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FRUIT NOTES
JULT 1935 - NOVEMBER 19U9
Extension Service
University of Massachusetts
T943
^^b
(Set No. 2)
FRUIT NOTES
1936 - 194.9 (inclusive)
(ComD.iled by V. H. Thies, Extension Horticulturist)
Since 1936, this periodical has been issued by the Extension
Service as a means of informing Massachusetts fruit growers on
matter of current interest. Both tree fruits and small fruits
have been included. The first mimeographed issue in March, 1936
was preceded by carbon copies of similar material mailed from
time to time to the Coimty Extension offices. (Two of these releases,
July and August 1935, are here included).
It has been our purpose through the years to cover a wide
variety of items and to have the write-ups relatively brief.
Considerable attention has been given to abstracting Experiment
Station reports and to the presentation of timely information. A
casual survey of this material, month by month, will provide the
reader with a running account of the various problems confronting
the fruit grower in years past and the suggested solutions.
For various reasons, there are quite a number of missing
issues in this bound volime. In several of the months no issue
was prepared. In others, a demand for the extra copies exhausted
the supply. The missing issues are as follows:
1936 (Jan., Feb., March, April, July, Aug., Nov., Dec);
1937 (Aug., Sept., Oct.); 1939 (Oct.); 19A3 (Aug.); 1946 (Feb.,
Nov.,);194-7 (Jan., Majs June, Sept.,); 194-3 (Jan., Mar., May, Sept.,);
1949 (Jan., JC^^, June, Sept, Dec.,).
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January 18, 1945
Prepared by the Fruit Prograiii Coixiitt^e
of the Extension Service
T/T. H. Thies, Extension Horticulturist
Contents
Fertilizers Tor 194o.
Cold Injury to Peaches.
Peach Pruning
Do you Know
Suriiiary of Apples Purchased by A. a. A.
Hagnesiua Deficiency
Citrus Fertilizer Pro^ran
Changes in the 194o Apple Spray Chart
FERTILIZERS FOR 1945.
The following list of substitute grades of fertilizers has been an-
nounced for 1943:
Old Grades
(1) '(Tirades of 2^ J or less N. to be replaced by
(2) Grades of 3)j and 4$o II. to be replaced by
(3) Grades of 5'/: or nore IJ. to be replaced by
1943 Gradjes
"'0-9-'f7~
0-14-14
0-2_0-20 _
3-12-0
■5-10-10
5-12-l_5 _
" 4-9'-7
4-10-10
4-12-4
In addition to these grades a 3-8-7 Victory Garden fertilizer contain-
ing 2-y=5o organic and tj^o oher.iicalEis available for use on Hone or Victory Gardens.
Two other grades, 5-3-5 and 6-3-6 i.ill be available for tobacco growers.
Iss'ied by the Extension Service in furtherance of Acts of I'a;.' S and Jime 30 » 191^»
Willard A. I-Janson, director, Massachusetts State Colle£;e, United States Depart-
ment of Agricvlture, a:id County Extension Services cooperating.
-2-
COLD I NJURY TO PEACHES
The official v/eather bureau station at Amherst recjrrted a minimum
teinperature of -15"f. during the nights of both December 20 and 21. A minimum
thermometer in one of the College peach orchards registered -17 F. on the 20th
and -19'-*F. on the 21st. As a result, fruit buds on all but the most hardy var-
ieties were completely killed. On such hardy varieties as Oriole, ilarigold,
Greensboro, and Buttercup there are probably less than b^j of live buds, in
nost cases only a very fev;, scattered over the tree. Signs are also develop-
ing that there may be considerable wood injury.
ien over the state, information irom peacn grov/ers
3ir\jrchards would be welcome. It is suggested that I
jareffil survey of the condition of the fruit buds and m
Lt buds should be sectioned on shoots and short spur- |
Not enough reports are available to determine how extensive the in-
jury to peach trees has been over the state. Information from peach grov/ers
about the condition of the
each peach grower make a a
wood in his orchard. Fruit buds should be sectioned on shoots and short spur-
like grovrths, in the tops, and around the bottoms of the trees. Also enough
shoots and branches should be cut to determine the extent of any wood injury. A
generous sample of trees v;ell scattered over the orchard should be checked.
Such a check-up follov;ing v/inter injury is particularly important before prun-
ing is started because the kind and amount of pruning v;ill be determined large-
ly by the extent and severity of the injury found.
Any grower v;ho wishes to have a sample of peach buds checked for him,
may send a sample of shoots and spurs to the Pomology Department, French Hall,
M. S. C, This kind of a check-up is necessarily limited and therefore not so
good as one made by the grower himself right in the orchard.
J. S, Bailey
PEACH PRUNING
It is time to be thinking about peach pruning. Under normal condi-
tions, it \;ould be advisable to leave the peach pruning until just as late in
the spring as possible and then rush it through. By doing this, any vdnter in-
jury is given as much chance as possible to show up. Then the kind and amount
of pruning can be adjusted to the extent and severity of winter injury.
Because of the labor shortage, it is going to take careful planning
to delay the peach pruning without delaying it too much. Also that check up of
the orchard condition (see Cold Injury to Peaches) bociimes even more important.
If injury to the wood is severe, the trees will probably recover much better,
with no pruning. Thus much labor can be saved. If the fruit buds are all kill-
ed but the vj-ood is not injured, it is a good time to lov;er the trees by cutting
back the tops. This can be done by a fevi large cuts, omitting detailed pruning,
thus saving labor. If there are a fev live buds on th-s tree, the pruning should
be light to save as much as possible of v;hat will be a small crop anyway.
J, Li. Bailey
The time has come ivhen a boatload of food is just as necessary as
a boatload of men or munitions. A carload of food produced in Massachusetts
releases for military purposes a carload produced elsewhere.
■M0 ^7S "\J
\^ \t ^ _.
That food prodviction in Great Britain has increased about 50;o since
the VvTar began? This increase has been attained in spite of the fact that
practically all able bodiediiEn of draft age have been taken into the armed
forces.
That about 13;,^ o! our 1942 food production was used for nilitar^/ and
Lend-Lease purposes? About a year ajo it vjas thought that only 3 or 9Ja would
go into those channels.
That at least l/4 of all the food produced in the U. S. in 1945 will
be used to feed our soldiers and allies? Estinates for 5 comi-aodities are as
follows; Red meats, l/4; lard, l/3 ; eggs, l/o ; dairy products, l/cJ; canned
fruits and vegetables, l/2.
That about l/3 of the people in the United States are so situated
tiiat they could be more or less self supporting? In other words, they could
produce a large proportion of the food needed for home consumption.
That the last 10)j increase in national food production should and
can be obtained by producing for home use? Llost farms can make a definite con-
tribution to the food production program by having a garden, a few hens and
one or more meat producing animals.
That if all of the new farm machinery available in 1943 could be dis-
tributed to best advantage and used efficiently, it would account for only 2jb,
of the needed food production? The other 98^'o must be produced by machinery
now in use.
That the manufacture of power sprayers in 1943 is limited to Z-d)o of
that in 1940-41? It is reported that sprayer manufacturers v/ho have 90/j of the
materials on hand will be permitted to purchase the other 10> to complete the
manufacture of spraying equipment. There is raore need this year than ever for
completely overhauling present equipment, replacing all needed repair parts.
Dealers in spraying equipment report many orders on hand with certain replace-
ment parts very scarce.
That 24 of the 3070 counties in the U. S. (less than .8 of If.) used
12;;o of all fertilizers put on the land in a recent year? Aroostook County,
Maine, used the most, 111,446 tons spread by 487u fanners.
-4-
That the 26,000,000 tons of manure produced annually on Kev/ York
farms carry 12 times as much nitrogen as v;as sold in commercial fertilizers in
that state in 1940? Yfith tremendous quantities of nitrogen needed in making
munitions, it is our patriotic duty to conserve farm manures and utilize them
to best advantage in the food production program.
That it is the present policy of the Federal Government to support
the prices of agricultural products at a sufficiently high level to encourage
the production of those crops necessary for maintaining the food supply of our
armed forces, allies, and our people on the home front? These crops include
meat animals, oil producing crops, and the feed crops required to maintain an
increased production of livest -^ck products.
