955

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Hew Can W« G«t Better Applet to the CenBumer?

Summer Fruit Meeting*

Blueberry Maggot

Special Pest Control ll^ttages from U of M

Electricity - Friend or Foe?

Removing Strawberry Blossoms

Pomelogicol Research

The "Miller Bill" Becomes Effective

Issued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Associate Dean and Director, in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 19 M; University of Massachusetts, United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating

Publication Approved by George J. Cronln, State Purchasing Agent, No, 19.

YOUR POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Bailey, John S« - Associate Profess or. Research - Stationed at East V/arehaau Doing small fruit research on strawberries, blueberries and beach plums. Mr. Bailey also handles considerable of the small fruits extension program.

Fish, Almon S. Jr. - Instructor

Teaches small fruits and general fruit growing courses, lir. Fish is currently taking the place of I^. J. F, Anderson who is on leave for further graduate study.

French, Arthur P. - Head of Department

Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small fruit variety testing, currently editor of FRUIT NOTES.

Roberts, Oliver C, - Associate Professor

Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental courses • Currently also doing research on fruit marketing.

Southwiok, Franklin 1/Y. - Professor, Research

Most of his time is spent in research on chemical thinning, pre- harvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutrition. Also, teaches in certain advanced courses.

Weeks, Walter D, - Assistant Professor, Research

Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety and strain tests and winter hardiness. Also teaches certain advanced courses*

__________^__^__^ - Extension Fruit Specialist

We hope to have this position filled before long.

Contributors to This Issue from Supporting Fields

Oleson, Grunow 0, - Extension Information Specialist Parmenter, Robert B, - Extension Forester Tomlinson, William E,, Jr. - Associate Research

Professor (Cranberry Station) Wheeler, Ellsworth H, - Extension Entomologist

FRUIT- NOTES .

May 1955

>

HOW CAN WE GET BETTER APPLES TO THE CONSUMED?

This question vras the central theme at a recent meeting of the M,F,G.A, Marketing Committee which ran late into the night e

The recent survey of 0, C, Roberts (which will be reported at the M.F.G.A, Summer Meeting) shows that altogether too many cut, bruised and otherwise cull Eastern apples are being offered for sale in retail stores. Steps must be taken to correctthis situation if our local apples are to retain their rightful place on the market and our Massachusetts apple industry is to survive.

Two approaches to the problem were acted upon by that committee j (l) the pre- paration of a flyer of suggestions on careful handling to be inclosed in every package J (2) working for compulsory grades for apples. On this second point the committee voted unanimously "that the committee feels that all apples should bear a correct grade label each and every time offered for sale and that we start working for such a law and its enforcement,"

Western apples, competition from ivhich will be increasingly keen in years ahead, meet such standards. Why not ours?

'/rti^k, P, French #############

Summer Fruit Meetings

June 20-7 P»ni» — Annual Strawberry Twilight Meeting at the University of Massachusetts, New varieties, virus-free plants and production problems vdll be stressed a

July 18 - 7 p.m. — Raspberry-Blueberry Twilight Meeting at the University of Massachusetts, This is the first such meeting to be held on campus. Most of the new varieties will be fruiting (weather permitting),

July 21 - all day — Summer Meeting of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association at President Elmer Fitzgerald's orchards in Leominster, Program to be announced later.

- 2 - -BLUEBERRI mOGOT-

The blueberry maggot has been noticed in abundance the past few seasons in the fruit of cultivated blueberries in a few fields in the Cape Cod area. Maggot has been a problem to the blueberry industry in other areas for a good many years and there is no reason to believe that it will not be an increasing problem in South-- eastern Massachusetts as the industry expands.

The blueberry maggot is a native insect that infests both wild and culti- vated blueberries and some related fruits from New Jersey northward wherever its host plants are found. To avoid maggot infested fruit at harvest it has been found neces- sary to dust or spray for this insect in the cultivated blueberry fields of New Jersey and the areas of wild lowbush blueberries that are harvested in New England and else- where.

The blueberry maggot is apparently a strain of the apple maggot, the only difference being that the blueberry infesting strain is smaller in size. This size difference is especially marked in maggots that infest the smaller fruited wild varieties, while maggots developing in some of the larger cultivated bluebercy varie- ties approximate apple maggots in size.

Like the apple maggot the blueberry maggot has one generation a year. The winter is passed in the pupal stage in a quarter inch brown puparia buried in the soil within a few inches of the surface. The flies emerge for about a month in the summer beginning about the time the first blueberries start to turn blue« They are blac^ in color with white bands on the abdomen and are smaller than a house fly though similar in shape. The wings are marked with characteristic oblique black bands. The flies do not lay eggs until about 10 days after they have emerged. Eggs are layed singly under the skin of the blueberry c The eggs hatch in about a week and the maggots leave the berries and enter the soil and form puparia in v/hich they re- main until the next or some following spring vrhen they emerge as flies. Some of the maggots remain in the puparia for two or more years before emerging, and as these emerge later than those that emerge after one winter in the soil they complicate control.

Though the flies apparently prefer ripe fruit in which to lay eggs, if they appear before the fruit is ripe or if they are abundant, they will lay eggs in_ green fruit as well as ripe berries during the harvest season. Consequently the timing of the first dust application is ideally based on fly emergence, but lacking this know- ledge the first dust should be applied just as the first few berries are turning from red to blue. Because there is about a 10-day interval between emergence of the fly ani the time it can lay eggs, subsequent dustings are applied at 10-day intervals after the f irst dust application^ The number of dusts applied will depend on the length of the harvest season, with three dusts usvially a minimum number and four or five being necessary in a late season and with a high prcentage of late varieties in the field.

Frequent picking of ripe fruit during the harvest season and prompt dis- posal of the picked fruit helps in controlling maggot and reducing loss from it. In no case should soft over-ripe fruit be shipped to market, though picking of such fruit and removal from the field will help reduce the fly population the following season. Vlhere practical, bushes should be picked clean as berries left on the bushes at the end of the harvest season often become very heavily infested with maggots and are a source of a large fly population in the next and following seasons.

- 3 -

Since blueberry maggot flies lay their eggs during the picking season of the cultivated blueberry, rotenone sprays or dusts are favored for controlling maggot, because of its safetyo A 2% rotenone di-ist applied by airplane at the rate of 15-20 pounds per acre has given satisfactory control. This can be applied by ground dustei* also, A spray made up with S pounds of ii-5$ rotenone wettable powder in 100 gallons of water and applied at the rate of 200 gallons per acre will also give satisfactory control,

4HH{W.3B,Tomlinson, Jr,

#############

IS GRASS INJURING YOUR RASPBERRY YIELD?

Witch or Quack grass is frequently a serious problem in an established red raspberry planting. This and other grasses have been satisfactorily controlled in the plant- ing of Latham and Taylor raspberries according to recent reports from Michigan, A fall application (late October) of Chloro-IPG at the rate of 5-8 l^So reduced the grass stand by 68 and 76 percent in 1953 and 195U respectively. This reduction in grass resulted in increased yields of fruit of 30-UO percent. Eight pounds of actual Chloro- IPC should be used in 100 gallons of water and since only the row-areas were sprayed, it should cover about 3 acres with 8 feet row spacing. For the home gardener that means about one ounce of actual Ghloro-IPC in one gallon of water to cover a single I4O foot row not over three feet wide,

iH«t-A,P,French

#############

SPECIAL PEST CONTROL MESSAGES

from University of Massachusetts'

Special pest control messages to gruit growers, market gardeners, and other crop producers are now being issued for radio broadcast twice each Vireek, These messages are prepared by Ellsworth H, f/heeler, entomologist, and Constantine J, Gilgut, plant pathologist at the University of Hfeissachusetts in Amherst, This is the fourteenth year such special messages have been issued.

Messages are scheduled for release each Tuesday and Friday, and will continue into July or August when the pest control season is pretty well over. Should weather corditions warrant, extra messages will be prepared. The first message was issued on April 15,

Following is a list of radio stations cooperating in special pest control broadcasts and the approximate time when these messages can be heard:

WBEIK, Pittsfleld, 7;05 a.nio and 12:15 Ptin, WHDH, Boston, 505 acsn, and 12:i|.5 p.m, WSe, Boston, 6:00 a«m» WBET, Brockton, 11:55 a,ra, WHMP, Northampton, 12:25 p.m. WTIC, Hartford, Conn,, 6:35 a«m, WTAQ, TiTorcester, <Sil5 a.m. WEEI, Boston, $'.h^ a.m. WHA,I, Greenfield, 6:U5 a.m. WMNB, North Adams, ll:li5 a.m.

TOBH, New Bedford will use these messages on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6:35 a.m.

All stations broadcast the agricultural weather forecast prepared especially for farmers by the U.S. Weather Bureau in East Boston, The special messages from the University will follow immediately after these farm weather broadcasts so that growers may plan whatever may be necessary in the way of pest control measures,

H«HKj.0,01eson

############# ELECTRICITT - Friend or Foe?

Electricity is useful and safe when properly handled. Learn to use it safely. Use electric heaters in bathrooms and laundries with care. People have been killed by touching these electric heaters while they are in the bath. Electric bulbs have been known to explode and start a fire when they are used to dry clothes or to warm the bed. Never allow dust to accumulate on an electric bulb. It may cause it to explode in the barn or the attic and start a fire.

No doubt, you can think of some fire in your neighborhod that has been caused by electric irons, toasters or curling irons having been left connected. Be sure to turn off the switch or disconnect them when leaving the room. This is a must. Keep a sufficient number of 15 amp, fuses on band to replace those that burn out. iiany people are very prone to place pennies and other metals behind the fuse which over- loads the circuit and causes a fire.

Be sure that the wiring in the house, particularly the lamp cords, are replaced if badly frayed. Employ an expert electrician to replace wiring in the home.

The other day, I ran across a very excellent safety suggestion for parents and baby sitters. Caution the baby sitter against permitting the child to play with matches or electric appliances. Children have been known to put their fingers into electric light sockets causing a short circuit, badly burning the child, and some- times causing the death of the child; so caution the baby sitters against allowing the children to play with the fixtures*

In case you found some member of your family unconscious because of elec- tric shock and still in contact with the live wire, what would you do to break the contact? The best and safest method to break such a contact is to knock the mre free or pull the victim away by using a non-conductive materials as a rake, broom, dry branch, dry rope or ;3ust the overcoat. Don't, under any circumstances, allow your | body to come in contact with the person who's still in contact with the live wire, t

^M!-RfrB^Parmenter, Chairman-Safety Comm, |

- 5 -

A FRESH DISPLAY AN AID TO APPLE SALES

In a retail study of apple displays at Michigan State College it was found that store displays in Detroit, -where fresh apples were added daily, sold apples twice as fast as those where fresh appleswere added every three days, Fvirthermore, stores that sold 3/U of their display each day, sold 95 pounds of fruit daily. Those that sold a little less than 1/3 of the display each day sold only 1^ pounds of fruit. In other words, this survey emphasizes that a fresh display is an impor- tant factor in promoting apple sales,

■5«H^0,C» Roberts

Washington Growers Believe in Advertising —

Last year the Washington State Apple Growers contribu- ted 3^ a box to the Vifashington State Apple Commission for advertising purposes. By a margin of more than two to one, they have voted to assess themselves an addi- tional 10 a box this year. It is anticipated that this will give the Apple Commission an operating income of approximately $960,000, A part of this additional in^ come is intended for greater promotion of Washington State apples in Eastern markets. It is worthy of note that this advertising campaign will be supported with quality fruit carefully and attractively packed. Bruised apples, jumbled in a crate, are not likely to offer serious competition,

•»K««-0,CJloberts

############# REMOVING STRAWBERRY BLOSSOMS

The introduction of virus-free plants is giving the strawberry industry a real 'shot in the arm". This is fine but it hasn't solved all of the berry grower»s pro- blems. He still has a number to which he would like a prompt and satisfactory solu- tion.

One of these is the time-consuming job of removing the blossoms from newly set strawberry plants. How nice it would be if they could be destroyed by spraying without, of course, hurting the rest of the plant. This has been tried but so far no material has been found which will do the job without reducing the vigor of the plants.

Is blossom removal worth the time and expense it takes? Experimental evidence indicates that it is. It has been proved that early-formed runner plants are more productive than late-formed. Early runner formation increases total runner formation. Therefore, if blossom removal stimulates early runner formation it would increase yield. Data presented by Scott and Marth of the U.S.D.A show that early runner pro- duction can be increased very materially by picking off the blossoms, ViThere no

-6 -

blossoms were removed, on July 7 the plants averaged 393 runners. V/here the blossoms were picked off, the plants averaged 19«9 runners, a sixfold increase. They ccnrlude, "The removal of blossoms from newly set strawberry plants ic more beneficial in establishment of a vigorous planting than almost any other cultural operation".

picked off.

On the newly set bed , better keep after those blossoms and keep them

■JHHs-Jo S.Bailey

############# ^HHflTINTER MULCH OH STRAWBERRIESwhh*

This is not the usual time of year to be talking about winter mulch, It wouldn't be mentioned except that during the past winter in one partiof the state there was some injury which appears to have resulted, at least in part, from insufficient miOLch, As mulching material becones more difficult to obtain or more expensive, the tendency is to use less and less. If this is carried too far, the mulch ceases to give any winter protection* A series of relatively mild win- ters may also have led to increased frugality in the use of mulch.

If you haven't already looked for winter in- jury, now is a good time. Split the crowns of the plants lengthwise. If the tissue in- side the crown is brown when cut, the plant has been injured by cold.