That fruit production in the United States in 1942 was the largest
on record? ¥('ith the exception of prunes and apricots, the 1942 crop of all
major fruits was above the 10-year average. The coiTimercial apple crop in the
United States amounted to 127,655,000 bushels compared with 122,256,000 bushels
in 1941.
That packing boxes and crates made in the United States in 1942 used
9,000,000,000 board feet of lumber and 200,000 tons of steel? In the State of
Washington 110,000,000 board feet of luiaber were required to make boxes to ship
the State's 27,500,000 bushel crop of apples.
That the European red mite, v.'hlch caused so much bronzing of apple
foliage in Massachusetts last siiimier is neither a chewing, nor a sucking insect?
In fact it isn't even an insect, having 8 legs instead of 6. The so-called
spider mites, according to 1'.. D. \Tnitcomb, v;ound the surface of the leaf and
lap up the sap \;hich emerges. They can feed on liquids, only, but do not have
a hollov; beak such as aphids thr )ugh which the sap can be pumped. Instead,
they have small, sharp appendages with which they pierce the tissue of the leaf.
That erosion has already ruined about 14^j of the land surface in the
United States? At least 75;^ of our cultivated area has a sufficient degree of
slope to b'i classified as definitely subject to erosion. L. Southwick
That yield per acre is tremendously important in successful orchards
today? In a IiiclTi"^n~t'u"d;7Tt was found that a group of "successful" grov/ers
attained an average annual yield of apples amounting to 317 bushels per acre,
while a group rated as "unsuccessful," attained only 161 bushels per acre over
a 0-year period. It is not enough to produce good apples. In these times,
growers must produce good crops of good apj)les. L. S,
That from 25 to 55 million pounds of avocados are consumed arjiually
in the U. S.? Of this amount California produces about 55>b, Florida 15/a, and
Cuba 30^j. Although this fruit is an important item in the daily diet of Cen-
tral America and adjacent territory, it has achieved fame in the U. S, mostly
as a salad fruit. L. S.
That a coffee substitute made from apples, dried, roasted, and ground,
has been introduced in Canada? This nevf product sells for much less than
coffee and is reported to be quite popular.
That the flesh of aii apple breaks down in cookin^j only if an acid
is present? A sv/eet apple, lacking, the acid of a tart apple, retains its
firroness and shape when cut into slices and cooked. For this reason the Deli-
cious is less suited for apple sauce than the Baldv.dn.
That there are aBoat 23,000,000 men in the U. 3. between the ages of
18 and 38? Of this number it is estimated that 8,000,000 will be physically-
disqualified for military service. Of the remaining 15,000,000 about 10,000,000
will probably be in the armed forces by the end of 1943.
That the American Forestry Association has records of five tree species
of v/nich one or more individuals tovjer at least 200 feet? Tallest trees on
record for the five species are: HedVf'ood, 300; Sequoia, 272; Douglas Fir, 221;
Red Gum, 200; 3ugar Pine, 200, Alaska has a Sitka Spruce wliich measures 204
feet.
That the Agricultural Marketing Administration purchased 2 75,048
bushels of apples in Lias sac hu setts last fall? Purchases involved mainly 3 var-
ieties,- Baldwin (177,272 bu.), Mcintosh (55,408 bu.) and Cortland (21,779 bu.).
Nearly 8,000 bushels each of Delicious and Wealthy and smaller quantities of
Sta^.iian, ?l. I. Grecnin^_. , Rome, Viagener, and Snow i.-ere also sold through the A.
M. A. Six counties participated in the program (Middlesex, T.'orcester, FraiUclin,
Hampshire, Essex, and Hampden) v/ith sales ranging from 173,653 to 2,745 bushels.
Sb"IIARY OF FFJiS'd M'PUiS PIJIiCIL'iSED IN 1942 BY THE AGRICULTUML
I.IARIvETING ADMIi:iST?Ji.TION III lIASSJlCirJSETTS
(All Purchases on U. 3. No. 1-2 l/4 Inch liin. Basis. Figures Represent Bushels)
Chauncey LI. Rand, Purchase Representative of the Agricultural Marketing Ad-
ministration in Boston, submits the following sum;iary of the apple purchase
program. Quoting from his letter of January 11, "These apples were shipped
to various State Commodity Distribution outlets for school lunch programs,
institutions, and direct relief. Due to limited outlets, 50,526 bushels
went into storage to be used later, chiefly in scliool lunch programs."
Totals by
Lliddlesex VIorcester Franklin Hampshire Essex Hampden Varieties
Baldvifin
108,827
"34'
,640
12
,001
"10
,541
. 8,777
2,486
177,272
Iilc Int 1 sh
40,209
7
,827
4
,275
292
805
--
53,408
Cortland
13,429
2
,633
2
,235
3
,173
--
259
21,779
\7ealthy
6,123
995
532
215
--
7,865
Delicious
4,780
2
,136
407
511
--
—
7,834
Sta;;,'man
3,100
12
100
--
--
—
3,212
R. I. Grei
ening 490
459
205
270
--
--
1,424
Roiiie
1,185
12
--
--
--
--
1,197
Vfagener
510
231
164
133
8
--
1,046
Snow
—
11
—
—
—
—
11
Totals by
Counties 178,653 49,006 19,919 15,135 9,590 2,745 275,048
An elderly farmer v;as heard to remark at a recent Food Production
meeting, "Older men and women and children have always produced food in time
-6-
MAGHESI UM D EFICIEIJCY
Our experimental data shows that potash fertilization of apple trees
may inrluce magnesiuia deficiency symptoms. This is one more possible explanation
for the recent increase in the prevalence and severity of this trouble in com-
norcial orchards in this state. It is suggested that in orchards v/here s^Tiip-
toms of magnesium deficiency have been observed, the use of potassiuia in the
fertilizer program be discontinued, at least temporarily,
ITliere soils are very acid (and most i^Ias sac hu setts orchard soils are),
v/G suggest the application of high-magnesiun limestone. The magnesiujn in lime-
stone is only slov/ly available. Tlie use of some soluble compound such as mag-
nesium sulfate (Epsom Salts) probably v/ill bo more quickly effective in correct-
ing magnesium deficiency, though the tir.io required may be two or more years.
Experiments along this line are under\/ay and it is hoped tiiat recomiiiendations
based on results ■•>£ this i/ork can be made vdthin a reasonable time.
L. Southwick
C ITRUS FERTILIZER PROGR AI'J
A successful citrus fertilizer program consisting of three separate
applications per year is outlined in a recent armual report of the Florida
Agricultural Experiment Station. The analysis of each application is as
follows: Nitrogen - 3^o, phosphoric acid - 6'}o, potash - 8%, magnesium oxide -
2%, manganese oxide - 1%, copper oxide - l/2^^. Dolomite is used to maintain
the soil at pH 5.5 to 6.0, and copper-zinc sprays are applied. Thus a complete
fertilizer, instead of the usual N-P-K designation, looks like this: li-P-K-Mg-
Ivln-Cu-Zn. There is also some evidence of isolated cases of deficiency of iron
and boron. Other s;\Taptoms of malnutrition have occurred but have not been diag-
nosed.
ilo such complicated fertilizer program is required for orchards in
L'lassachusetts . Ilov/ever, it is becoming increasingly evident that the program
may become more inclusive as time goes on. The recent diagnosis of magnesium
deficiency in apples and the previous findings of boron shortage, point the way
toward a more balanced and hence inclusive fertilizer program for Massachusetts
°^"°'^^^^^' L. Southwick
CjiAiraEs^_ra jnn^_i943_ apple spray chart
The more important changes in the newly revised apple spray chart
for 1943 are as follov/s: (1) Lead arsenate is recoi.imended in only one of the
pre-blossom sprays. Previously it was included in botii the pre-pink and the
pink sprays. (2) Lime sulfur no longer appears among the recommended materials.
Instead, it appears as a substitute for wettable sulfur in one of the Notes.
Its use under certain weather c 'Uditions may occasionally be advisable. (o)
A high calcium lime appears in the list of materials for the first time. Pre-
viously the use of lime was discussed in one of the Notes. (4) As a means of
controlling a severe outbreak of red iiite, ^ne of the DIT materials is recom-
mended as an emergency application.
February 18, 1943
Prepared by the Fruit Program Cormittee
of the Extension Service
W. H. Thies, Extension Horticulturist
Contents
Low Temperatures and Possible Injury to Trees
Good Grapes from Your Tangled Vine
Do You Knov/?
Russeting of Golden Delicious
Relation Betv/een Date of Bloom and Date of Harvest
Planning for the New Orchard
Lime and Manure
I.Iore About Cold Injury to Peaches
Pruning Vfinter Injured Peach Trees
Order Bees Early
Salvage and Re-use of Fruit & Vegetable Containers
The Victory Tax
La? T E MPERATURES AHD POSSIBLE INJURY TO TREES
The official temperature in Amherst on Tuesday, February 16 (-23° F.)
was the third lov/est on record. Other sections of the State report unofficial
temperatures as low as -40°. The second lowest in Amherst was -2Zq on Jan-
uary 24, 1907 and the lowest was -26 on January 5, 1904. The lowest temper-
ature recorded during the "cold winter" of 1933-34, when considerable injury
to fruit trees occurred, was -22° on February 9, 1934. Have you examined
your Baldwin trees or your peach trees for possible v;inter injury? Sone ob-
servations concerning cold weather effects on fruittrees, and wartime recom-
mendations, will be included in the March issue of Fruit Notes.
For v;hat avail
The plough or sail
Or land or life, -
If freedom fail?
■-Ralph Vj'aldo Emerson
Issued by the Extension Service in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June
30, 1914, V/'illard A. Munson, director, Massachusetts State College, United
States Department of Agriculture, and County Extension Services cooperating.
-2-
GOOD GRAPES FROM YOUR TAIIGLED VIIJE
Have you a problem grape vine? With its sprawling tangle of growth,
it may look hopeless. Yet you may find the magic wand of productiveness
within easy reach. An hour's work with the pruning shears, a few trellis
repairs and tvro or three well-timed sprays or dusts will vrork wonders. Lus-
cious grapes for the home table are your revrard next September if you pay
attention to three or four essentials.
Suitable Supports are Necessary . If your vine is already sup-
ported by a trellis" or arbor', your job is partly done. It is quite impos-
sible to keep a grape vine productive if it must attach itself to a tree or
building, or if it lies on the ground. Two horizontal wires, about three
and five feet above the ground, are quite ideal. An arbor is also satis-
factory if the vine is well pruned each year. Whatever the support, a
tangled vine can best be pruned by first cutting it loose and laying it
on the tjround.
Annual Pruning a Vital Factor . Fruit buds are found only on last
year's growtlu Prunlng~'re'duces "the number of these fruit buds to a practical
limit, eliminates much of the older v;ood and stimulates nevr fruiting wood for
next year. A vine which has 500 fruit buds v;ill bear larger clusters if at
least 80^J are removed in the pruning process. This is best done, not by
trimming off the tips, but by selecting a few grov^ths of the previous season
(characterized by their lighter brown color) and by cutting the rest of the
vine away. Don't be afraid to make an occasional large cut in order to re-
move an older portion of the vine. What vie retain is more important than
what we cut off. Thin the vine heavily instead of "giving it a haircut."
TOien completely pruned it will look discouragingly thin. An amateur might
consider it ruined. The real benefit from pruning, however, is seen when
we compare the crop of grapes on well pruned and unpruned vines. The import-
ance of thorough, annual pruning can scarcely be over- stressed. If pruning
is properly done, in March, the current season's crop is profoundly affected,
and the vine will develop good fruiting v;ood for the next season.
A Third Esse ntial , - Pest Control . Fev/ vines are highly successful
without some attention" 'to disea'se~and insect control. The most common dis-
ease of grapes in Massachusetts is Black Rot which causes the grapes to turn
brown in midsummer. Later, they turn black and dry up, resembling raisins.
Copper sprays or dusts will control this disease, powdered Bordeaux or
copper-lime dust may be obtained from most dealers in spray materials. If
rose bugs are numerous, special control measures are needed.
Fertili zation Not Always Needed. Pruning is generally more essen-
tial than fertilizing becaiTse the average^ vine growing in a good soil is al-
ready sufficiently vigorous. Pruning further invigorates the remaining parts
of the vine. If stimulation is needed, a garden fertilizer, barnyard manure,
clean cultivation, or mulching are recommended. A mature grapevine, hovjever
badly neglected, offers promise of a crop next September, while a new vine
set this spring, will require three to five years to come into bearing.
-3-
That about 1,600,000 farm workers in the U. S. left the farm during
1942? Of this nunber 331,000 v/ere operators and managers and 1,234,000 were
family workers and year-round hired workers. Industry took 921,000 and the
armed forces 694,000.
That certain materials applied to pruning v/ounds do more harm than
good? Shellac is satisfactory. So is v/hite lead paint. Bordeaux paste is
very efficient in preventing v/ood rot but lacks permanency. Compounds con-
taining creosote tend to injure the cambiujn, and therefore retard healing.
That fewer apples v/ere shipped to the Boston market from out of state
up to January than in any year on record? The total volume v/as at least
10^ more than last year and was divided approxLmately as follov^s: hone grown
apples, 650,000 bushels and shipped-in apples, 125,000 bushels.
That wood ashes are an excellent source of potassium and lime? Chem-
ical analyses show that they contain approximately 5% potash, 2;. phosphoric
acid and an acid neutralizing equivalent aiaounting to 66^o of a high grade
agricultural limestone.
. That the average water content of apples is 84.1^and that the average
freezing point is 28,4° F.? For long storage life, the ideal storage temper-
ature is 51 to 32° F., and relative humidity at least 85 to 88^-o. The harvested
apple is a living organism with a more or less definite span of life. If it
"lives too fast," either before or after picking, the time it remains in good
eating condition is shortened proportionately.
That fruits develop considerable heat during the ripening process?
Apples held at 32° F., generate about u60 b.t.u. per ton per day (a b.t.u.
is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water
one degree F.). At 85° F. about 6600 b.t.u. 's per ton per day are generated.
For Bartlett pears, the difference in heat generated at the tvio temperatures
is even greater. This so-called heat of respiration is a direct measure of
the rate of ripening.
That apples are a more expensive crop to grov; and market in dried
form than either plums and grapes? Apples must be dried artificially.
Raisins and prunes are the result of drying in the sun. This is one reason
why raisins can be produced for as little as 5/ per pound.
That 80^ of the 12 million bushel apple crop in VJenatchee County,
Washington was harvested last fall by local people? Schools opened three
weeks early to permit closing during the harvest season. Stores closed part
-4-
of the week and many local people who had not handled apples previously, in-
cluding vfives of business men, did their share in picking and packing the
"bumper crop. In the same way, ITev; England apple growers must utilize to the
fullest extent all nearby labor resources instead of hoping for an influx
of migratory labor.
That as many as 450 European red mite have been counted on a single
leaf? In one orchard the average on 100 leaves was 225 per leaf. The nev;
DN material was tried in New England last summer by six investigators in six
different localities. In a series of 22 tests the average reduction in num-
ber of mites amounted to 97^0.
That the root of a tree is more spongy in texture and lighter in
weight than a branch largely because it has relatively more vessels and
fewer fibers? The root functions mainly as a conductor of materials in
solution. The branch must also be strong enough to withstand high winds
and support a heavy crop of fruit.
That February is an ideal time to (1) overhaul farm machinery, (2)
make further progress in pruning and removal of unv;anted trees, and (3) order
fertilizers, seeds, and other supplies?
That the large average size of apples in Massachusetts last fall vms
not entirely due to abnormally heavy rainfall during the growing season? A
study of daily weather records up to harvest time indicates a fairly good dis-
tribution but not an exce.ssive amount of rainfall. At the same time vreather
conditions preceding Mcintosh harvest v;ere apparently highly favorable for
fruit sv;elling. Higher than normal humidity and more hours of sunshine pre-
vious to harvest time may have influenced the size of fruit. About 70^3 of
the Mcintosh crop in storage is reported to be 3 inches in diameter or larger.
That apples and field mice are common items of food for foxes? In a
study of the food habits of 289 red and gray foxes taken during the winter
season in New England, it was found that 128 (M.2%) had eaten ap-ples, while
83 (28.6^) had eaten field mice. These two items of food v;ere exceeded in
popularity only by cottontail rabbits. It was found that 173 (59.8^o) had
eaten rabbits.