Perhaps a heavier winter mulch is indicatedc However, remember that weakly, sick plants are more easily injured than strong, vigor- ous, healthy ones. Start preparing for winter now by keeping the plants strong and healthy,

iHHtJ, S.Bailey

#############

POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

1+, Nature of Winter Hardiness In the Red Raspberry

The main objective of this project is to try to find out how some raspberry varieties are able to survive colder winter temperatures than others. The mechanism by which raspberry canes are able to survive severe cold is very evasive. Some points of interest iMiich have been observed in the studies so far are: (l) Raspberry varie- f-icp differ widely in their resistance to low winter temperatures. During the winter

- 7 -

raspberry canes lose a certain degree of their resistance to low temperatures follow- ing several days of mild temperatures e (2) The canes may regain some of their cold resistance if the mild weather is followed by gradual changes to colder weather, (3) Attempts to determine the chemical physical changes v/hich are responsible for the loss and gain of hardiness have not as yet been successful* (U) Injury to the canes which appears the same as winter killing may occur during periods when the ground is frozen and high winds dry out the canes. This type of injury is probably more fre- quent, in years when the ground is frozen to a considerable depth and high winds occur when the temperature is above freezing. This year we had such weather and it probably accounted for much of the observed injury to our raspberry canes, V/e had more injury to red raspberry canes this past winter then in 19^h, although we had lovrer minimum temperatures in 19Sh than in 1955 •

The follovfing table compares tfae cane injury in 195k and 1955 for some of the varieties in our plantations.

Variety	Per cent of	Cane Killed
	I95I4	1955
Antietam	5	20
Chief	0	20
Gatineau	5	liO
Latham	5	30
Madawaska	0	20
Milton	20	ko
September	10	ilO
Sunrise	0	30
Viking	20	70
Willamette	30	70

We have not found any practical means as yet to reduce the amount of winter injury to red raspberry canes but we have hopes that as we find out more about the nature of winter hardiness vce can find ways to reduce the injury,

^HHfVf .D.TiTeeks

#############

THE "tJILLER BILL" BECOMES EFFECTIVE r. 4^ ^ *

■«- * -;f- ^ This Story Is for YOU— A Grower

Pesticide residue tolerances and exemptions, as established under Public Law 518 - the "Miller Bill", become effective on July 22, 1955* Every farmer, and especially ycu who are growing fruits and vegetables, should be aware of this. It can protect you from mistakes. Ignorance of the law is always a poor alibi.

This amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act is designed to pro- tect the public welfare - the well being of your consumers. And what's good for the people who buy and eat your products is good for you also.

That is why this Miller amendment \Tas backed by your farm leaders and the pesticide industry as well as by those who believed the consuming public needed more protection against the misuse of pesticide chemicals.

- 8 -

Naturally, the law does not please everyone. Some would prohibit all pesticide: usage on food - let the bugs get fat and the people go hungry rather than use these "dangerous" chemicals. Others see the law as too restrictive, burdensome, perhaps unfair. However, those who have follovired closely the developments in pesti- cides, public attitudes, trends in pest control and legislative proposals, generally agree that this present law is the fairest, most liberal and at the same time the most effective obtainable.

Do You Understand These Terms?

The terms "pesticide" or "pesticide chemical" refer to any one substance of mixture intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any insects, rodents, fungi, weeds, and other forms of plant or animal life or viruses (not viruses in or on man or animals) recognized as pests and which is used in the production, storage or transportation of raw agricultural commodities. These pesticides are "economic poisons". Weed killers, rat killers, insecticides, fungicides, etc, are included*

The term "raw agricultural commodity" means any food in its fresh natural state. It includes all fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts, eggs, meat, raw milk, and simi- lar produce. Fruits and vegetables that have been washed, colored, stripped of outer leaves, waxed, prepackaged, or prepared into fresh salads are included in this defini- tion^ everything that you may produce or market before it is frozen, canned, cooked or processed in any way,

"Residue tolerance" means the amount of a pesticide residue allowable on fresh farm produce when ready for interstate shipment. Tolerances are expressed as "parts per million" in or on the product. Individual pesticides are given tolerances which must not be exceeded. Examples are DDT, parathion and chlordane with residue tolerances of 7,0, 1,0 and 0,3 ppm respectively on the crops for i/riiich these limits have been established,

VOiere several related pesticides are used on a crop, the entire residue situation must be considered as well as the residues of each individual material, Dieldrin, methoxychlor, DDT and TDE represent a group of related insecticdesj ziram, zineb and ferbam are related fungicides.

Some pesticides have a "zero tolerance". This means that none of such materials may remain in or en the raw agricultural product, Mercxiry compounds and TEPP are ex- amples ,

Seme materials have been "exempted". This means that use of these pesticides according to the usual, good, farming practices, does not create a residue hazard - no tolerance figure is needed because the residues commonly present are not harmful. The copper fungicides, rotenone, ryania, and pyrethrum come within this group*

What Does It All Mean?

Just this I All raw(fresh) farm produce moving interstate after July 22,19^5 will be subject to federal inspection for pesticide residues (states may decide to set. up similar inspections locally). Such produce can be condemned or confiscated if if found to carry, or to contain, pesticide residues exceeding the established toler- ances.

The same thing can happen if the product carries the residue of a material for which nc "tolerance" or "exemption" has been established as yet.

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Sol What Do YOU Do?

Keep your shirt oni You are not hurt yet and you don't need to get hurt if you go at your pest control with the right attitude. You have never wanted to kill or endanger any consumer with pesticides - I hopee Well, the Miller Bill will help you to avoid doing it by mistake.

Just follow a few simple rules. You will be more successful in your pest con- trol and less of a hazard to your fellow men,

1, Read and follow labels aM official pest control recommendations o Pesti- cide manvifactTCFST's and'TOTHTllators spend millions of dollars developing products and gathering information with which to prove the truth of statements on their proposed labels. This must be done before the product can be sold interstate.

Now, with the Ililler Bill in effect, more millions will be spent to ob- tain data necessary for the establishment of a "residue tolerance" or "exemption" for each pesticide. This will have to be done before a label can be obtained. And the data must show that the established residue tolerance for the material will not be exceeded on the crops for which it is proposed if used according tbo directions.

These directions must appear on the lajjel. Read and follow themp

Official pest control recommendations will guide you t o successful and safe pest control if you follow them. Authors are human and do make mistakes - another good reason for reading labels. Official charts are your best guide to proper timing and choice of materials - labels give you the safe and effective amounts per acre or per 100 gallons, necessary precautions, proper interval before harvest and crops on which the material may be used, ~~

2, Depend upon a thoroughgoing, preventive pest control program so you won't have to use late emergency measvires. Such emergency treatments are always costly and can lead to residue problems. If you do get caught with a pest problem close to harvest get the best available advice. But - don't be surprised if you do not get a good answer. No one in his right mind isgoing to suggest you use a material vtiich might create a residue problem,

Vfould you, if you were in his shoes?

•sHHtE.H.liflieeler

############# WHY RESEARCH?

Research has been characterized as the "yeast" which raises the "dough" for industry's bread. Certainly, research is as fundamental and important to agriculture as to industry, in view of the fact that agriculture has the responsibility of pro- viding food for an ever increasing urban population with a constantly decreasing farm population.

Not all research pays off but that ivhich does, more than pays the bill for all as evidenced by the return of more than one billion dollars a year on a total research investment of about 15 million to develop hybrid corn. Can you imagine where our Mc Intosh apple industry would be t oday without the research which has gone into pest control, nutrition and storage? — ED,

Publication Approved by George J, Cronin, State Purchasing Agent-#19

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POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST

JUNE 15, 1955

TABLE OF CONTENTS Let'» Look ot Mclntoth Apple* in Rotoll Storoi Somo Orchard Obtorvationt

Echoes from the Strowberry Conforonce at Boltsvilie, Maryland

Bruises Cost Money

Pomological Research

Are Eastern Apple Growers Toking the Lead?

Why The Grading Low Should be Enforced

Issued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Associate Dean and Director, In furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914; University of Massachusetts, United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating.

Publication Approved by George J. Cronin, State Purchasing Agent, No. 19.

YOUR FOmWQJ DEPAilTMEMT

Bailey, John S, - Associate Professor, Reseerch - Stationed at East Vfareham, Doing small fruit research ou strawberries, blueberries arxl beach plums, i^ir, Bailey also handles considerable of the small fruits extension program,

Flcb , Almon S,, Jr, - Instructor

Teaches small fruits ard general fruit grovdng courses. i»ir. Fish is cvurrently taking the place of Mr, J. F. Anderson who is on leave for further graduate study.

French, Arthur P. - Head of Department.

Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small fruit variety testing, currently editor of FRUIT NOTES.

Roberts, Oliver C, - Associate Professor

Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental courses. Currently also doing research on fruit marketing,

Southvdck, Franklin W, - Professor, Research

Most of his time is spent In research on chemical thinning, preharvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutrition. Also teaches in cer- tain advanced courses.

Weeks, Yfalter D, - Assistant Professor, Research

Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety and strain testa and -vrlnter hardiness. Also teaches certain advanced courses,

________^__^^_^^^^_ - Extension Fruit Specialist

'A'e hope' to have this position filled before long.

FRUIT NOTES June 1955

LET'S LOOK AT MCINTOSH APPLES IN RETAIL STCEES-

For fifteen years, at least, research workers in the Northeastern states have been studying the merchandizing of Mcintosh apples, Numeroxis recommendations relative to prevention of bruising^ methods of packing, and merchandizing in the retail store have been made based on the results of these investigations. The fundamental purpose of these studies has been to provide the consumer with attractive, sound fruit vh ich would result in satisfied customers, increased sales and a stable market for growers of Mcintosh apples.

Regardless of the effort that has been made, all too frequently one can still observe in retail stores Mcintosh apples that are badly bruised, stem punctured, poorly graded and unattractively displayed. To what extent this condition exists in retail stores in Massachusetts had never been determined.

Therefore, a survey v/as conducted from October 19Sh to January 1955 with several objectives in vievf, as follows »

le To determine the grade of Mcintosh apples offered for sale,

2, To determine the reasons for apples being below fancy grade,

3. To study methods of handling apples in the stores.

U, To use the results of the survey as basis for further study

leading to the improvement of market qtiality of Mcintosh apples.

HovT the Survey Was Ijlade

During the period of the survey, tv/o hundred samples of apples in one hundred sixty-eight stores were purchased as any customer would purchase them. These sauries were obtained from bulk displays, from original containers or from piles of prepack- aged fruit, depending upon the method of sale in a particular store. Occasionally, two samples were taken from the same store where different methods of merchandizing were employed. After the samples vfere obtained, the manager cr produce clerk \7as asked such questions as: From what market source did you get these apples? What kind of a container did they come in ? How were they packed? Did you keep them under re- frigeration from the time you received them until you put them on display? In addition, notes were taken on the general appearance of the fruit, \7hether or not the display counter was refrigerated and the like.

As scon as the apples were taken from the store, the temperature ivas determined and the sample vras then placed in a specially constructed sponge rubber lined box and transported by automobile to a refrigerated room at the University in less than twelve hours ,

Analyses of the Samples

Within forty-eight hours after being placed in the refrigerated room, each sample vras weighed and analyzed as to grade, reason for apples being below "Fancy" grade, number and size of bruises, number of stem punctures, cuts and bruises, firmness and total etmount of waste due to bruises, stem punctures and the like.

What's the Score?

When all of the data from two hundred samples consisting of 2223 apples are grouped together, here is the story they tell.

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Thirty-three per cont were fancy or above and 3ixty«»seven per cent were below fancy when graded acsordlng to U.S» fyrada standards. If all apples were fancy or better there would be no problf^m from ihe standpoint of market quality. Since sixty- seven per cent were below fancy there <3 a problem and accordingly the apples below fancy grade were analyzed to find out the cause. The relative causes grranged in order of importance are shown in Table I,

Table I, Defects Causing Apples To Be Below Fancy Gi^de

Type of Defect	Per Cent Belovr
	Fancy
Mechanical
(Bmiisesjcuts,
stem punctiu-es )	62.7
Color	23,5
Rot	5.1
Shape	h,h
Maturity	3«7
Disease	3«7
Insect	2,7
Russet	1.3
Physiologioal	0.5

The percentages in this table total more than 100 because some apples vrere below grade for more than one reason.

These figures clearly indicate tha^^ the chief cause for apples being below grade was mechanical in,iury with lack of color of considerable importance. The percentage of rot was far greater ttian it should have been.

The relative unimportance of insect and disease blemishes is a tribute to the fruit growers for eithex- they have done a creditabla job controlling pests or they have carefully eliminated such blemished fruit on the grading table. Most of tlie poorly shaped apples could have been eliminated in the grading process,

Bruisea

Since bruises were the major cause of mechanical injury, the number and nature of bruises was analyzed. Every flattened surface on each apple was counted and classi- fied as to size. The result of this analysis is shovm in Table II,

Table II, Number and Nature of Bruieos

Total number of apples .,.,.., 2223

Number of apples bruised ,,..• 2180

Per cent of total apples

bruised 98,06

Size of bruise No, Bruises Per Cent

ITIi" or less I^U^F " U3*7

lA" - 1/2" 6672 3ii.6

1/2" - 3/U'' 2908 15.1

3/1;" - 1" S>87 5.1

1" or over 28? 1.5 Total no, bruises 19288

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Vifhile the number of bruises up to l/2" in diameter constitute seventy-eight per cent of all bruises, this is relatively uningjortant as bruises of this size are super- ficial and are seldom noticed. On the other hand, the remaining twenty-two per cent is of great importance as these bruises not onl;r affect the appearance of the apples but are usually soft^ often result in rot, and cause a certain amount of wast iT Elimination of these larger bruises which probably were due' to careless handling, v:ould do much to improve the market quality of Jiiclntosh apples.

Stem Punctures, Cuts and Cracks

In addition to bruises, sixteen per cent of all apples had stem punctures, twenty-three per cent had cuts and nineteen per cent had naturally occxirring cracks in the skin.