That the use of fresh, native grown fruits and vegetables in Massa-
chusetts this year has released more than 35,000 refrigerator cars which
othenvise v/ould have been required to haul this class of food products into
this area?
I That raw apple is sometimes beneficial in the diet of an infant? In
the Mich. State Hort. Soc. Rept. (1939) v/e find this statement, "Investiga-
tions have found the rav/ apple diet successful v;ith infants less than 6 months
of age."
That it requires more than 3 times as many peaches of 1 3/4 to 2 inch
diameterto weigh 50 lbs., than of 2 3/4 to 3 inch diamoter? Of the smaller
size, 340 peaches are required, and of the larger size only 110.
(Note: Any large orchard owner interested in an unusually
v/ell qualified manager, novir available, should comiriunicate
with H. A. Rollins, Extension Horticulturist, University
of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.)
-5-
RUSSETIIIG JF GOLDEN DELICI OUS
The tendency of fruit of the Golden Delicious apple to russet is
one of the weaknesses of the variety. It makes the fruit less attractive
and is related to its tendency to shrivel in storage. Russeting seems to be
worse in the humid East than it is in the less humid or semi-arid regions
in the V/est. From Maine comes a suggestion that there may be another factor
involved. Observing differences in individual trees, scions from high russet-
trees v/ere grafted into trees with low russeting and vice versa. Under Maine
conditions there seemed to be a persistency in the new location, of the ten-
dency to russet. If yau have any individual Golden Delicious trees that seem
especially free from russet, the writer would be glad to know about it. It
would do no harm to propagate from such trees. j, j{. shaw
RELATION BECTffiEN DATE OF BLOO M MD DATE OF HARVEST
A recent discussion of the time of ripening of fruit varieties
advances the idea that the date of full bloom gives a basis of calculating
the date of harvest. The data for some of our principal varieties are as
follows;
Days from Bloom to Harvest
Shortest Longest Average
Baldwin 134 138 135
Cortland 125 130 128
Delicious- 129 134 132
Early Mcintosh 88 94 90
Golden Delicious l32 140 138
Gravanstein 110 120 114
Mcintosh 124 129 127
Northern Spy 138 144 143
V;ealthy 103 116 109
This means that Baldwin, for example, will be ready to pick about
135 days after full bloom. Doubtless summer temperatures and cultural con-
ditions modify this interval; a season warmer than usual v>rill shorten this
period and high nitrogen v;ill lengthen it. These data are for Geneva, Nev/
York. The interval may differ somewhat for Massachusetts and would not be
exactly the same for different parts of the State. Hoivever, it seems worth
v/hile for a fruit grower to note the date of full bloom and consider it in
planning the date of harvest. j, Yi. Shaw
PLANNING FOR THE NIT.T ORCIiARD
If you are planning to set a new orchard this spring, the first
thing to do is to see that the site and soil are suitable. Since this is
a fairly long-time investment that you are about to make, these two points
are highly important. Second, why not consider contour planting of the
orchard?
There are several possible advantages of contour planting of or-
chards and, frankly, one or more disadvantages. Among the advantages are
-6-
the holding of soil, fertilizer, and moisture, and the saving of tractor
fuel. A disadvantage is a restriction in the movement of heavy implements
through the orchard, which can be only on the contour or level and not up
and down the slope. But this restriction frequently develops in orchards
on sloping land after a number of years whether or not they were planted on
the exact contour. It is not uncommon to see old orchards in which crude
bench terraces have developed, which practically prohibit movement of ve-
hicles and implements up and dovm the slope. Then, why not plant on the
contour and have these terraces develop in the right v/ay?
The possible saving of soil and fertilizer on cultivated sloping
land is obvious. But it is frequently pointed out that orchards, especially
apple orchards, are nov; kept in sod and therefore would not benefit from
contour planting. However, young apple orchards are often cultivated during
the first fev; years of their development, and during that period they stand
to benefit from the conservation of soil, fertilizer, and moisture, and later
when in permanent sod they may benefit from the saving of moisture and fer-
tilizer. In about one out of every three or four years additional soil
moisture will improve the crop. There is a terraced peach orchard at the
Massachusetts State College. V/ithin a dry spell in the summer of 1940 the
soil in this orchard was found to contain a little more than tv/ice as much
moisture as was found in adjoining land which was not terraced. Practically
all the rain that fell during the dry spell cajne in flash shovrers and was
held on the terraced slope, whereas mueh of it ran off the non-terraced slope.
Contour planting of orchards is comparatively simple and easy.
If interested in this method, consult your county agent, the extension horti-
culturist, or the undersigned,
— A. B. Beaumont
L IIJE AND tlAIJUKE
"Lime and lime v/ithout manure, make both farm and farmer poor,"
is an old rural proverb that expresses a basic truth. Both materials or
their equivalents are needed to build and maintain fertility. They ere most
commonly added to the soil separately, and that is the most fool-proof method
of application, but now that farm labor is one of the biggest problems of
production the question may well be asked if these tv/o soil amendments may
not be spread together.
Some pertinent data bearing on this question have come recently
from the Vermont Experiment Station. They shov/ that ground limestone may
be mixed with both fresh and fermented cow manure with scarcely any loss
of ammonia. Caustic lime caused no loss in fresh manure, even lessened it
in some cases by delaying amnonif ication; but it did expel some ammonia from
fermented manure. Even in the latter case the authors of the report think
that the saving in time and labor may offset the loss of ammonia.
Perhaps the most important factor in saving the ammonia of manure
is moisture. At 20° C. a given volume of water \iill dissolve about 700 vol-
umes of ammonia gas. If manure is kept v/ell moistened there is little danger
of ammonia loss, but if it is allov/ed to dry, lime or no lime, the ammonia
loss may be considerable. This point emphasizes the value of plowing under
-7-
of harrowing in manure as soon as possible after applying, or of spreading
it in rainy weather. Both forms of lime, but particularly the caustic forra,
accentuate the loss of ammonia on drying. Superphosphates on the other hand,
particularly the lower grades containing 18 to 20^^ of phosphoric acid, retard
the loss of ammonia by fixation. Gj'psuin, which makes up a considerable pro-
portion of the low-analysis phosphates, chemically absorbs ammonia under
certain conditions. __;^. b. Beaumont
MORE ABOUT COL D INJURY T O PEACHES
Since the last report in Fruit Notes, a fev/ peach grov/ers have
sent in reports v/hich indicate very close to a complete crop failure in
Massachusetts. Occasionally an orchard has 5 or perhaps lO^o of the fruit
buds alive. (This statement was v/ritten before the cold spell around Feb. 16.)
Tv;o growers have reported v/ood injury. Further observations at
the College revealed only slight injury to the tops, but severe injury to
the trunks of some trees. In these injured trunks the cambium and outer
sapwood vjere brown. In a fevi, the bark also had been injured.
Since the trunks of the trees are the last part to "harden off"
in the fall, they are especially susceptible to winter injury following a
late v/arm fall, such as occurred in 1942. Last fall the trees were kept
grovdng later than usual and the "hardening off" of the trunks was delayed.
The cold spell of December 20 and 21 caught the trunks only partly "hardened
off," and injury resulted.
Peach growers will be v;ise to look for trunk injury and keep close
watch of any injured trees for they v;ill probably need special treatment later.
A small elliptical piece of bark cut from the trunk will reveal what has
happened and probably do the tree little harm. j. s. Bailey
PRUNING Y;iNTER INJURED PEACH TREES
It is becoming increasingly evident that most peach orchards vdll
have no crop this year. Therefore, in those orchards without a crop, now
is a good time to lower the tops of any trees which are becoming too tall.
Any branches which are too long and rangy should be cut back. Cutting to
a side branch in tv/o or three year old wood will reduce the tendency to
sucker. After all weak, injured and dead v/ood is removed, further thinning
should be done if necessary.
In orchards v/here there are still live fruit buds, a thorough
checkup is desirable to find out v,rhere these buds are. Then the parts
of trees, or parts of iiae orchard, which shovi signs of bearing some fruit
should be left unpruned so as not to cut off any part of the small crop.
The rest of the orchard should be given a light but thorough thinning out.
If the wood of top or trunk has been injured, a light but thorough
thinning out will induce plenty of new wood to form fruit buds for next year.
Trees which have had theirwDod severely injured had better be left unpruned.
They usually recover better that way. However, they v/ill benefit from light
fertilization and good care through the summer. j, g, Bailey
ORDSR BEES EARLY
According to the latest advice received, shippers of package bees
are experiencing some difficulty in getting necessary supplies for shipment
cases. It appears likely that the number of packages shipped will be below
normal. Beekeepers vrtio intend to use package bees are advised to order early.
Fruit growers who rely on package bees for pollination should take this ad-
vice and act on it.
It is very likely that losses of overwintered bees virill be larger
than usual. This, together with the shortage of package bees that may be
anticipated, makes it essential that arrangements for securing bees for pol-
lination be completed early.
— F. R. Shaw
SALVAGE AI JD RE-US E OF FRUIT AIJD VEGE TAB LE COMT AIMERS
General Lumber Situation. The users and suppliers of lumber in 1942
were caught in a sxjueeze because of increased demand for lumber as a result of
the larger .amounts necessary for military uses and to decreased production
which resulted from labor and equipment shortages. As a result of the in-
creased demand, the estimated consumption of lumber in 1942 went up ll^-j over
that of 1941. Also in 1942 the production of lumber failed by about 20^i to
equal consumption. The deficit v/as made up by imports and by v/ithdrav/als
from inventories. This drain upon supplies has now depleted the stocks of
lumber to about 50^b of normal. Considering the fact that the inventory re-
serve represents a v;ide variety of sizes, species, and grades, this small
stock represents a very siTiall supply for emergencies in 1943.
By exercising the severest restrictions, it is estimated that con-
sumption in 1943 can be held to a little over 31 billion board feet, which
is about 25J^ belov; the consumption of last year. Although it is possible to
reduce the lumber consuraption for certain uses during 1943 from that of the
past year, increases for other uses will be inevitable. These are chiefly
for boxes and crates used as containers for products shipped overseas.
Other military requirements, such as construction, are expected to drop.
It may be necessary to restrict civilian construction this year to about
one-half that of last year and to about one-third of that of 1941. This
restriction would eliminate all but the bare essentials of construction and
maintenance. Even with tliis restricted use, hov/ever, it is possible that
labor, equipment, tire and replacement problems may reduce the 1943 produc-
tion and imports below the requirements of these minimum essentials, and
thus make further inroads upon the already scanty lumber reserves by the
end of 1943. This makes any program for conserving lumber during the cur-
rent year of vital inporteince.
Fruit and Vegetable Containers. The total estimated minimum es-
sential requirements f oV~6n1^iners~'and~~shipping material, such as boxes,
crates, etc., has increased about 30^o for 1943 over the consumption of 1942.
Most of this increase has been for military shipments. Some materials are
being packed in v/ood containers because of the scarcity of other package
materials such as metals. Other types of supplies are- being put in wooden
packages in order to secure a more substantial contairter for overseas shipping.
i
-9-
Fruit and vegetable producers will likely be able to get along
with a slightly smaller quantity of wooden containers in 1943 than was the
case in 1942. Assuming 1942 packing practices and per-acre production, and
the 1943 goals, the total number of board feet of lumber to package the 1943
crop v;ill be about 1% less than that required in 1942. This will probably
be further reduced through the use of containers of substitute materials
and limited shipments of products in bulk. However, these adjustments can-
not be sufficient to offset possible shortages of container material and
increased container demands for military shipments, and thus avert a tight
package situation.
Used Containers. One method of supplementing the tight fruit and
vegetable container situation is by the careful salvaging and reuse of second-
hand packages. Every salvaged used container made available for reuse makes
a number of contributions to the general supply situation and the war effort.
One of these is the fact that this container may package a product which nay,
in an acute container situation, not be made available to consumers. Another,
the use of the salvaged package will release to other uses labor and equip-
ment which would be necessary to make another nev/ box or basket. In addition,
it will release such critical materials as wood and metal to be used in
other war activities. The salvaging of used containers offers real possi-
bilities. For instance, there are enough board feet of wood in 1,000 sal-
vaged apple boxes to crate an average airplane for overseas shipment. There
is enough metal in 60 wire-bound orange boxes to supply the nails and straps
for crating a jeep for overseas shipment. One thousand wire-bound citrus
boxes have about 500 pounds of metal. Thus, if a quarter of the 18 million
new wire-bound citrus boxes used each year were salvaged and reused, it
would release 2,250,000 pounds of metal to be used for such vital war activ-
ities as the making of shells, tanks, and guns. This saving also benefits
the fruit and vegetable growers as difficulties are being experienced in
securing supplies of wire and nails for packages.
Extensive work is already being done in salvaging used containers
in certain large markets. A recent survey by the Viar Production Board in-
dicates that .approximately 25^^ of all wooden fruit and vegetable containers
v;hich are shipped into Hew York City are salvaged. This varies greatly among
the various types of containers, the percentage being very high for such
packages as baskets and much lower for nailed boxes. This custom seem^s to
be general. Used or second-hand containers are more extensively used by
grov/ers in the nearby or market garden area* than in the distant producing
districts because of the difficulty and expense of shipping used containers
to distant producing centers. Thus, crates, baskets and other packages
which are shipped into the large consuming centers are salvaged and sold
to growers in the nearby producing districts. Some estimates indicate that
as much as GOJo of the vegetables grovm in the Chicago market garden area
are marketed in second-hand containers. The proportion, of course < becomes
less as the distance from the city increases, but information recently col-
lected by Cornell University indicates that grov;ers in some of the interior
counties of New York State are depending on used containers for as much as
35^ of their total package requirements.
In the larger cities used containers are collected by a number of
agencies. Farmers who live in the nearby districts collect a portion from
-10-
the retail stores direct. Jiany peddlers collect the empty containers from
retailers and restaurants. Second-hand dealers or "junkies" arrange v;ith
trash collectors to separate the containers and scrap pieces from the other
material. The largest group collecting used containers consists of chain
stores. Used package dealers buy containers from the "junkies," peddlers,
and chain stores and sort them into the various types. These dealers also
repair damaged packages and remake others into types more generally in demand.
The dealers resell these sorted and repaired packages to farmers in the nearby
districts, or to large second-hand wholesalers who may distribute them into
the market garden districts of adjacent cities or to other production centers.
The remaking of other types of containers from such packages as
orange and apple boxes has become an established business in the larger
cities. From material in these boxes, crates are made for the packing of
cabbage, beans, carrots, onions, and other vegetables. Reconditioning, as
well as remaking, is an important enterprise. Reclaimed pieces of contain-
ers, second-hand nails and wire t.re used to repair dai.iaged hampers, baskets
or covers. A second-hand v.'ire handle, a bent nail or tv/o, with a salvaged
slat, v/ill many times restore a useless damaged container to good condition.
In addition to collecting, remaking and remodeling, careful hand-
ling by all dealers all along the line to prevent needless damage is im-
portant. Many parts of potentially good containers which might be used are
thrown on fires in the markets on cold mornings* Attention to all of these
factors in regard to used containers will increase the supply of fruit and
vegetable packages and perrait the use of material, which v;ould otherwise be
required for new containers, to be used for other vital uses. Therefore,
the program which is operatiiig rather smoothly in the large cities should
be expanded and similar types should be developed in the smaller centers.
TliE VICTOR Y T.^
H. P. Gilmore of IVestboro submits the following joint ruling recently
issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Vfar Labor Board.
"(1) The paj^ent by an employer of tlie five percent Victory Tax on behalf
of his employees v.'ithout deducting it from the employees' pay is a wage or
salary increase requiring the prior approval of the Board or the Commissioner
pursuant to Executive Order No. 9250 and the Regulations of the Director of
Economic Stabilization*
"(2) On January 23, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue issued a ruling
interpreting the Revenue Act so that vrhere the National Yfar Labor Board or
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue avmrds or approves an increase in wages
or salaries retroactive to 1942, the tax need not be withheld on that portion
of the increase v/hich is applicable to v:ork performed in 1942.
"(3) Vihether the five percent tax will ultimately be collected on such
retroactive pay is a matter to which the Congress may give its attention
during the current session."