Breaks in the skin, of whatever nature, not only detract from the appearance of an apple, but provide a ready entrance for rots. Several specimens were observed in which rot had started from one of these sotirces. More careful handling can reduce the number of stem punctures and cuts but the cause and remedy of naturally occurring cracks is problematical.

Color

Poorly colored apples detract materially from the sales appeal of a display of apples and lov;er the price of the entire lot when mixed with well colored fruit. The market for ^iclntoah apples would be strengthened if such poorly colored apples vrere kept at the farm and made into cider of^sold separately.

Firmness

Using a mgness-Taylor pressure tester with a 7/l6" plunger, sixty-two per cent of the apples were in the range of 8,0-^,9 poxinds. Forty-two per cent were in the range of 9 » 0-9. 9 pounds. In other words, the majority of the apples were too soft to be in prime eating condition. These apples were either held too long at high temperatures in the stores or fruit grov/ers held them too long in storage before put- ting them on the market, Y^erever the fault may lie, the solution is for fruit growers to vmtch the pressure of apples in "storage more closely and sell them vrhile they are above ten pounds and then for th~stores to keep them under refrigeration until they are sold. Only ten per cent of the stores visited sold apples from a refrigerated display counter. The usual answer to the question, "Can you afford to keep apples on a refrigerated counter?" was, "Yes, because it keeps ngr apples in better condition and saves waste, "

Temperature

The temperature of eighty-five per cent of the san^jles as taken from the stores ranged from 50°F, to 69°F, with forty-six per cent in the 60^, to 69°F, range. Holding apples at these relatively high temperatures will tend to hasten ripening of the fruit as compared with the lower average temperature of 52°F, as recorded for samples taken from refrigerated display counters.

Loss Dub to Waste

The average of prices posted for Mcintosh apples in the stores was 13.25 cents Jier pound. The average cost of usable pulp, assuming there was no waste, was l5.8 cents per pound. The cost of usable pulp with waste removed was l6,5 cents per pound, fence, the consumer paid 0,7 cents per pound for unusable waste due to rot and bruises. While the financial loss due to blemishes should not be ignored, it appears that the

more serious objection to bruises, stem punctures and rotten spots is the effect on eye appeal which resiilts in reduced sales.

Packages and Packing

ApproxLiiately eighty per cent of the packages in which apples were delivered to the stores were the Eastern apple box or "orate". Fifteen per cent were delivered in the cell tj^pe carton. Only about two per cent were packed in a tray type cartons Seventy^seven per cent of apples in the "crate" were jumble packedo Since studies in other states have shown that more bruising occurs in the "crate" jumble packed than in any other type of package commonly used, a more extensive use of the cell pack or tray pack would materially reduce the number of Wuised apples delivered'to i-etail stores o

The number of samples obtained from bulk disp>lays and from prepackage displays was about equal. The most common type of prepackage was a three pound polyethylene bag. In spite of the fact that studies in New lork State have shown that more apples per one hundred customers were sold when five pound polyethylene bags were displayed with bulk apples, only one sTich display v&s observed in this survey but in this case three pound rather than five pound bags were useHlJ Ouly one sample in a five pound polyethylene bag was obtained from the one hundred sixty-eight stores visited,

t'farket Source

An analysis was made "with respect to grade, depending upon the source from which the stores obtained the fruit. No measurable differeuceifms found whether the apples were obtained directly from the grower-, from a wholesaler or from a warehouse. From all three soui'ces approximately one'^tli:' rd of the apples were culls due chiefly to bruises and stem punctures, — ~ ~

A markedly inferior grade of fruit was found in stores ^fil±ch purchased apples from transient pedlars, ! ' ""

Random Comments

Mention should be made here of the excellent cooperation received from owners, store managers and produce clerks. In every instance all information requested was graciously given and in many instances considerably more than was requested,

A definite impression ivas obtained that store managers like to handle Mcintosh apples becpuse they are a good selling item. In general, they indicated that they could sell more if they could get vrell colored fruit, free from bruises and other blemishes and more uniformly sieed. Hence, the key to increased sales of Mcintosh -apples is chiefly in the hands of those who grow, grade, and pack the fruit,

—0,C, Roberts

More interesting and important fi.iidings from this study will be discussed by Professor Roberts at the Summer Meeting of the ivkssachusetts Fruit Growers Association at Fitzgerald's Orchard in Leominster, July 21st,

ED.

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SOME ORCHARD OBSERVATIONS

By the time you read this, any chemical thinning you planned to do should be done and the results becoming evident. We vrill not have obtained set records where experimental trials were made until late June or early July, however, so we cannot say how our testa have turned out yet»

It became apparent in the latter part of i/Iay that all growers did not have an overset of Mcintosh even though most everyone had a " snowball" bloom on this variety. This situation, we feel, supports ovir contention that chemical thinning of Mcintosh should not begin until 10-lb days after petal-fall. The same sort of thing happened in many Delicious blocks. This variety often "thins itself" to a desirable degree without the use of chemicals « However, some of you may see more apples novT and they may seem closer together than they did two weeks ago. Can you still do some chemical thinning of Mcintosh? We have thinned Mcintosh satisfactorily a s late as k weeks after calyx, so if you are still i*ithin t hat period or still ahead of the final drop you might help this year's fruit size and next year's bloom by applying a thinning material. If the June drop is well under way or complete, you cannot expect to accomplish anything with chemical thinners, however.

Apparently the amide form of naphthaleneacetic acid is capable of causing foliage injury occasionally. Early Mcintosh seems to be susceptible sometimes. In one of our tests on this variety, this year, 12 ounces of the commercial material per 100 gallons of water applied diluted with a hydraulic sprayer in bloom, or at calyx, time caused considerable leaf curling and shoot growth inhibition. The same variety in an adjacent block sprayed with 8 ounces of Amide per 100 gallons with a speed sprayer at petal-fall showed no injury. To our knovfledge Early Mcintosh is the only variety that this material has injured in this state. At least two growers have noticed it, also, on this variety. It looks like we'll have to suggest lovTer concentrations of Amide for Early Mcintosh in the futvire.

You may be interested to know that controlled atmosphere storage capacity in this state is on the increase. At the present time there are enough rooms under construction to add about U0,000 bushels to our controlled atmosphere capacity. We expect there will be a total capacity in Ikssachusetts of 75,000-80,000 bushels this fall.

— P ,V»r. Southwick

ECHOES FROM THE STRAWBERRY CONFERENCE

at Beltsville, ifaryland

Research in strawberry growing is being carried on in so many different parts of the United States, Canada and in foreign countries, that it is highly desirable for the workers in this field to get together occasionally to talk over their pro- blems and swap ideas. In order to provide an opportunity for a "get-together" to discuss the latest developments in strawberry research, and to show \7hat is going on at the U.S.D.A, Horticultural Research Statical at Beltsville, iiiarylard, the small fruit staff at Beltsville organized a two-day conference on liay 26th and 27th, Al- though the conference was designed to meet the iieeds of research workers, it was not limited to them. Nearly 1^0 people attended tte conference. Of these, a considerable number were nurserymen or their representatives and strawberry growers. These people came from many parts of the U,S, - California, Oregon, Vermont, New Hampshire and Florida, among others - and from Canada and even one researcher from the Netherlands,

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The program included talks, demonstrations and field trips. Although niany topics were discussed, most attention was given to breeding, virus and the nematode problem.

The use of virus-free plants has increased very materially this year as more virus-free plants were made available. The progressive nurseries are making every effort to increase the supply and keep them virus-free. Two methods are being used to keep the "foundation stock" or "mother plant beds" free of virus. In some states, as is being done in liassachusetts, the plant growers are building screenhouses to protect the foundation stock plants from the aphids which carry the virus from plant to plant. In others, the foundation stock is grown in Isolated areas where there are neither cultivated nor wild strawberries for several miles, as is being done in California and Tennessee,

One of the serious problems being faced by every state where strawberries are grown is how to be sure that the g rovrer gets virus-free plants when he orders them. This involves a number of technical, inspection, control and financial problems. These are being attacked in several ways by different states, Tennessee has decided to follow a "get tough" policy, A rather detailed set of rules and regulations has been established and will be rigidly enforced xintil relaxation seems justified. The cost of "indexing" (testir^ for virus), inspection and certification is borne by the State, California, which also has a stringent set of rules and regulations, charges the plant grower for these services. In both states the plant grower is allowed to charge a premium of $U»00 per thousand for the virus-free plants.

Other states are approaching the problem the other way around. That is, they are starting out with a few milri regulations which will be tightened upas it appears necessary. Other states, including mssachusetts, have set up no regvilations as yet.

The nematode problem received a great deal of attentiontecause it is one of the neT,Test fields of strawberry research and also because Dr, Caroline Klinkenberg of the Netherlands was present and discussed the results of her work. She stated that the nematode problem is the most serious strawberry problem in the Netherlands and that work on it was started during the last war. It has still not been proved that nematodes are the cause of the root condition called black-root rot, or simply black root, , However, it has been shown quite conclusively that where black root is a pro- blem, plant growth has been greatly improved and yields increased by soil fximigation vdth nematocides, Dr, Braun, of the Geneva New York Experiment Station, discussed his work on this same problem and agreed with Dr, Klinkerberg's conclusions.

During the discussion it was emphasized that the soil must be in the right condition for fumigation, that is, in condition to make a good seed bed, the right amount of soil fumigant must be used, it must be put down deep enovigh, at least six inches, the soil must be sufficiently warm, 50^, for the commonly used fumlgants, and the fumigant sealed in by a drag, smoothing harrow or cultipacker. Therefore, for strawberries, fumigation in the fall before the plants are set is a practical necessity.

Strawberry breeding is being carried on in twenty-one colleges and research stations. The objectives vary with the needs of a particular region, Ona of the ob- jectives of the breeding work at Beltsville is the production of varieties resistant to all three strains of the jred stele disease. This phase of the breeding work is being carried on in cooperation with the University of Maryland, The variety Stele- master, which was named and introduced last vd-nter, is one of the products of this project. It is recognized by the men who named and introduced it that Stelemaster is only a stop-gap variety to be grown where it is impossible to grow other varieties because of red stele. Varieties which are superior to Stelemaster and have the same multiple resistance to red stele are in prospect for the very near future.

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There is still no control for red stele other than resistant varieties. Some soil fumigants look promising but too little experimental evidence is available to dra\T any conclusions,

—John S, Bailey

BRUISES COST MONET-

Would you knoiving^y pass by a twenty dollar bill lying on the sidewalk and not pick it up?

Possibly, you are passing up many twenty dollar bills by careless handlii^ of your apples.

As reported in "Apple Research Digest" the V/ashington State Apple Commission estimates that over the past eight years, because of better handling methods, Yfashington State apple growers have saved |2, 000,000 annually.

In 19hMi7 the Apple Commission made a survey of Delicious apples on re- tail display and found 31,8 per cent of them severely bruised. After bringing this situation to the attention of the grovrers by means of films, posters and similar devices, the number of severe bruises was reduced to 11,0 per cent as determined tiy another survey made in 195^^-55 •

The recent survey of Mcintosh apples on retail display in Massachusetts showed 23 per cent as being severely bruised. This would indicate that Massachusetts grovTers might save thousands of dol].ars at least by adopting measures which would reduce bruising to a minimum,

—0,0 .Roberts

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POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

5. Black-Root Rot of Strawberries

One of the newest projects in the list of research projects of the Pomology Department is that concerned with the cause and control of black-root rot in straw- berries. This is being carried on under an informal cooperative agreement with the U.S.D.A, Vife are working on control measures; the U.S.D.A, man on causal agents and their nature.

The black»root rot disease can be found in all parts of Ldassachusetts, It is more serious in some sections than in others. It is extremely serious in the Southeastern corner of the state, A state-wide survey carried out in the fall of 1953 (see FRUIT NOTES for November 2k, 1953) showed that nematodes are generally present in plants suffering from black-root rot, and that usually the plants showing the worst black-root have the highest population of nematodes in their roots.

The presence of nematodes in the roots of black-root rot infected plants

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does not prove that they are the causal organism. Proof of the cause is still lacking as discussed elsewhere in this issue ol" FRUIT NOTES, Nevertheless, where plants are to be grown on soil knovm to be infected with black-root rot, the increase in plant vigor follOTving soil fumigation is very marked.

Several soil furaigants such as D-D^ ethylene dibromide (EDB), irethyl bromide (MC), or chloropicrin are all good nematocides, Hovrever, only D-D and EDB are economical for large scale use in strawberry fields, V/here these are being used, the rates of application recommended are based on experience with other crops and are not necessarily the right amovuits for best results in treating strawberry fields. Therefore, an experiment has been started to test D-D and EDB at three different concentrations and in split applications, ViThere a split application is used, half the required amount of fumigant is put in the soil, two weeks later the soil is turned over by plowing, or otherwise harroTied smooth and retreated with the second half of the fumigant,

EDB and D-D are standard soil fumigants which have been in use for a con- siderable number of years. Since these are toxic to plants, a period of at least two weeks must elapse before plants are set. Several new fumigants are in prospect. One of these is now under test. It is of such a nature that strawberry plants apparently will tolerate considerable quantities of it. This would permit its use after the plants are set if this seems desirable.

To insure the best results from soil fumigation, plants whose roots have been freed of nematodes should be used for setting in fumigated fields. Roots can be kept free of nematodes by rooting runner plants in fvunigated or sterilized soil. This is slow, laborious and costly. The U.S.D.A, has developed a hot water treatment which is much faster and cheaper, Hov/ever, there are certain aspects of this treat- ment which need further study before it can be unqualifiedly recommended,

John S, Bailey

# # # # # ########

ARE EASTERN APPLE GROWERS TAKING THE LEAD? **■«■■«■■»■« -Jt ■«• ^c- ^;- * •»■ ^i- ^t ■«• •»■ -Ji- ^ ■«• i(- i^ (Excerpts from an address by G,P, Harley U.S.D.A, before the Washington State Horticultural Association-ED,)

In the past decade we have witnessed a veritable revolution in many industries and the apple industry is no exception. In this short space of time the apple grovrer moved from a feeling of almost complete frustration to one of more moderate security in the production of his fruit. Just 10 years ago many capable and progressive growers in some eastern areas were firmly resolved to abandon growing of apples be- cause the codling moth had literally taken over. One year's experience with DDT re- legated this pest almost to the category of insignificance and now vdth the develop- ment of many other new pesticides the problems attending fruit groiring have been greatly eased.

Many other startling advances have taken place and have combined to bring about important transitions in production methods.

Changes in Acreag^e Holdings - The eastern apple grower today is alert to all these new discoveries, for the general trend is toward greater specialization with larger acreages under one management. Small holdings are rapidly disappearing, Bfeiny trees of poor varieties have gone out and very few have been replanted. Also, practically all the new commercial planting is being done by experienced growers. Thus, for the years immediately ahead it appears evident that apple production in the east will

- 9 - come from a rather stable acreages

Outlet for Old Varieties - About UO per cent of the eastern apple crop is now market- ed through processing channels s Canned sauce constitutes the major processed output at present and, for every tushel of Mcintosh, Delicious or other dessert types, a bushel of York Imperial, Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Stayman Vifinesap or Grimes Golden is required for the proper bland for high quality sauce.

Improved Methods - Production practices in many eastern orchards have had a face lifting in recent years 9 Vfith larger acreages the trend is definitely toward mechan- ized methods both in the orchard and in the packing house. Pallet handling of the fruit is becoming common practice. Automatic spray equipment of one type or another is in greater usee Better pruning is achieved through the use of pneumatic equipment and pruning platforms, Vifith the introduction of new pesticides;> Insect and disease control has been tremendously im.proved»

Along with these changes the eastern grower is changing his perspective. His sights are nov; set on growing high-^uaLity fruit. He has become "finish" conscious. Eastern apples were characterized in the past as having rough finish vrLth much russeting. This was due in part to the nedessity of using sulfur sprays for disease control^ but cold weather in early spring was a contributing factor. Adverse climatic conditions will continue to be a threat to fruit finish; however, much study is being made to find combinations of the newer organic pesticides that vn.ll minimize spray injury to the fruit svurface. Some excellent progress has been made In this direction. Should these efforts to improve frxiit finish show any degree of success, competition of dessert apples on the fresh-fruit market is bovind to increase.

Irrigation - Because of the possibilities of improving quality, and in viewof the past 3 years of rather serious drought in many areas, grovrers are giving much thought to irrigation and quite a few orchards are novi equipped to irrigates ''"ith the newer equipment now available, it is quite certain that many more growers will adopt the practice if sufficient vfater is available 0

The importance of fruit size also brings up the subject of fruit thinnings The eastern grower is more and more getting to appreciate the importance of this practice, but high labor costs of hand thinning of large acreages are very discouraging. Des- pite the fact that results have been rather variable, many growers are using chemical spray thinners©

Cultural Practices - The system of culture in eastern orchards is almost entirely one of permanent soda This sod cover of volunteer grasses and weeds effectively re- duces run-off of rainwater and subsequent soil erosion. It also affords protection from soil compaction by heavy spray equipment and other orchard traffic. In the New England states and in many other sections, mulching of apple trees is a standard practice and most of the highest producing trees are f ouM in orchards where this cultural system is followed.

The per-acre production in eastern orchards is considerably less than that of central and northcentral Yfeshingtona The average commercial yields are about 2^0 bushels per acre. Some more favorably situated and better cared-for holdin- s may produce ^00 bushels, while a fev/ exceptional orchards have reached SOOa There are many reasons for the lower production, but the reluctance of growers to use sufficient nitrogen is partly responsible e It is vrell recognized that retardation of red color development is correlated with high nitrogen levels. Environmental conditions not conducive to red pigment formation generally prevail in many eastern apple regions. Nitrogen levels necessary for high ;^ld have invariably resulted in serious reduction in color of most varieties in these areas. Such fruit is not only a drug on the

- 10 -. ,

fresh-fruit nnrket but is uriwelcohie in processing channels as v/ell. A partial solu- tion to the problem is the increased planting of red bud sports. There is experi- mental evidence that the red sports are not nearly so sensitive to nitrogen effects as the parent varieties.

Permanent Production Problems - Although there has been great progress", as already mentioned, \7ith nev/ pesticides, the eastern groi/er still has a battle to grovr clean fruit. The recommended spray schedules for the 19^h season listed 10 to 12 applica- tions of rather complicated aiid expensive spray mixtures. The climate of practically all eastern states is generally ideal for the scab organism to develop and constant vigil must be exercised to keep this fungus under control. The problem is especially serious in vie\/ of the fact that 3 of the best quality dessert varieties - ilclntoah, Delicious and Stayman V^inesap - are highly susceptible to the disease «

Cliief among other troubles are mice and poor soil drainage. The common meadoiv mouse is always present but the most serious pest is the pine mouse. Poor drainage is probably the prime factor causing loss of tree vigor and lov; production in orchard, having clayey subsoil.

Taking the Lead? - In summary, it can be said that eastern apple grovrers are taking the lead, the lead to improve their competitive positione This does not imply that superiority over operational methods, quality of product and package of the v/estern growers has been achieved. It simply means that the eastern grov/ers are in a positio to accept the vrestern challenge vdth greater coi^rage than they could a decade ago, Apple grad.ng in the East, and in the Pacific Northviest is vastly different. The eastern grovv'er is just as intelligent as the v/esterngrovfer, but there the siruilarity ends. Environmental conditions are so different in the tiTO regions that the end pro- duct vdll never be exactly the sameo Eastern Delicious, for example, does not evolve into a long-type apple v/ith prominent projecting points so characteristic of the western grown fri;its of this variety o Co]d spring rains, lower quantity and quality of sunlight and high night temperatures before harvest vdll continue to \7ork against fine finish and red color development on eastern^fruit. Despite these climatic handi- caps, the eastern grower is pressing forward vvlth advanced methodology to improve quality production in both fruit and pack, Nev; plantings are v/ith good dessert varie- ties, mostly red bud sports and these iie\ir plantings mean that increased competition on the fresh apple market and these nevj' plantings mean that increased competition on the fresh apple market can confidently be expected,

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-;;- ii- •?:- -;c- * ■!!- -;^ -s;- •!;- -;:- % Y% The Grading Law Should Be Enforced ^ ^f- -;'<• ^f- •«■ ^'<- ^'^ -«■ •■" •*!• * -=<•

The following are a fevf retailer comments v/hich indicate their viev/s on apple grades :

"The grading la^T should be enforced. Stop overfacing,"

"I prefer western apples because of uniformity and atteactiveness, V/ould like to have local apples graded. Would like to sell more apples,"

"If I buy 2 1/2" apples I want 2 l/2" apples, I don't want 3" apples,"

"I lose money on poor apples,"

"I bought a lot of apples vihich vrere overfaced. Paid $3<.50 for themji'ouldn » t knowingly buy another box from this grov^er,"

"I bought apples for a price. Not going to be taken for a sucker again^fcould havi paid vloOO more for better apples and been ahead of the gameo"

At present, retailers are at the mercy of the unscrupulous packer. This a tuatic hurts the sale of apples. Enforcement of the grading 2a v^ would help to protect the re- tailer as vrell as the careful grovTer and packer,

■?HHi-o, C.Roberts i^Tiblicatidn Approved by Cieofge J, Gronin, state Purchasing Agent-#iy

The following article from the April 25th issue of NEWSWEEK has been reproduced for distribution with the permission of the publishers.

-SCIENCE-

Food: Not Less, l)iit More

Rrliiiid each mouthful we eat, behind the (a?riur, the food proeessoi, and the suiieiinarket, stands a little-publicized but critically important line of endeavor- agricultural research. Within a genera- tion, the men of this quietly phenomenal science have put a meaty abundance on the American dinner table envied by all the world.

But with miracles come huge prob- lems. From a glance at the current U.S. farm surplus, one might conclude that science and mechanization have lured the farmer into overproduction. The truth is far from this. The embarrassing pile-np of wheat, corn, biiltcr, etc., is destined to vanisli soon

One good drouglit could do it. bi an\ case, it will soon be eaten awa>- as the population boom adds 2.5 million mouths a year to the national stomach. If these mouths are to be fed, farmers must be- come luuch more .scientific than even the best of them are toda\'.

7)1 the follonina, special report, hased on talks with fop authorities in the flch!, Newsweiok sc:ipn(;k Editor Richard K. Winshno fells oj the marvels alreadti achieved htj ap,rieiilliiral research and of the knottij problems still to he solved:

LAST week a canny Iowa farm manager, I an old hand at "selling" research, put his finger on the changed mood that has revolutionized American farming.

"Before the war, the county agent needed several sea.sons to put across a proven point on soil care or insect con- trol. Most tarmers would wait tor the fellow dow n the road to try it first. To- da>-, it's the other way around. A farmer snoops around an experiment station, then rushes back to try .some discovery that the scientists haven't half tested."

For the 19.55 season, this scienre- miuded larnier has a bimiper crop of frcsli wonders to keep his c\'c on.

A .Midwest expeiiment station is about to release a strain of corn with husks so tough a bird can't peck through. It will also fend off its old enem\-, the borer.

Since January, American cattlemen have been slipping a female se.x hor- mone, stilbestrol, to 2 million steers to make them bigger (juicker on less feed (an DiH'ration. scientists sa\', that will not adcct a steak-lover's manhood).

Breeders also are talking serioush- ot impregnating 200,()()() cows With the frozen semen of a single prize bull.

In New York City, a chemist is taking the last kinks out of an edible sugar- based detergent made from cane and beet sugar. Soap and soap powders con- taining it do not leave rings arovmd the bathtub, do not sting the eyes- and wash spinach thoroughh'.

3lor<>. ^lorc: To .some experts— the ones who can see beyond the misleading mountains of today's surpluses— such ad- vances are deceptive. They are not nearly enough to assure that U.S. agri- culture will continue to get its job done.

One of these men. Dr. Byron T. Shaw\ farm re.search chief of the U.S. Depart- ment of Agricultjire, estimates that, if thq average American is to contiinie to have as much meat to eat as he did last year, all acreage that is currentK- idle will have to be back at work by 1960. By 1975, even if all marginal lands are used, there might be a deficit of more than 100 mil- lion acres. To meet this, livestock prod\ic- tion alone will have to be nearly doubled on the land at hand.

But the output of tlie hard-pressed hen, for example, has already been pushed from an average 100 eggs a year

to 180. Broilers have 70 per cent more meat on them. For further big increases, the hen and her rations— already nutri- tional dynamite— will have to undergo some serious redesigning.

ttifi Pu.<<li: To improve and broaden agricultural research, the National Farm Chemurgic Council- a group ot inH"en- tial farm, industry, scientific nid govern- ment leadeis is launching a concerted campaign on many fronts this month. This is the group which has long pioneered in promotiiy; industrial uses tor siich items as corncobs, soybeans, peanuts, and other farm products. They have made such a dramatic success of this that these prod- ucts now account for 8 per cent of the $30 billion total farm sales. However the chances for further expansion along these lines look dim in view of the mounting competition from petroleum derivatives. So the council is currently broadening its scope to embrace all a.spects of agricul- tural study, from the test tube to the con- sumer's palate. (To emphasize this, it is changing its name to the Council for Agricultural and Chemurgic Research.)

The council's president, Henry T. McKnight, a "Virginia cattle raiser, is alarmed by the not-too-surprising fact that industry's investment in research is

KevoliiMoii al llie Dinner Tahle

In just 30 N'cars there have been big changes in what Americans eat and the way it is produced on the farm. Some of the most startling shifts:

Appetites increased	1925	1955
Beef per citizen per \car	59 lbs.	72 lbs.
Oranges	20 lbs.	58 lbs.
Chicken	14 lbs.	23 li)s.
So did farm cfficiencij
A farm worker produced food for	8 people	19 people
Crop N'ields per acre	100 units	130 units
Farm tractors	246,000	4,600,000
Food production of farm animals	100 units	1.50 units
Bat . . .
Production expenses	100 units	300 units
Average farm size	14 1.9 acres	2 15.6 acres
Farm population	31,200.000	21,000,000

INewsweek, .April 2.'>. 19.'>.'>

five times that of agiicultiiic. "It seems pretty .slioitsiiihted," McKiiiKht savs, "when you consider that the $15 million spent to develop hybrid corn now brings in more than SI l)illion a year."

To keep the U.S. (het as rich as now in protein, Mcknight fignres that the $300 million spent last year for farm research must be doubled within five years. (Half of the annual bill is paid by the govern- ment, Federal and state, and half b\ food processors and farm suppliers.)

Aii<ihi«>ll«'N: Whether or not the coun- cil achieves its goal in that short a time, farm researcli will continue to unfold excitingly. The big news story at the mo- ment is what is lieing done w ith antibiot- ics, the w'onderfulK versatile wonder drugs wjiich alone may prove a con siderable antidote for the land shortage. They are performing startling feats in making an animal transform more of what it eats into good lean meat.

Antibiotics were initially used on ani- mals to knock out bacterial infections. Soon, scientists found that, in smaller doses, they also made the animals grow faster. First fed to chickens and pigs, they have been supercharging ealtlc and sheep to a profit-doubling extent in the last two years. Even mink and beagUs are thriving on them. In Terrc Haute, Ind., the Pfi/er Kesearch and Develop- ment Farm, wliich feeds and weighs ex- perimental cattle like rats, now serves a special antibiotic-and-hormone cocktail that is setting fantastic new records foi induced growth.