Quoting from Hr. Gilmore 's letter, "Apple growers are not required to
deduct and pay the Victory Tax, but our employees are required to pay it at
t''e end of the year."
March 24, 1943
Prepared by the Fruit Program Committee
Of the llxtension Service
VJ'. H. Thies, Extension Horticulturist
Content^'
The Fruit Grower and the Pood Production" Program
Orchards Damaged by Severe Winter Vi'eather
"Ready to Bear" Frv\it Plants
Actual Figures from a Connecticut Fruit Grower
Timely Notes on the Bee Situation
Agricultural Insecticides for 1943
Should Insecticides and Fungicides be Rationed?
Critical Situation Regarding Vfood Fibre Shipping Containers
Three Apple Boxes - Vjeste'm, Michigan, Eastern
Apple Box Requirements in the N.Yt-N.E. Area
Victory Gardens
THE FRUIT GRCHTER Alfl) THE FOOD PRODUCTION PROGRAM
Fruits are recognized as an essential part of our diet. In dried
form they are an important item of food for our armed forces abroad and for
our fighting allies. Fresh fruits, being less easily exported, contribute
in a similar way to our food needs here at home. Every good fruit grower
has reason to feel that he is making a contribution to the food production
program. This applies to the commercial fruit grower and to the producer
of fruits for home use as well,
Whatever we grow of necessary foods, near the point of consumption,
releases transportation facilities for vital use elsewhere. A carload of
good apples grovm on a hillside farm v.rithin easy trucking distance of Boston,
Issued by the Extension Service in furtherance of Acts of Hay 8 and June
30, 1914, VJillard A. Ilunson, director, Massachusetts State College, United
States Department of Agriculture, and County Extension Services cooperating.
is directly in line with our v;artime economy. It vrould be folly for the owner
of a good apple orchard to go into some other line of business and neglect the
orchard. The experienced fruit grov/er can make his greatest contribution to
the v;ar effort by taking the best possible care of his fruit planting. If
every fruit farm utilizes its resources to best advantage, there will be no
need of transporting from other producing areas, the Suits needed for home
consumption. Most of our needs along fruit lines can be supplied from the
New England area,
¥/e are constantly being reminded that American farmers must produce
more food. From the standpoint of the fruit grower, this does not mean more
bushels, without regard to grade or quality. Yj'e already have too many "cull"
apples. In the writer's opinion, our job is to produce, not more apples, but
more good apples. Vie should aim to produce aji apple crop of which at least
905,0 wTrr"grade U.S. No. 1 or higher. Apples of lower grade are of doubtful
value, even in peacetime. They become a liability in v/artime when storage
facilities, packages, labor, etc., are scarce. Ii'^e ought not to clutter up
our markets or our storages v;ith fruit fit only for feeding to livestock.
1/Vhat should be the attitude of the home gardener who is interested,
not in producing fruit for sale, but for the home table? Again it should be
pointed out that the owner of a small piece of land should concentrate first
on vegetables, and should expand to include small fruits only if garden space
and tiae are availile. Small fruits offer much more promise of success for
the backyard gardener, than tree fruits. We cannot afford to imste valuable
land, fertilizers, spray materials, etc., without reasonable assurance that
the investment will produce something of real value. The producer of fruits
for home use should consider very carefully the factors upon which success
in the hone fruit planting depends. Patriotism does not demand that we spend
time and money in trying to produce usable apples on an old tall tree, when
the same area might produce an abundance of strawberries or of vegetables
with less expense.
Massachusetts fruit growers are doing more long time planning than
ever before in order to economize on labor, materials, aaid equipment. The
food production program will be a success from both the commercial and the
home garden standpoint if we limit ourselves to those food crops v/ithin reach
of our available resources. By so doing, the fruit grovrer will make his
biggest contribution to the national food production program.
ORCHARDS DAI'JAGEU BY SEVERE WINTER VJEATHER
If a definite relationship between winter temperatures aind injury in
plant tissues were to exist, we v/ould expect heavy damage in Massachusetts or-
chards as a result of the near record cold spell around February 16. The
extent of injury, hovrever, is dependent upon the maturity of the tissues and
perhaps upon the date and duration of the damaging temperatures. The injury
in Baldwin trees this winter, although very noticeable, does not seem to be
as severe as in the winter of 1933-34. A partial killing of the sapwood is
apparently more common than damage to the bark and canibiura. As more Baldwin
trees are examined we are finding considerable brovming of the sapvrood, par-
ticularly in the lovrer limbs. In most trees, hov/ever, there seeias to be enough
-3-
sapvrood to enable the tree to outgrow the damaged condition. The pith of
the twigs and spurs, where part of the food materials are comrjionly stored,
shows rather severe daiaago. LIuch less loose bark is in evidence on apple
tree trunks than in 1934.
Not until the end of the 1943 growing season can we make anything
like a reliable estimate of the extent of damage in Massachusetts orchards.
It will probably vary tremendously in individual trees, and no one cultural
practice will facilitate recovery. Vfinter injured trees cannot be "pruned
into a normal condition." They may be better off with little or no pruning.
Mulching will be beneficial, and if the cambium, inner bark and sapwood
are reasonably intact, added nitrogen or perhaps strip cultivation will tend ,-'
to encourage the development of new tissues.
In the College orchards severe iyury has been observed on sweet
cherry trees. Some of them are apparently beyond hope of recovery. Peach
trees also show uranistakable damage, A no pruning program for such trees
is strongly recommended. Only time will tell which trees or parts of trees
are capable of making satisfactory growth and (barring another cold winter)
of bearing a crop of peaches in 1944.
"READY TO BEAR" FRUIT PLANTS
V/lienever we consider buying fruit plants which, according to the claims
of the nursery, v;ill "bear the first season," we ou^ht to ask ourselves whether
such performance is an advantage or a disadvantage. Is the apple or two, borne
the first year, of prirae importance? Should we look for^^ard to harvesting a
few strawberries a month after setting the plants? In general, is early bear-
ing conducive to success in a fruit planting?- The ansv/er is definitely "No."
All blossoms should be removed from newly set strawberry plants because
any berries borne the first season will endanger the growth of new plants for
next year. A strav/berry plant cannot mature berries and at the same time de-
velop strong runner plants, since the same rav^ materials are required for both.
Raspberry plants should be cut back to a height of 6 or 8 inches at planting
time in order to prevent fruiting, and thereby encourage a strong grovrth of new
canes. Otherv;ise, the crop of fruit will so tax the root system until mid-
summer that the growth of nev/ canes for next year vdll be retarded. Only a
severely stunted or a true dwarf apple tree can be expected to bear the first
year. If the tree does bear so early it is a sure sign that it is making very '^
scanty growth.'
With few exceptions, a fruit plant needs the first season to become
established and to make vigorous vegetative growth, instead of exhausting its
food resources in bringing fruit to maturity. If v/e focus our attention on
early bearing, and overlook the kind of growth necessary for future production,
we are horticulturally shortsighted.
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR SPRAYER. YOU IIAY HOT BE ABLE
TO REPLACE IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
•^«
ACTUAL FIGURES FROM A CONNECTICUT FRUIT GROl'ffiR
The following figures are taken from Seetsonftl Fmiit Notes, prepared
by 11. A. Rollins of the University of Connecticutj Apples grown in Connect-
icut and sold in New York City, January, 1943 -- Consumer A paid 5^ per lb,
for Utility Grade apples or at the rate of $2,00 per bu. fonwuner B. paid
8^ per lb, for Fancy Grade apples or at the rate of $3.20 per bu.
Utility Grade
per bushel
Retailer paid
(retailer plems for 50^ mark-up)
Viniolesaler received for handling
Jobber received for hsuidling
Jobber paid for cartage to N.Y.C.
Jobber paid for ccanplete package
Grower received
,08
.05
,20
,30
$1.32
.63
TTO
Fancy Grade
per bushel
,08
.05
.20
.30
$2.15
,63
TTST
Grower storage costs .30
Sorting and packing , .10
Harvesting and heindling .15
Value of bushel of fruit on tree
,55
.30
.10
,15
.55
T9r
You may understsuid why this fmiit grower feels that he should make
every effort to prune, to fertilize and especially to spray his trees to pro-
duce good quality fruit in 1943. Vfould you rather grow Utility grade apples
for 15/ than Fancy apples at 97/ per bushel?