Antibiotics may have even greater po- tential for plants. Fresh on the market are streptomycin sprays that knock out costly bacterial blights on fruit trees, tobacco, peppers, tomatoes, and pota- toes. After treatment, the plants show big croji gains, leading to speculation

Heat lamps for ,<owlrs.< slioats

that antibiotics not onl\' control plant dis- eases l)nt may, as was found with ani- mals, somehow stimulate plant growth. E\perimentali\ , these potent suli stances are also controlling Inngns at- tacks, responsible for a major part ol tii( nation's S5 billion-a->ear crop loss trom pests. The\- are being screened as insec- ticides. Dramaticalls , they are being studied as a means of altering and im- proving the very chemical characteristics of plants, including tobacco and cabliage, as they grow to maturity.

A present obstacle to their widespread use for all this is an economic one. Anti- biotics are pretts expensive for repeated sprayings of low-price crops.

Closer at hand, probabh', is the auti biotic preserving of meat. dair\' products, and vegetables. This may soon comix'te with radiation sterilization of foods, which, apart from some use in preventing potato spoilage, is still some years away. Dr. F.E. Deatheridge, head of the Oliio State biochemistrx' department, embalms fresh-killed steers simpK b\ pumping an antibiotic through their arteries. The meat then will keep through three hot summer days and acquires, in the proc- ess, a delicate aged flavor. SiniilarK , b\ pumi)ing brine and smoke llasor inlo a slaughtered hog. Dr. Dealhciidge thinks he can put ham and b.ienn on the table in three da\s inslrad nl llnre weeks. ■''iiliira' (iaitN: Supplementing the .mliiiiiilics, hormones, and oilier surprises on the brink ol dexciopmenl, the enter prising farmer nl the liilnre will have an old standin to rcK on: A clioice of some 40, 0(10 .igrienltnral ihemicils developed over \cars ol res<'arch.

All these will help, but the larmer will still have other pi oblems— pressing jirob- lems that demand immediate and thor- oni^h investigation if those 2. .5 million new mouths a year are to be adequately fed. Some of them:

►Mechanized as farming is, the farmer still spends an estimated 6.5 per cent of his day shoveling, lifting, and toting. Needed: A variety of radical labor- saving devices-evcrything from fertilizer spread by the same vehicle that delivers it to the farm, to pipelines for milk from the udder to the vat. ►Marketing is often a Stone Age process, capable of depressing many a farm item even when production has been modern- ized. Needed: Studies showing the dairyman how to sell his beverage, for instance, as fast as brewers do, and re- search to ease the way for more "vertical organization" in marketing. ►Though botanists, have catalogued 300,000 plants from all over the world, chemists have intensively analyzed no more than a "dozen, notably corn and soybeans, for use by industry. Needed: A greatly stepped-up search of all plant life for new foods, pharmaceuticals, and chemical products. ►By 1970 American industry will hav<»

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Private labs for tender shoots

^oubled its already gargantuan thirst tor water. With water already in tight sup- ply over most of the nation, crop irriga- tion is spreading fast over the eastern half of the country, for it enlarges the yields and helps insure against drought. Needed: Common sense, stricter con- servation, and, above all, more research- on the development of crops and grasses thriving on less water, and on rounding out theories of the water cycle that can be applied to each locality.

This is perhaps the biggest and most ominous scientific lag of all. Without water, all agricultural research could quickly become so much theory.

SCIENCE-

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Btpntoin thirst toi Wy in tight sup- ( itttion, nop iirijj. i nver the eaiteri Is it enlarges lie riis jgainst droiiglil ifme, stricter coii' t jI more researct- i crops and pssK f' ind on roundira

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Electrical Storms

Tiis is the season of sudden rtricsQ storms of much inten- which sometimes bring th along with their destruc- ! power. Some good advice les to us today from Connecti-

O. W. Apicer, president of

Bartlett Tree Expert com- y, suggests that valuable ;s 50, 75 or 150 feet tall on r suburban or country place ame lightning targets during

summer. These, he said, can turned into giant lightning s which wall protect both the »s and the surrounding areas, loosely-woven copper condui

can be extended from t i-top down the forks an ig the trunks, then grounded p in the soil beyond the nch spread. A lightning bolt king such a tree is carried mlessly into the ground, niring a thunderstorm, he ad- is, keep away from all tall Bs, wire fences, beaches and tosed hilltops. If you're near isolated tree, lightning may ip from it to your body. Or it y enter your body after strik-

the ground. Or you may be •t if a tree explodes under a itning stroke. Trees along a ?am or lake are mors apt to be than those in dryer soil. Oaks, IS, pines, ashes, poplars and pies — in that order — are ick more frequently than any ner trees. Tall trees are choice ■gets for lightning bolts be- tse they offer the shortest dis- oe between cloud and ground. I negative electrical charge Ids up in a cloud during a rm. An equal positive charge i)uilt up on the ground. Thi I attack each other. As th ;ative charge moves with th lid, the positive charge race; ng the ground beneath it. The iitive chaige sweeps up trees

I buildings to meet the nega- e charge coming down from ' cloud. That is why forks of litning may be seen moving

from a tree as well as reach- ; down from the sky. ^11 this is good advice. It is

II to remember these points en vacationing or out on a nic when a sudden storm rsts upon your group. Some- ! it may save a life.

Jail and Church Targets

For Bolts of Lightning

Personnel at House of ( Crops Thus Far Ur River Rises Slowly

Northampton, May 10— The mo viciou^^kijrical storm in sever yp^pl|F^^H*P>^gjampton short

Tore noon today!cP^^ting cor

jgbtning Strikes hrth Adams Horn

LTH ADAMS The "ifenffiWj^SIIte of th year was reported here to'day.

The bolt struck the home of Mr and Mrs. John Simmons during a near cloudburst, setting fire to a hrA. Mrs Simmon* alone in

Fire Loss Runs High From Severe Storm

Lightning, which accompanied a this vicinity early last Thursday area, on,g_ faulting in a $12,000 ion for

rm into

rU 15

c'DtikiyiiiyWMOTrion Smith, 18, t ^ and the cow he was milking In y

vi<©ffri't wind and rS

UTHAMPTOfV BARN FIRE LOSS TOTALS $20,000

JiialU4U4ta --

FLASH OF DESTRUCTION

Lightning is a major cause of farm fires. It strikes without warn- ing. Losses are usually disastrous, and crippling. If your buildings are high, isolated, located on a hill or high ground, or in an area where electrical storms are severe and frequent, you should consider protection from lightning.

Nearby metallic objects, such as ventilating heads, barn tracks, television aerials, fences and wiring with poor or inadequate grounds, may increase your hazards.

jf^ightning Kilfi^ 19 Drinkins, Coiv^,

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'^^ in roads in^lMmi^iMiSPinist man's most elusive natural foe, scientists of General Electric Company con- ducted their eighth summer of lightning research high atop New 'York's Empire State building this 'past season. Complete photographic records and electrical measure- iments were obtained on all light- jning strokes striking the National i Broadcasting Company's antenna

Lightning Strikes^i lul^Ulninor Hits v 11 Flee Home |\ (Golfing Paip

Two Cows Killed Norwich .Storm,

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— Two v£ v/ere killLU \ltwmmm0t0l^^O dam age done to a dwelling in a &ua- rten thunderstorm which swept Norwich shortly after 10 a. m. Thursday.

The home of Morris Morgensteir. in Norwich was struck by a bolt of lightning, which apparently struck a television guy wire and vaced down into the house. Tlie fire started in the attic of the

EXTENSION SERVICE

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSEHS O AMHERST

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five times that of agricultuii". "It seems pretty shortsighted," MeKnight smvs, "when you consider tluit the $15 million spent to develop hybrid corn now brings in more than %1 l)illion a year."

To keep the U.S. diet as rich as now in protein, McKnight figiues tliat the $300 million spent last year for farm research must be doubled within five years. ( Half of the annual bill is paid by the govern- ment. Federal and state, and half b\ food processors and farm suppliers.)

AnIibiollfN: \\'hether or not the coun- cil achieves its goal in that short a time, farm research will continue to unfold excitingly. The big news story at the mo- ment is what is being done with antibiot- ics, the wonderfully versatile wonder drugs wjiich alone may prove a con siderable antidote for the land shortage. They are performing startling feats in making an animal transform more of what it eats into good lean meat.

Antibiotics were initially used on ani- mals to knock out bacterial infections. Soon, scientists found that, in smaller doses, they also made the animals grow faster. First fed to chickens and pigs, they have been supercharging cattle and sheep to a jirofit-doubling extent in the last two N'cars. Even mink and lieaglcs are thriving on them. In Terre Haute, Ind., the Pfizer Hesearch and Develop- ment Farm, which feeds and weighs e.\- perimental cattle like rats, now serves a special antibiotic-and-hormone cocktail that is setting fantastic new records foi induced growth.

Antibiotics may have even greater po- tential for plants. Fresh on the market are streptomycin sprays that knock out costly bacterial blights on fruit trees, tobacco, peppers, tomatoes, and pota- toes. After treatment, the plants show big crop gains, leading to speculation

Heat lamps for sowiess shoals

that antibiotics not only control plant dis- eases but ma\ , as was fomid with ani- mals, somehow stimulate plant growth. ExperimentalK-, these potrul suii- stances are also controlling linigiis at- tacks, responsible for a major part of the nation's S-l billion-a-year crop loss from pests. They arc being screened as insec- ticides. Dramatically, they are being studied as a means of altering and im- proving the ver\ chemical characteristics of plants, including tobacco and cabbage, as they grow to maturity.

A present obstacle to their widcs|iiea(l use for all this is an economic one. Anti- biotics are pretty expensive for repeated sprayings of low-price crops.

closer at hand, probabK-, is the anti biotic preserving of meat, dairy products, and vegetajjles. This may soon comjictt' with radiation sterilization of foods, which, apart from some use in iircventing potato spoilage, is still some years away. Dr. F.E. Deatheridge, head of the Ohio State biochemistry department, embalms fresh-killed steers simph' liy pmnping an antibiotic through their arteries. The meat then will keep through three hot summer days and acquires, in the proc- ess, a delicate aged flavor. SimilarK, b> pumping brine ,uid smoke ll.ivor into a slaughtered hog. Dr. DiMllicridge tiiinks Ix' can put ham .ind l),ic()n on ihe lai)lc ill three (kus iiislr,i<l lA llircc weeks l''iiliir<- <;»!»»: Sup])ienienting the aiilibiiilies, honiioncs, and oilier surjirises on the brink oi de\'eiopinenl, the enter- prising iarnier ol the future will have an old st,nKli)\ to rely on: A choice ol some 40, ()()() agricultural elu-inicals developed over years ot research.

All these will help, but the iarnier will still have other problems— i^ressing prob- lems that demand innncdiale and thor- ough investigation if those 2.5 million new mouths a year are to be adequately fed. Some of them;

►Mechanized as farming is, the farmer still spends an estimated 65 per cent of his day shoveling, lifting, and toting. Needed: A variety of radical labor- saving devices-every thing from fertilizer spread by the same vehicle that delivers it to the farm, to pipelines for milk from the udder to the vat. ► Marketing is often a Stone Age process, capable of depressing many a farm item even when production has been modern- ized. Needed: Studies showing the dairyman how to sell his beverage, for instance, as fast as brewers do, and re- search to ease the way for more "vertical organization" in marketing. ►Though botanists, have catalogued 300,000 plants from all over the world, chemists have intensively analyzed no more than a -dozen, notably corn and soybeans, for use by industry. Needed: A greatly stcpped-up search of all plant life for new foods, pharmaceuticals, and chemical products. ►By 1970 American industry will hav

shell (. hcmlcal for

Private labs for tender shoots

v..oubled its already gargantuan thirst water. With water already in tight s ply over most of the nation, crop irr tion is spreading fast over the east half of the country, for it enlarges yields and helps insure against drou| Needed: Common sense, stricter c servation, and, above all, more resear( on the development of crops and gra: thriving on less water, and on round out theories of the water cycle that be applied to each locality.

This is perhaps the biggest and n ominous scientific lag of all. With water, all agricultural research co quickly become so much theory.

SCIENCE-

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Electrical Storms

This is the season of sudden >Iectrical storms of mucli inten- ilty wliich sometimes bring ieath along with their destruc- ive power. Some good advice ;omes to us today from Connecti- wt 0. W. Apicer, president of he Bartlett Tree Expert com- jany, suggests that valuable lees 50, 75 or 150 feet tall on rour suburban or country place lecome lightning targets during he summer. These, he said, can )e turned into giant lightning ■ods which will protect both the rees and the surrounding areas, I loosely-woven copper condu^ or can be extended from th^ lee-top down the forks an ilong the trunks, then grounded leep in the soil beyond the iranch spread. A lightning bolt triking such a tree is carried larralessly into the ground.

During a thunderstorm, he ad- rises, keep away from all tall rees, wire fences, beaches and Deposed hUltops. If you're near m isolated tree, lightning may ump from it to your body. Or it nay enter your body after strik- rg the ground. Or you may be lurt if a tree explodes under a ightning stroke. Trees along a itream or lake are more apt to be lit than those in dryer soil. Oaks, !lms, pines, ashes, poplars and naples — in that order — are itruck more frequently than any ither trees. Tall trees are choice argets for lightning bolts be- ause they offer the shortest dis- Bnce between cloud and ground.

A negative electrical charge juilds up in a cloud during a itorra. An equal positive pharge B built up on the ground. Thi two attack each other. As th' negative charge moves with th cloud, the positive charge race; along the ground beneath it. The positive charge sweeps up trees and buildings to meet the nega- tive charge coming down from the cloud. That is why forks of lightning may be seen moving up from a tree as well as reach- ing down from the sky.

All this is good advice. It is well to remember these points when vacationing or out on a picnic when a sudden storm liurets upon your group. Some- ilay it may save a life.

/

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P

Jail and Church Targets

For Bolts of Lightning

Personnel at House of ( Crops Thus Far Ur River Rises Slowly

Northampton, May 10— The mo viciqu^^Jlclrical storm in sever y^^P^^^^^^^^jampton short

Tore noon today^cP^MPting cor

.ightning Strikes 'orth Adams Horn

LTH ADAMS, The TfiSPflflfW^strlke of th^ year was reported here to'day.

The bolt struck the home of Mr and Mrs. John Simmons during a near cloudburst, setting: (ire to a hrA. Mrs Simmons alnnr in

Fire Loss Runs High From Severe Storm

Lightning, which accompanied this vicinity early last Thursday area, or\g_j:esulting in a $12,000 uption for

irm into

rll 15—- c'Dliiiliyg^JlllMOTFfon Smith, 18, t ^ and the cow he was militing in y

a \(IKreri't wind and rSf

OUTHAMPTO^ t BARN FIRE LOSS TOTALS $20,000

famed

Jli(fUt4unCf^ --

FLASH OF DESTRUCTION

Lightning is a major cause of farm fires. It strikes without warn- ing. Losses are usually disastrous, and crippling. If your buildings are high, isolated, located on a hill or high ground, or in an area where electrical storms are severe and frequent, you should consider protection from lightning.

Nearby metallic objects, such as ventilating heads, barn tracks, television aerials, fences and wiring with poor or inadequate grounds, may increase your hazards.

yZightning Kilties 19 Drinking Coim

l[Lightning Photographc terests of Sci

j^e hope of malun||gilw m roads n^^ttlggif0tKMffans,t man's most elusive natural foe, scientists of General Electric Company con- ducted their eighth summer of lightning research high atop New i 'York's Empire State building this 1 I past season. Complete photographic records and electjjcal measure- ments were obtained on all light- ning strokes striking the National Broadcasting Company's antenna

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were kilieU"UP»iaBaBWH^^.XJUU dam- age done to a dwelling in a sua- den thunderstorm which swept Norwich shortly after 10 a. iri. Thursday.

The home of Morris Morgensteir, I in Norwich was struck by a bolt; of lightning, which apparently struck a television guy wire and vaced down into the house. The fire started in the attic of the|

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POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS. AMHERST

JULY - AUGUST, 1955

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Extension Fruit Specialist

Mass. Apple Crop Estimate

34th Annual Field Day

Increasing Strawberry Yields by Soil Fumigation

Country Point Pricing of Apples

Pre-horvest Drop Control of Apples

Pomoiogical Research

Sweet Cherry Varieties

Virus-Free Strawberries

Issued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Associate Dean and Director, in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914; University of Massachusetts, United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating

Publication Approved by George J. Cronln, State Purchasing Agent, No. 19.

YOPR POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Anderson, James - Instructor

Teaches small fruits and general fruit grovdLng courses #

Bailey, John S. - Associate Profess or^ Research - Stationed at East V/areham, Doing small fruit research on strawberries, blueberries and beach plums, ISr, Bailey also handles considerable of the small frviits extension program,

French, Arthur P, - Head of Department

Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small fruit variety testing, currently editor of FRUIT NOTES,

Lord, William J, - ExtenSlcn Fmit Specialist

Connected chiefly with fruit grovrers* problems, other than pest control^ and is somewhat involved in research,

Roberts, Oliver C, - Associate Professor

Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental courses. Currently also doing research on fruit marketing,

Southwick, Franklin V/e - Professor, Research

Most of his time is spent in research on chemical thinning, preharvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutritions Also teaches in cer- tain advanced courses.

Weeks, Walter D, - Assistant Professor, Research

Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety and strain teats and winter hardiness. Also teaches certain advanced courses.

Contributors to This Issue from Supporting Fields

CO, Cart\Tright - County Agricultural Agent in

Essex County F, E, Cole - Extension Specialist in Fruit and

Vegetable Marketing Robert A, Fitzpatrick - Assistant Research Professor

of Agricultural Economics

FRUIT NOTES "■ JulyUlugufit 19!:^5

«• ii- if ^^ ^f- 1^ ■«•■%• •5f •){• EXTENSION FRUIT SPECIALIST ■«• * i^ ^i- <• * -Jc- ifr -JJ -if

It is indeed a pleasure to repoit that our six months search for the right raan to fill the position of Extension Fruit Specialist has resulted in the selection of Dr, IViUiam J, Lord for this job,

Dvt Lord recently completed his graduate study at the Pennsylvania State Univ- ersity Tfhere he majored in Horticulture (Pomology). His undergraduate training and I faster' 3 degree were earned at the University of New Hanpshire,

Hb Txas brought up on a Nevf Hampshire farm and managed a small apple orchard for five years as a part of his duties while a teacher of Vocational Agricultvure in that state and has also had considerable experience with small fruits. During ViTorld liTar II, he was. on active duty with the U«S, Arn^ in Europe and then taught at the U» S. Army School in Friesing, Germany before returning to civilian life.

As Extension Fruit Specialist, Dr, Lord will concern himself chiefly with the problems of our fruit irdustry, other than pest control, including certain phases of the research program. Admittedly, it will take him some time to get acquainted vdth our iiassachusetts fruit industry and its problems, but we are confident that he will develop rapidly into a valuable and important member of our Pomological team serving you fruit growers,

— A, P, French

# 4' # # # # # ^' # /;■ •// /;■ #

Massachusetts Apple Crop Estimate

One item which alvfays attracts attention at the s\mimer meeting of the i'lassachusetts Fruit Grov;ers is Walter Piper's crop estimate. This sample esti- mate is obtained by asking those growers present to report their last year's crop harvested and their estimate of their current year's crop.

The results for this year qere as follows:

19$h Crop 19B^ Estimate

Mcintosh Baldwin Delicious CortDa nd Other Varieties Total

201,900 bu, 72,200 bu, 23,590 bu, 32,290 bu, 31,800 bu,

361,7tiO bu.

39Ui30O bu. ^5,500 bu, k9,kl^ bu, 147,575 bu. 53 J 000 bu,

S99iii50 bu*

— A, P, French

# # # # i!' # # # # # i(* ;r #

- 2 -

3l|th Amm.L FIELD DAY

University of Iiassachusetts Field Station at waltham

The 3Hh Annual Field Day at the University of Ilassachusetts Field Station at 'Waltham vdll be held on Saturday^ August 6<, Scheduling the Field Day for a Saturday is an innovation inaugurated for the convenience of the hundreds of people viho are not able to visit the Field Station on v/eekdays«

Some of the special features this year will includes

(a) Exhibits demonstrating the scope of the work at the Vifaltham Field Station* These include vegetejble breeding, floiver production, propagation, plant disease control and insect control*

(b) The Annual Flower Gardens, including the All-^American Selections, which irdll be at their height on this daye

(c) The Perennial Gardens are a unique collection of plant material inhich has been popular among gardeners over the years*

(d) The Demonstration Home Vegetable Garden, shoviring a trial of all-purpose pest control materials as dusts and sprays o

(e) Variety Trials of several kinds of vegetables in which old and new varie- ties are compared for eastern Massachusetts conditionso

The entire experimental work of the Field Station will also be on display for the public and labeled for inspection. This will include:

(a) The apple orchard where new pesticides are being evaluated,

(b) An asparagus field from which a new variety of asparagus is soon to be re- leased,

(c) A tomato field where improvements are being made in tomato varieties for growing on trellises,

(d) A squash field v;here selections are being made for better Butternut Squash,

(e) A carnation field where diseases of carnations are being studied,

(f ) Greenhouses where research is being conducted on propagation of shrubs and flowers, and on propagation of better flo\Ters and vegetables.

In addition, commercial exhibitors will show the latest in small machinery, gadgets and materials of interest to both professional and amateur gardeners,

—ED,

INCREASING STRAWBERRY YIELDS BY SOIL FUTIEGATION

Did your strawberry bed show evidence of b]ack-root? Did plants begin to dry up and die when hot, dry weather started? Did you dig up some of these sick plants and find most of the roots black and dead? If so, then perhaps you need to try soil fumigation. Evidence is increasing that where black-root rot is a problem, soil fumi- gation res\ilts in more vigorous plants and in increased yields.

If you decide to try soil fumigation, arrangements to do the job should be made soon. There are several reasons for this. Fall fumigation is necessary. The soil must be properly prepared. Arrangements must be made with a commercial fumi- gator or equipment miist be ordered and put in shape and a fumigant obtained, So,don't put off preparations too long.

- 3 -

The kind of equipnent used will depend on the size of field to be fumigated and the grovrers' inclination as to what and how much they want to do themselves. For the commercial size planting, tv/o general methods are available. The easiest and surest, although not the least expensive, is to hire a coirmercial fumigator. He hasthe know- how, equipnent and materials to do a thoroughly satisfactory job. The cost will vary according to the area fumigated and the kind ard amount of fumigant used.

On the other hand, a mechanically inclined grower can purchase a kit to rig up his am fumigator. There are one and tir/o outlet, gravity feed kits which can be attacli- ed to a one or two bottom plovf. The fumigant is dripped into the furrow ahead of the plow. Or a 2,U,6,or 8 outlet pressure kit may be obtained for attaching to a cxJ-tiva- tor. The pressure is supplied by a small gear punqp hitched to the power take-off of the tractor. An outlet tube is fastened behind each shank of the cultivator with the opening near the bottom of the shank. The shanks are spaced 10 inches apart. Since the amount of fumigant applied is extremely iniportant, directions are STJ^pplied with each kit explaining hovf to adjust it to apply the desired amount, A drag is needed behind the fumigator to seal the gas in the soil.

For a small area a hand injector can b e used. This is poked into the soil every 10-12 inches and delivers a small amount of fumigant. An injector of this type is fairly rapid, easy to adjust arei handle but is rather expensive, A cheaper, but more laborious method, is to make trenches 6-8 inches deep every 10-12 inches across the field, povir in the fumigant and then cover it immediately. The pouring can be done easily by using a quart, metal-topped frviit jar with two holes punched in the top. The holes are made with an 8 penny nail, one for pouring and one for a vent.

Regardless of the method of application, the soil needs to be v/ell pre- pared in advance. Thorough plovd.ng and harrovritng are necessary to break up all clods. Any large pieces of orgaiic refuse, such a s tough sods or cornstalks, must have time to thoroughly decompose since the fumigant vj-ill not penetrate them othenvisep In other words, the soil should be well pulverized and moist as if prepared for a good seed bed. Also, it must not be too cold. Effective fumigation can be done between 50 and 85^,

Fall fumigation avoids late spring planting. If the spring is cold, it may take considerable time for the soil to reach 50°F, A two weeks waiting period is needed after treatment to allow all the fumigant to leave the soil before planting. The last half of September and the month of October are good times to fumigate in most sections of the State,

There are several very effective soil fumigants. However, \ihen one considers effectiveness, cost and ease of handling, only two are practical for fumigating straw- berry fields. These are D-D at 20 gallons per acre and ethylene dibromide, or EDB at

9 gallons per acre of a material containing 83 percent EDB by weight. Effective treat- ment requires that these materials be placed 8 inches deep in the soil at intervals of

10 inches. If fumigating is done ahead of a rain, the water vd.ll help to keep the fumi- gant in the soil and make it more effective.

So, if you have black-root rot trouble and v/ant to try soil fumigation, prepare the soil thoroughly, see that it is at the right ten^rature, use the right amount of a good soil fumigant, get it down eight inches in the soil and drag the field to hold the gas in the soil. Do this in the fall and avoid delayed planting in the spring,

John S, Bailey

p. ji j>. M. .■( J( J! Jt n J' JJ- U U It rr IT 11 h iT ti ti 11 Ti 11 W JT

CoKdSvy t'oint Priciiif' ol' apples -

A method of country point price reporting was devel- oped by the Departmeiit of Agricultural iconomics, and tested during the '52 and ",'3 apple marketing seasons. The study dealt vdth iiclntosh sold at wholesale,

A group of grovrers, v;hose marketing practices vrere representative of the practices of all local grovrers, vol- unteered to report their sales data. All information re- ported was kept confidential.

Reporting was on a weekly basis e Grov/ers vrere supplied with blank forms, on which they wrote the sales data. Prices vfere figured "back to the storage". The grovrers sent the filled-in forms to the University, v/here the data were sum- marized. The forms v/ere then returned to the groirers.

The report form listed the following: Date of sale; Number of bushels soldj Price per bushel; Nearest U.S.gradej Size; Condition; Color; Package; Kind of buyer; and market area where sale was made.

In the second season, a weekly summary 7iras sent to the growers. This sheet listed the volume sold to date, and the country point price for various grades, sizes, and packages sold to various outlets in the various markets. It also gave an indication of the relative movement by grades, packages, and sizes.

The total volume reported in the first season was 25,000 bushels with a "shipping point" value of about vll5,00c). In the second season, over 70,000 bushels were reported, with a value of about $200,000,

The growers who took part in the s tudy r eported that the information secured was of substantial value to them, as it gave prices received by grovrers who sold in many differ- ent ways, and that it was more realistic than information from v^iole sale market centers alone,

—Robert A, Fitzpa trick

The practical findings of the research study reported above are as follows:

1, Country point price reporting is possible,

2, "Back to the storage" prices indicate what growers are actually getting from several methods of marketing,

3, Modern methods of marketing emphasise the country storage point as an im- portant pricing point. Storage door prices were shown to be more steady and more realistic than Boston w holesale market prices,

I4, A method of reporting by groviers has been tried out and suggested for

adoption, 5, The accuracy, value and use of the suggested method deoends upon growers,

F.".Cole

-5 -

At the summer meeting of the Massachusetts Fruit Grcjwers Association it was voted to request the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture to supplement existing apple market reports with more complete country point pricings

— ED.