TBffiLY NOTES ON THE BEE SITUATION
Since fruit growers are vitally interested in bees for pollination, the
following summary of the bee situation by F. R. Shaw of the Dept, of Entomology,
is presentedi Massachusetts beekeepers are faced with greater responsibili-
ties now than at any time in the recent past. They must keep their colonies
at maximum strength in order to produce the vi&x and honey necessary and have
adequate pollination of our fruits and many vegetables. Last year we were
asked to double the honey crop. V/e failed to do this partly due to the season
and partly due to the fact that many colonies were not properly attended to
because of lack of time and other reasons. This year vw are asked to increase
the amount of honey produced, to increase the supply of beeswax by one third
and we may be faced viith additional demands for bees for pollination, especially
in view of the increase of Victory gardens.
In view of the greater responsibilities facing the beekeeper, better
planning will be necessary during the coiiiing year. Bee supplies are limited.
A quota of 57^o has been established for hives and Z^% for other supplies based
on the manvfacture of hives and supplies during 1940 and 1941, This makes
necessary more careful checking of equipment. It would be well to have re-
placements on hand before discarding any old equipment. If you must secure
new materials, place your orders ag soon as possible.
-5-
f
Package Bees. Package bee shippers are faced with the difficulty of
obtaining wire cloth, tin feeding cans, and sugar. It is entirely possible,
therefore, that shipments of package bees may be below normal this spring. If
you plan to use package bees, it will be necessary to place your orders early.
Price Ceiling on B eeswax . It is of interest to note that a price ceil-
ing has been placed on beesvmx and this was issued as of November 13, 1942. A
cash price of 41,5 cents per pound or 43.5 cents per pound in exchange for
supplies is the maximum allov;ed for crude domestic beeswax.
Early Examination of Bees Desirable . Due to the difficulty experienced
by some in secur"ing~"sugar for feeding together with the presence of a large
amount of honeydew stored last season, it can be expected that the winter loss
of colonies may be above normal. Colonies found to be lov>r in stores can be fed
or doubled up v/ith other colonies having more food. If the colonies are low in
pollen, soybean flour containing not over 5^o fat can be given as a substitute.
AGRICULTURAL INSECTICIDES FOR 1945
Although smaller supplies of some insecticides may be obtainable this
year due to the war, the nation's farmers will still be able to carry on a
suitable insect control program if conservation and substitution practices
are follov/ed. The following report is based on a study made by the Food Re-
quirements Committee (novif Food Advisory Committee) of which Secretary of Agri-
culture Claude R. ITickard is chairman. Insecticides included in the report
are arsenic, cryolite, rotenone, pyrethrum, nicotine sulfate and copper.
The only real shortages, the Committee points out, exist in the sup-
plies of rotenone and pyrethrum. Estimated supply of rotenone is placed at
3,600^000 pounds, with 1943 requirements likely reaching 4,225,000 pounds. A
supply of 16,000,000 pounds of pyrethrum is on hand but 17,250,000 pounds of
this insecticide will probably be needed this year. Supplies of arsenic,
cryolite, nicotine sulfate and copper chemicals seem to be sufficient, or the
possibilities of increasing the 1943 output is believed good enough to assure
adequate amounts of these materials for use as insecticides. It is believed
that some of these chemicals, particularly nicotine sulfate, will serve as
substitutes for some of the scarcer ones. Estimated requirements and supplies
of the following insecticides for 1943 are given in t'o'nst arsenic, 70,800,
70,800j cryolite> 6000, 9000; nicotine sulfate, 2350, 2400; and copper chemi-
cals, 102,500, 105,000.
State and county U.S.D.A. V/ar Boardsare urged to assist farmers in the
selection of insecticides and to request them to use smaller amounts of the
more critical materials and to substitute wherever possible. Virtually all
insecticides have been placed under 17. P. B. control and most of them have been
restricted to use for agricultural crops only. In case of some chemicals such
as rotenone and pyrethrum, l/.P.B. controls permit their use on just certain
specified crops. For example, rotenone, in accordance v;ith the \<.P.B. regula-
tion, can only be used in the protection of food crops other than citrus fruits,
cotton, tobacco, cranberries, eggplants, cucurbits, onions, peppers, sweet
corn, or as a spray, wash or dust in the treatment of cattle for the destruc-
tion of grubs. O.P.A. regulations place most insecticides under certain price
•6-
ceilings which seek to protect the farmer, supplier and manufacturer from
possible fluotations in price due to the scarcity of supply.
Arsenic trioxide, from which all arsenical* are derived, is used
chiefly in the control of pests on apples,, cotton and potatoes. Cryolite
is used to combat apple pests in the Northwest. Rotenone is the principal
insecticidal constituent of timbo, barbasco, cube and derris root. It was
formerly used in the control of many different kinds of pestsr However,
its use is now restricted to certain crops, Pyrethrum is the active in-
gredient of «pray», v/ashes, powders and dusts used on certain vegetable
crops and on livestock. Nicotine sulfate is widely used, and this year
it must help supplant the shortage of other materials,
SHOULD INSECTICIDES AM) FUNGICIDES BE RATIOI^IED?
In view of the situation concerning coffee, sugar, and many other com-
modities, this seems to be a logical question. In a recent issue of A, I,F.
News, these points are brought outi To ration a thing - to limit each con-
sumer to so many oxmces a week - there must be enough so that each consumer
actually can find and buy that many ounces. If insecticides and fungicides
were rationed on any conceivable basis, no grower facing a real attack by
insects or plant disease would get enough. And those fortunate enough to
escape would not need even the amounts alloted to them.
There are more than enough of agricultural insecticides and fungicides
for average needs, even though not enough to ration. Insecticides and fungi-
cides/most vitally needed when insects or plant diseases appear - and when
these emergencies come, they are needed in quajitities large enough to control
the pests. Using not enough is money thrown away, a total loss.
Fire fighting is a good parallel. A city would not think of rationing
fire equipment, stationing so much apparatus and so many firemen in each block.
Instead, apparatus and firemen are concentrated at strategic points, ready to
rush to the places where fires breeik out. Those places are largely unpredict-
able - like plant pest outbreaks,
ViTien the boll v/eevil is on the march, the embattled grower may use 15
pounds of calcium arsenate to the acre. Suppose this material v/ere rationed
to provide 15 pounds for each of the 25,000,000 acres of cotton. That would
require 375,000,000 pounds. Yet the greatest amount of calcium arsenate ever
produced and consumed in a year was 70,000,000 pounds. The annual consumption
may run as low as 20,000,000 pounds. The same situation applies to many other
spray and dust materials.
CRITICAL SITUATION REGARDING YJOOD FIBRE SHIPPING CONTAINERS
The Vfar Production Board recently released information stating that
in order to purchase any empty, new or used boxes, crates, cases, barrels, kegs,
kits, pails, drums, tubs, baskets or hampers, either setup or knocked down,
made either fully or in part from wood or corrugated or solid fibre, and used
-7-
as an outer container for delivflry or shipment of materials, or any shooks,
cleats, staves, headings, veneer, plywood or corrugated or solid fibre cut
to size for shipping containers, preference ratings are needed.
There are five preference ratings, neunely, AA-1, AA2X, AA3, M4, and
M5. AA-1 preference rating is for defense material; AA2X preference rating
is for the Lend-Lease Program. The other ratings are to be used by individ-
uals ordering boxes from their usual sources of supply. However, if any of
the AAl or AA2X ratings are ahead of the others, then there is no possibility
of one getting boxes for some time to come.
It is suggested by officials of the Vfar. Production Board that indi-
viduals desiring complete infonaation in regard to these preference ratings
(Order P-140), should confer with their local V/ar Production Board. (Quoting
from this Order:
The list of fruits and vegetables with AA-3 rating is as followst
Dried apples, dried apricots and dried peaches. Fresh fruits and vegetables
as follows: apples, apricots, bananas, cherries, citrus, grapes, nectarines,
peaches, pluias, pears, prunes (fresh), berries, beans (snap and lima), carrots,
peas (fresh green), and tomatoes. The list with AA-4 rating includes cran-
berries, quinces, and most vegetables not listed under AA-3,
This Order nearly precludes the possibility of obtaining boxes through
the usual channels. However, the l/Tar Production Board says that it is per-
missible for an individual to cut his own logs and have them sawn into lumber.