####### ^ # ^^ # rf # ^PREHARVEST DROP CONTROL OF APPLES

This year there has been considerable speculation as to just where grovrt-h re- gulating substances or "hormones", used for thinning and preharvest drop, stood fol- lowing passage of Public Law 5l8 - the "MiUer Bill" which became effective July 22, 1955.

Of the materials being used on apples for these purposes, naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), naphthaleneacetamide (NA Amide), 2,U,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,k,5-TA), and 2,U,$^trichlorophenoxyproplonic acid (2,U,5-TP), only NAA has an es- tablished tolerance which is 1.0 ppm. Thus we thought that unless tolerances for the others were set before fall, niether 2,U,5-TA nor 2,U,5-TP could be recommended for preharvest drop control,

Hovrever, it now appears that these materials are not considered "pesticides" and therefore are not subject to the regulations of the Miller Bill, "The term^ pesticide refers to a chemical used for preventing, destroying, repelling or raitigat- ing any virus, insect, rodent, fungus, \ireed or other form of plant or animal life which is recognized as a pest and which is used in the production of a raw agricul- tural product. These pesticides are economic poisons and include weed killers, in- secticides, fungicides, rat killers, etc," F^rom this definition it seems that the preharvest drop and chemical thinning materials are excluded. In other words, v;e expect to be able to recommend the use of NAA, 2,U,5-TA and 2,U,5-TP as we have during the past few years. We have been told that manufacturers and suppliers vrLll produce and provide these materials as they have in the past. Hence, we expect to have available for distribution through the County Extension Offices, and the Univ- ersity of Massachusetts, Special Circular No. 25U, "Preharvest Drop Control of Apples" by nid-August at the latest.

We anticipate that interest in drop materials will be appreciable since most growers have large crops of Mcintosh to harvest, VJe want to remind you that apple trees are inclined to drop fruit rather heavily when carrying a large crop, when the weather is warm at harvest time, when the trees are high in nitrogen or deficient in magnesium or potassium, or when the foliage has been badly damaged by mites or_ frost. Hence, keep the foliage in good healthy condition and free from serious mite injury. If you suspect that some of your trees may be approaching a magnesium de- ficient condition a couple of sprays of epsom salts at the rate of 20 pounds per 100 gallons may be a very vforthvvhile investment. These hormones won't control fruit drop of apples if the foliage is not in a good, healthy condition,

— F ,W, Sout hffick ####### i(^ ## 4' # ,f

POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH ':

)■' ■. ■ . 6« A Study of New Varieties of Fruits

The study of new varieties has been conducted for a longer period of time than any other irork conducted by tiie Department, In October of 1888, Professor Maynard reported on new and standard varieties of fruit* Some of the varieties of apples Y/hich he listed such as Yellow Transparent, Gravenstein, Baldwin and Ro I, Greening are still being grown, but it is rare to find the varieties Porter, King, Fameuse, Fallawater, Sutton Beauty and Pewaukee in a commercial orchard today. His peach list did not contain a single variety which we are now grovTing, The list included Alexan- der, Mt, Rose, Old Mixon, Stump, Arkansas Traveller, Red Cheek, Morris V/hite, ViTheat- land. Smock, Early Crawford and Late Crawford, Elberta was then l8. years old but was not included in the list of peaches \i4iich Professor Maynard was growing at that time. The stra\Tberry variety list included such names as Daisy, Dai iel Boone, Garibaldi, Jessie, Old Iron Clad and Woodhouse, but did not include any of our recent strawberry varieties, I expect this is enough of ancient history but it does show how the variety picture changes over the years and the need for continuing the study of new varieties.

At the present time we attempt to obtain promising new variety introductions of all the principal fruits which appear to be adaptable to Massachusetts, After we have fruited each variety for a sufficient length of time to determine its v§.ue for our conditions, we either discard the variety as having no\'alue or recommend it for trial. After a variety has beengrown for trial by the station and by growers long enough to fully determine its value as a commercial variety, it is then discarded if found T^anting or recommended for commercial or home planting.

The results of our variety studies are used as a basis for our special variety circulars. The circulars list the varieties \#iich are recommended for commercial and home use and varieties for trial. Brief descriptive notes and the harvesting season for each variety are also included in the circulars. These variety circulars may be obtained from the Mailing Room at the University at Amherst or from the Department of Pomology, In the future we hope to have some stories in this publication on varieties we have tested and discarded, Vife shall give the principal reasons why we think the variety does not have any value for liassachusetts c additions.

— ViT.D.Vfeeks

SVJEEJ CHERRY VARIETIES

Vifhile commercial Hweet cherry gro\iilng is of relatively minor importance in Ii!assach\isetts, several varieties have been tested in the University orchard during the past tvrenty-five years, ilany have been discarded for one or more reasons, as follows :

Dikeman - Vifhile it ripens late, it is mediocre in quality, unattractive, and too small to merit further consideration.

Early Honey Heart - As the name implies, it is one of the earliest varieties

but is a small, yellow cherry, cracks badly and is generally unattrac- tive •

-7 -

Elkhorn - This is an old variety which has been discarded because the fruit is small and the tree tends to be unproductive*

Qenesee - This variety has been planted repeatedly but invariably has failed to grow.

Nelson - A dark red cherry indistinguishable from Schmidt.

Noir de Ouben - A dark red cherry of mediocre quality and size. Inferior to Schmidt which ripens at the same time.

Paul Rose - A light colored cherry with a distinct red suture. A sport of Schmidt but inferior in appearance.

Sodus - A light colored variety of inferior quality with a tendency to oraok

at the apex.

Yellow Spanish - An old yellow variety Y*iich is inferior in size and appearance to Emperor Francis,

Varieties which are still under trial or have been retained to serve as a basis of comparison are as follows!

August Supreme Lyons

Bing Ittlton Black Tartarian

Black Heart Napoleon

Black Tartarian Seneca

Early Rivers Schmidt

Eraporer Francis Schrecken

Geant d'Hedelfingen Sweet September

Giant Victor

Gil Peck Vernon

Lambert liindsor

York Imperial

•C .Roberts

Peach and Grape Tv/ilight Ileeting

The Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association, with the County Extension Services cooperating, will sponsor a Twilight Meeting on peaches and grapes at S, L, Davenport's, North Grafton, Vfednesday, August 31, 1955 at 7tOO P.K.

Here is an excellent opportunity to get the low-down on a couple of good diversified cops. Mr, Davenport is one of the few commercial grape growers in the State and has large variety collections of both fruits.

-—A.P.French

####/;??;'## /i' /^ ^' ;:' #

Application of parathion with 3-row duster.

Pigging plants with 2-row potato digger.

VIHDS-FREE STRAWBERRIES

Roger H. Lewis of Andover, Essex graduate of '25, is using several in- genious methods for the production of virus-free strawberry plants. Roger built the first and only screen house in Essex County for the production of vims-free stock last spidng.

Fovir varieties, Catskill, Howard 17, Robinson and Sparkle, were grown in 1954. These four varieties plus Fairfax, Midland and Stelemaster are now being propagated in the field.

In order to prevent infection ly the strawberry aphid which carries the virus, Roger dusted all strawberry plantings at weekly intervals, using a ton of parathion in 1954^»

In order to speed up the digging of plants Roger has adapted a two-row potato digger for loosening the plant beds.

To get ideal growing conditions for plants, Roger uses large quanti- ties of farm manure, cover crops and rotation with vegetables. Irrigation is used as needed throughout the grow- ing season from the nearby Merrimac River. All vegetable and strawberry crops are bedded in 60" beds, this giving ideal soil with no compression from tractor and other tools.

The screenhouse soil has been fumigated and is now growing stock plants of the following virus- free varieties: Howard 17, Sparkle, Catskill, Robinson, Red Star, Empire, and Armore.

Roger plans to fumigate all soil used in the field production of virus-free strawberry plants this fsill to give nematode- free stock. He has built a fumigation chamber for treatment of cyclamen mite. Roger's goal is to have virus-nematode cyclejuen-fflite free plants for sale as soon as possible.

them.

It appears that when better strawberry plants are grown, Roger Lewis will have

-CO. Cartwright

RU NOTE5

POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS. AMHERST

SEPTEMBER 15, 1955

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prehorvest Drop Control of Apples

Cider Notes

Reduce Labor of Loading Apples on Trailers

Powdery Mildew

Pint or Quart Baskets for Blueberries?

Notes on Varieties - Brambles

Will You Lose Some Trees To Mice This Year?

Control of Chiclcweed in Strawberries

Issued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Associate Dean and Director, in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914; University of Massachusetts, United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating.

Publication Approved by George J. Cronln, State Purchasing Agent, No. 19.

YOUR POMOLOGY DEPARTMEIT

Anderson, James - Instructor

Teaches small fruits and general fruit growing courses,

Bailey, John S, - Associate Professor, Research - Stationed at East VJareham, Doing small fruit research on strawberries, blueberries and beach plums. Mr, Bailey also handles considerable of the small fruits extension program,

French, Arthur P, - Head of Department

Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small fruit variety testingp

Lorxi, Vifilliam J, - Extension Fruit Specialist

Collected chiefly with fruit growers' problems, other than pest control, and is somewhat involved in research. Editor of FRUIT NOTES.

Roberts, Oliver C, - Associate Professor

Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental courses. Currently also doing research on fruit marketing,

Southf^ick, Franklin IT, - Professor, Research

Most of his time is spent in research on chemical thinning, preharvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutrition. Also, teaches in certain advanced courses,

Tiileeks, ViTalter D, - Assistant Professor, Research

Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety arid strain tests and winter hardiness o Also, teaches certain advanced courses.

Contributors to This Issue from Supporting Fields K, M.Hayes - Extension Food Technologist W,R,Jones - U.S. Fish & 'iYildlife Service R,B,Parmenter - Extension Forester

FRUIT NOTES September 19^5

-X- a -if- ^/<r a -K- it ■»■ -Si- * ii- -;;- ^ PREHA.RVEST DROP CONTROL OV APPLES ■«• ^ * * ^- -k- ■«• ^f- ■«• ■»■ ^ •«■ *

The materials available for preharvest drop control of apples seem to have stabir- lieod, at least temporarily, follo\Ting several nev/ introductions during the past feu years. Hence, most commercial grarers in Massachusetts have had some experience or introduction to all the materials which are to be discussed, '

Gro\Ters may now choose among the three available materials, naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2,[|,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid (2,U,5-TP) and 2,h,^trichlorophen- oxyacetic acid (2,U,5-TA), The selection of a given material should be related to the variety, how long it v/ill take to pick a block or orchard following treatment, and \7hether hastened ripening is desired or not. For example, we believe 2,l4,5-TA repre- sents the best of the three materials listed for Mcintosh when drop control of more than 2 vreeks is desired vdth a minimum of hastened ripening. However, NAA is still a good material for the grower v^o can harvest his liclntosh crop in 7 to 12 days,

NAA

1, Apply when drop of many-seeded, blemish-free fruit commences,

2, It may be applied as a spray, dust, or by airplane. Spray applications may be concentrated,

3, Vifhen used at single (10 ppm) or double (20 ppm)strength (U to 8 oz, of most commercial formulations per 100 gallons) it will reduce the rate of drop of Mcintosh for 7 to 12 days. If a single strength application is made somewhat longer drop control may be obtained by the use of a repeat application about 7 days after the first treatment)

kt NAA generally causes less direct ripening to fruit than 2,U,^-TP and slightly less than 2,I|,5-TA but the higher the concentration of NAA \ised and the great- er the number of applications the greater the ripening effect,

5, It is satisfactory for drop control of Mcintosh providing the block can be picked 7d.thin 7 to 12 days after treatment,

6, For most late varieties 2,i|,5-TP is probably a more satisfactory material, (See discussion under 2,It,5-TP,)

2,U,5-TA - For Mcintosh Only

1, Apply when drop coimmences (Same timing as NA.A),

2, Use at 20 ppm (read label) as a spray. Dust formulations are not generally available. It can be applied by airplane,

3, 2,U,5-TA will often control drop for 3 to ii weeks but not quite as effectively as 2,It,5-TP for the first 3 weeks,

h» 2,U,§-TA does not hasten ripening as much as 2,U,5-TP and not much more than NAA, Remember that the longer apples hang the softer they become even if no stop-drop material is used. Don't let the fruit remain unharvested too long" if a good apple for long storage is desired,

$» This material is not suggested for varieties other than Mcintosh because of lack of experience or failure to control drop (2,U,5-TA was ineffective in controlling drop of Baldwin),

6, 2,U,5-TA is a brush-killer at high concentrations so do not use it at concen- trations above those suggested and do not make repeat applications.

« 2 -

2,U,^>'TP

1, For best drop control of Mcintosh, but with the least ripening effect, apply

when drop commences (san© timing as MA), 2» When used at 20 ppm (read the label) it will reduce rate of drop for about 3

weeks after application on Mcintosh, Do not use higher concentrations, 3» It can be applied as a spray or from an airplane. Dust may be satisfactory,

if available. It may be concentrated safely up to 3X| h» If a good storage Mcintosh apple is desired, pick the fruit within 2 v;eeks

of spraying, even though fruit is not dropping, to keep ripening effect at a

minimum. For longer drop control with less chance of hastened ripening, use

2,li,$^TA on Mr^Intosh,

5. t" or drop control on late varieties such as Baldwin, Rome, and Delicious, delay the application until drop is about to start or before the foliage becomes injured by frost or mites. Drop control may be expected for about h weeks after treatment on these late varieties o This may be the best use for 3tU,,5~TP since its ripening effect on many late varieties may not be too pronounced a

6, If used to hasten ripening and improve color of early and midseason varieties, apply at least 3 weeks ahead of harvest date. Apples from trees high in nitrogen levels, will be ripened more than f rulFf rom trees at lower nitrogen levels , Do not use 2,Uj5-TP for Improving color on regular Gravenstein, Duchess and Milton since color is not greatly inqjroved and the fruit may be- oome mushy and worthless. It has been used for this purpose with some success on Early Mcintosh and Tifealthy, Beware of over-ripeness, splitting ■; and water- core when used as a ripener. The ripening effect is not uniform over the- en- tire tree. Some fruits will be ripened much more than adjacent fruits.

General Comments

No hormone is effective for drop control if the foliage is in an unhealthy condi- tion as a result of frost or mite Injury, Also, trees suffering from magnesium or potassium deficiencies will drop their fruit readily and hormones will not prevent it,

— -F.Vif.Southwick

Magnesium Deficiency - Symptoms of magnesium deficiency are appearing in some of our Massachusetts orchards. This deficiency generally is more prevalent in heavy crop years. Look for a yellowing or brov/ning of the leaf tissue between the veins on the older leaves. In severe cases, the older leaves may have dropped off to such an extent that some branches or the whole tree may be almost defoliated by late September, In addi- tion, magnesium deficiency may cause heavy fruit Aropo

—ED,

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-HaZARDS OF DISCARDED ICE BOXES AND REFRIGERATORS

Discarded ice boxes and refrigerators make Inviting places for games by small children, HeretcfoM . , many of these discarded ice boxes and refrigerators have been small in size* This lessened the probability of a child's crawling into any one of them. However, families are continually purchasing new refrigerators and freezers in increasing numbers. This increased purchase is occasioned by many fac- tors, including the desire for new boxes vdth freezing con^artments. The eld re- frigerators which are now being discarded are larger in size than those which were discarded years agoo Temporary housing has also stepped up the number of these dis- carded ice boxes, refrigerators, etc. All this adds up to more and more inviting discairded refrigerators and freezers for children to crawl into today, and vfith these discarded air-tight cabinets vdth locks and hinges intact, they provide en- ticing hiding places.

It is only natural for children to crawl into these hiding places as part of a game, Many^ however, are locked in through malicious intent of older boys and girls. Once the child is in this air-tight box, it's not possible for the child to bo heard or seen, and the refrigerator becomes a death trap,

Sonething can be done about this - community action viiere the community as a whole, makes a conscious effort to dispose of these empty boxes. However, the individual can make these discaixied refrigerators harmless by removing the door, re- moving the latch stop so that the door cannot lock, drill holes in the cabinet and remove the gasket so it won't be air-tight, or destroy the box altogether.

If you have one of tliese refrigerators that you are going to die- card, do some of these things and save the children in the neighborhocd from possible accident. Perhaps the community or some local radio elation could carry on a program of community education to safeguard the children in the neighborhood from these death traps,

^R.BoParmenter

Chairman-Safety Committee

Wisdom from the Past-— — —

The preamble of the first yearbook of the National Apple Association (new the Internation- al-Apple Association) organized in 1895> inclu- ded as one of its objectives this statement; "In urging the necessity for a uniform standard of barrel and a strict adherence to honest grading in packing, it is endeavoring to promote the welfare of the grower while at the same time protecting the interests of the consumer."

While the statement relative to the barrel has no significance today, it is interesting to note that sixty years ago the harmful effect to the apple Industry of dishonest grading and packing was appreciated. This continues to be significant at the present time,

— 0,C»Roberts

CIDER NOTES

Pasteiirizatlon - Many cider makers are contemplating pasteurization of cider for part of their productions Work on this phase cf cider making is currently underway at the USDA Eastern Regional Laboratory^ Vihll!£ results are incomplete^ cne of the more promising set-ups is the use of a 30 gallon hot water tank (one end removed )with two side-arm heaters to heat the water, A coil (al'jmiinum preferred) through vhich the cider flows is immersed in the tank of water » Cider flow is adjusted by a valve or clamp to raise th3 outlet temperature to about l80°Fj After pasteurizing, it is filled into preheated bottles and coolede For best results, the cider should be fil- tered before filling to remove sediicent.

Clarification « Many of you like a clear cider, but one that is not pollished or is brilliant in appearance*

A clear cider can be gotten by allowing a tankful cf fresh cider to settle for 2k hours and then siphoning off all but the last few Inches in tlie tank« If possible, have the tank in your cold room to prevent fermentation.

Containers - At the present time, many new homes and apartments are short on storage spaooj^especially refrigerator space. Move viith the trend and supply customers with a variety of container sizes o Quart containers may sell viiile gallon containers of cider will remain on the floor. Perhaps a square gallon con- tainer or half-gallcn will move whereas round containers won't. Conduct a poll among your customers to help determine their needs* Remember, satisfied customers come backi

^K«Mo Hayes

A REMIMDER^HHHHHHHHi-

Now that apple harvest has started, copies of Gpecial circulars no, 2U5 and 2U6 would be helpful,

. J '"■

Special circular no, 2U5 is titled, "Harvesting Suggestions for Orchard Foremen", It covers five things that orchard foremen should show the pickers and nine things that they should tell them,

"Be A Better Apple Picker" is the title of special circular no, 2U6, This circular stresses seven harvesting prac- tices the app]e picker should follow in order to pick apples easier, faster and better.

Copies of these two special circulars may be obtsiined at your County Extension Offices

- ««-ED,

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Ifeirvestlng Suggestions for the Owner

Special circulars no» 2ii5 and 2ii6 give harvesting sug- gestions to the orchard foremen and the apple pickers. liiThat about suggestions for the owner? Here are a few worthwhile harvesting suggestions for the groweri

1, Make contacts for obtaining labor before the harvest season,

2, Inventory all harvesting equipment well in ad- vance of harvest,

3, Take time to show pickers how to pick properly and avoid bruising*

ho Provide good harvesting supervision, 5I. Provide picking buckets and ladders of good design,

6, Keep harvesting equipment in good repair,

7, Provide plenty of empty containers and picking equipment conveniently located,

8, Provide adequate toilet facilities,

9t Provide plenty of cool and conveniently located drinking water,

10, Explain carefully the system of paying and keep- ing track of the number of bushels picked,

11, Take time to analyse the handling methods from tree to storage in order to increase efficiency and storage life of the fruit,

—ED. REDUCE UBOR OF LOADING APPLES ON TRAILJES^ ^'"-'"^ ' ■^.

A study was conducted in tt© state of V/ashington to accumulate information on methods and costs of loading and moving apples from orchard to the storage §nd and the packing plants, |Si;ich a study vas of value because this operation is a direct cost to the grower and handling methods have a n important bearing on how quickly apples can be moved into cold storage.

One phase of the research involved a time and labor study of three methods of loading boxes on orchard trailers • Since there is great variability in time of driving and preparation' to pick up boxes, only the actual operation of load- ing boxes was considered.

Method A — The most common rrethod (A) of loading trailers uses one -vrorker on the ground to lift boxes f rom/^5®?ree, stacking" them in rows on the trailer bed. It is frequently necessary for this workman to carry the boxes several steps in this opera- tion. Another worker stands on the tra. ler bed and picks up the boxes and places them into hauling position. The amount of time required to load the trailer is 3»0ii man hours per 1,000 boxes.

Method B - A variation of the common method (A) is for the man on the trailer plat- form to stack the center rows on the trailer and then move to the ground, where he

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helps the other worker to finish loading c This niethod (B) saved more than one-sixth of the work requirements per 1,000 boxes and reduced the time to load the traler by approximately one-fourth of an hour per 1,000 boxes.

Method C - Ifethod (C) eliminates the man standing on the ti-ailer platform. This was accomplished by placing hardwood skids across the trailer bed #iich enable the worker to push the stacks of boxes tovrard the center of the trailer after building a stack of the desired height on the edge of the trailer platform. Thereby, the whole load can be handled from the ground.

Method (C) saved 39 percent of the loading labor required by the conimou method (A) and reduced the elapsed time to load a trailer by nearly UO pei'cent.

Comparison of the Three Methods

The results of the study showed that even with the slight variation of methods (A) and (B), it would pay to instruct the man on the trailer to stack the center row of boxes and then help the other worker to finish the load from the ground. Method (C) reduced costs considerably as a result of man hours savede In addition, it may allow the use of a smaller crew because one man can do all the loading and hauling of fruit to the storage. In large orchards the saving in total time may reduce the amount of hauling eq\iipme;it necessary. The difference in the capital cost of equipment for methods (A), (B), and (C) is negligible. The cost of the hardwood strips may be off -set by less wear on the traler platform,

— ViT.J.Lord

SEEN AM) HEARD IN THE FIELD

Powdery Mildew - The author had the opportunity to go on the Hampshire County Fruit Tour to Columbia and Duchess counties in New York, One of the highlights of the program was the visit to Albei-t Cole's farm in Red Hook, where we saw some of Dr. Palmiter's fungicide test blocks for powdery mildew control on Jonathan apples,

Apple powdery mildew always has been a serious disease of apples west of the Rocky Mountains but has not been so prevelant in the East, Drc Palmiter stated that it has become a serious problem in some of the New York orchards, particularly in the western part of the state.

The mild winters and the use of organic fungicides were consider- ed tvro of the main reasons for the increase of powdery mildeiT in the New York orchards. The organic fungicides now being used do not control the disease and the mild winters have been f avorable for the over-wintering of the fungus threads. It was evident in the test blocks that sulfur controlled the mildew while the organic fungioides were ineffective.

The powdery mildew was found on the under side of the leaves on the terminal growth. The affected leaves were crinkled and curled, and the under side of the leaf covered -with grayish or T/hite felt-like patches© In some instances the fungus patches covered the entire under surface of the leaf and the affected foliage v;as hard and bcittle. In addition to the grayish or vfhitish patches, small black patches of winter spores on the af- fected leaf petiole also were noted. The fungus threads of the mildevj-

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penetrate and over-winter in the terminal buds and in the tissue of the younger turigs , In the spring, these are the source of primary infection,

"The chief loss frow the fungus results from its attack on the foliage which, in severe cases, so devitalizes the tree that it fails to produce fruit buds and causes a crop failure in the succeeding season,"

Although powdery mildew has been reported in New York and Connec- ticut, at present it has not been found in Massachusetts,

Pint or Quart Baskets for Blueberries? - "Blueberries packaged in quart baskets veil sell better than those in pints. Baskets of blueberries without cellopliane on them sell better than those that are covered," These statements were made by a blueberry grower at a small f ruits twilight meet- ing held on his farm. This grower thought the reason for the preference of blueberries not covered with cellophane was because customers on many occa- sions have been disappointed with farm products packaged in cellophane or polyethylene.

On the other hand, another grower uses pint berry boxes exclu- sively. The blueberries are sized into three grades v/ith the best grade sold in plastic boxes with a plastic cover. However, all three grades of fruit are sold in baskets either covered with cellophane or a plastic top. The grower commented that with plastic berry boxes, which are latticed, the customer can see berries other than those ontopo With these boxes, the customer can be sure of the fruit quality throughout the package,

A third grovrer puts blueberries in quart baskets for roadside stand sales while those going to stores are put in pints. He felt that in stores the public is accustomed to buying pint boxes of blueberries.

The facts stated above show that no one container for blueberries can be considered best from the standpoint of size orlype. Just because a certain type of package is preferred in one locality does not necessarily mean it is to be preferred in others. The grovrer who operates a roadside stand has an opportunity to determine what is best for his particular sit- uation. In order to sell fruit not only must it be of high quality, but it must be packaged to meet the desires of the purchasing public,

—W.J, Lord

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NOTES ON VARIETIES - BRAMBLES

Among the bramble varieties that have been tested at the University, the follow- ing deserve or provoke cominent at this time:

Bailey blackberry. Again this year, we have been very favorably impressed with the large size, sweet flavor and good production of this new variety. It is so far ahead of Hedrick, another new one from New York, that there is no comparison.

Ebony King blackberry. This new variety which was obtained from a Idchigan small fruits nursery has turned out to be a mixture of two different things, A part of the plants are very similar, if not identical with, Eldorado vhile the rest bear a very small, imperfect fruit which is absolutely worthless.

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■ " '■ , ., '7 ■"■■.■■■■"■ •■■-»>■■- . .

September red raspberry, this variety was outstanding for its early summer crop this year - as early as Sunrise with larger, better berries and fully as good production, Ofcourse, September is also the best fall cropper for this area,

Taylor red raspberry, Tliree successive plantings of Taylor have been killed by virus disease within about five years after planting in our trials. However, in isolated spots there are some fine plantings of this variety in the hills of Franklin and ViTorcester counties. Experience here and in other parts of the state in- dicates that only under conditions of good isolation and fairly high altitude, is thi^ variety likely to be worth planting,

Tweed red raspberry. This is an early variety from Canada » Earliness is its only virtue ; its fruit is distinctly inferior to September and Gatineau in size, ^ flavor and attractiveness »

Antietam red raspberry. This is a recent introduction from Maryland which ripens in early mid-season, has fairly good color and size and is rather firmo How- ever, the berries are rather irreguiar and are very inferior in flavor. It has no place in Massachusetts where better varieties can be groim,

— A, P, French

lill-XS^-Lose Some_Trees_To Mice_This Year? _^ _„

The amount of serious damage to fruit trees by orchard mice this coming winter is going to depend on the action you take during the next two months. It has been demonstrated time and time again that an orchard mouse control program pays off. Occasionally a fruit grower will neglect to eliminate his mouse population in one season and will suffer no damages. He may then feel that maybe these mice are not as dangerous as they are made out to be. As a result he may drop his baiting program the following year also. So what happens? Unless he is endowed with a greater-than- average supply of good fortune, more than you and I, he is hit and hit hard by the little rodents.

This same logic can be applied to a slipshod, inefficient, baiting programo If he gets away with it once, he is tempted to