Boxes for his own use can be manufactured from this lumber without securing
a preference rating, ^
^ *= R. B. Parmenter
THREE APPIE BOXES - VffiSTERN, MICHIGAN, EASTERN
A General Limitation Order affecting wooden containers was filed
March 1, 1943 by the V/ar Production Board. This reduces the number of wood-
en boxes and crates for fruits and vegetables to 64. Three apple boxes re-
main, the V/estem Box, 10^ x ll|- x 18; the Michigan Box, 11 x 12|- x 16, and
the Eastern Box, 1 l/S Bushel, 11 x 15 x 17, all inches, inside measurements.
No half bushel boxes are left for apples,
A pear box, 8^ x ll|- x 18 and the half pear box, 5g- x 11^ x 18, are
both provided for; also a pear lug, 6^ x ISg- x 20 5/8. Use of a cleat to in-
crease the capacity is permitted on the pear lug but not on the other boxes.
The manufacture of boxes of other sizes is forbidden. on and after
March 4, 1943. Those having supplies on hand or other types of packages may
manufacture same until May 31, 1943, and those receiving shooks which are al-
ready in transit, bought and received prior to April 1, 1943, may assemble
such packages provided the work is completed by Llay 31, 1943.
Hampers, baskets and berry cups at present being manufactured are con-
tinued of certain definite sizes, which includes the bushel hamper and the
bushel basket. Certain special containers for use by the Government are per-
mitted.
APPLE BOX REqUIREivlENTS IN THE N.Y.,»N.E« AREA
A survey of the apple'box requirements in the N.Y.-N.E. area indicates
that 9,500,000 new boxes vail be needed. Fruit societies and state officials ,•
present the following estimate: Itoine - 600,000, N.H. - 600,000, Vt. - 350,000,
Llass. - 2,000,000, R.I. - 100, OCO, Conn. - 428,000, N. Y. - 5,433,500.
Total - 9,511,500. Allowing a keg of nails per 1000 boxes, about 9,500 kegs
of nails will be needed. The National Apple Institute has been given these
figures to present to the Vj'ar Production Board,
VICTORY GARDENS
The Victory Garden is the very spot on which a major conflic* of the
war is being decided - the battle for food, health, and security. All ir>di-
cations are that this is another bftttle that is going to go the right way
during the coming months. According to reports there were around 15 million
Victory gardens last summer. Qpite a few of them were on farms that had never
before grown a garden.
As you no doubt know, the 1942 Victory Garden campaign was a success
in part because it was aided by extremely favorable weather. To come up to
last year's record the 1943 Victory Garden campaign calls for bigger and better
gardens and more of them. Many of these gardens will have to produce all the
vegetables, particularly tomatoes, leafy green vegetables and yellow vegeta-
bles needed for the family's entire yearly needs. Our armed forces and our
allies have already spoken for over half of our 1943 output of canned vegetables.
How true is the statement of the famous general who said, "An army
travels on its stomach." A soldier needs plenty of food if he is to do a
good job of fighting. V7e on the home front need plenty of food, if we are
going to produce food for the soldiers and if we are going to produce the
munitions and machines which the soldiers need for winning battles. Yes, all
of us vdth plenty of food under our belts can do a much better job.
In 1942, war activities took 1Z% of our total food production. In
1943 it is estimated that these same war activitiee will take 25^^. Tv/enty-five
per cent amounts to one meal in every four. Nov; that doesn't mean that we
will be short of one meal out of every four. By rationing we will have enough
•feo keep us from going hungry but there is very likely to be a shortage of cer-
tain essential foods unless something is done.
In Massachusetts something is being done. Already Governor Saltonstall
has appointed a Home Garden Committee to work on this problem of food production.
The job of the committee is to promote home vegetable gardens in every city,
town» and community in Massachusetts. Last year we had in Massachusetts hun-
dreds of Victory Gardens but this year we are going to have thousands of Victory
Gardens if this committee has anything to say about it.
Now that's just where you come in. The food that you produce in your
back yard garden may be the very food that will fill the empty spot in our na-
tional market basket. Tomatoes and beans and corn and beets and carrots and
cabbage, and go on through the list - if these are produced in the home garden,
they will supply the family with vegetables during the summer months and the
extra vegetables produced at home can be canned for use during the vanter months.
Then your family will be able to laugh at any food shortage which might develop,
G. 0, Oleson
[SS MILDRED HOWARD
(TENSION SEPVICS
)UTH COLLEGE
April 24, 1943
Prepared by the Fruit Program Coramittee
3 42 .of "the Extension Service
W. 11. Thies, Extension Horticulturist
Contents
Radio Spray Service
One Reason for Poor Shaped Trees
Do You Know?
Box Ceilings
New Strawberry Varieties
Fruits in North Africft
Girdled Trees
Here's an Idea
The Place of Small Fruits in the Home Garden Program
RADIO SPRAY SERVICE
Following is the schedule for the broadcasting of fruit pest control
information to be released by the Extension Service in the departments of
Botany, Entomology and Pomology, The message released Monday afternoon will
be broadcast on Tuesday and repeated V/ednesday, while the message released on
\Tednesday afternoon will be broadcast on Thursday and repeated on Friday.
V/henever occasions justify, nev; messages will be telephoned or wired to the
stations for Wednesdays and Fridays to replace the repeat-announcements.
In compiling each message, the Extension Service will have access to
confidential weather information directly from the East Boston Airport Station
of the U.S. ITeather Bureau, for use only in agricultural operational advices.
Issued by the Extension Service in furtherance of Acts of l.lay 8 and June 30,
1914, l/illard A. Munson, director, Massachusetts State College, United States
Department of Agriculture, and County Extension Services cooperating.
-2-
1. V/BZ, Boston and VJB ZA, Springfield; 1030
(a) The 6:00-7:00 A. LI. program: at 6:20 A.M.
and again at 6:50 A. 11.
(b) The 1:10 P.li. prograra: at 1:10 P.I.I.
2. Y/NAC , Boston (and Yankee lletvrark): at 6; 25 A.M.
vmAC, Boston, Ilass. 1260
l/AAB, VJ'orcester, Ilass. 1410
1,1
VffiAN, Providence, R.I. 790
ViTICC, Bridgeport, Conn. 600
vrcsn, Portland, Maine 970
ViUra, Laconia, N. H. 1340
3, VJEEI , Boston, The "Farmers Almanac of the Air";
at 6:15 A.M. 590
4, V/IAY/ , Lawrence, Mass.; at 7 A.M. 680
5, WTAG, li;orcester, Mass.; at 6;30 A.M. daily. 580
This annual radio spray service for fruit grov.'ers v/ill begin Apri l
26. The first message will be broadcast on April 27. Copies of the same
messages v;ill be mailed to county agricultural agents, to certain ne-v;spaper
editors \/ho have requested them, to fruit specialists of other Ne\v England
states, and to a fen cooperator growers 'v/ho furnish the College at regular
intervals with specific information pertaining to tree and pest developments.
The 1943 APPLE SPRAY CliARTS have been distributed.
If you failed to receive a copy contact your county
agricultural agent or the State College.
Olffi REASON FOR P O OR SHAPED TREES
An article under this heading appeared iia the April, 1936 issue
of Fruit Notes, l.e repeat what was said at that time, firmly believing that
a good framev.'ork is of much importance and that young trees should be induced
to make good growth from the start. "It is easy to maintain a good frame-
work in a tree v/hich is making strong annual growth. A vigorously grov/ing
grafted tree, for example, tends to grovr a leader type of frajnsvrork v;hile a
starved or stunted tree may, vihen stimulated, break out in some unexpected
quarter. Even in an ordinary v;inter when other trees suffer little or none
at all, there may be just enough injury to the Baldwin wood to make it less
efficient in conducting \/ater and other materials to the groviing points of
the previous season. As a result, water and mineral elements become shunted
into other channels where the path of conduction from the roots is shorter.
And after a season of good growth these sprouts continue to grow until they
themselves are wide-tracked in favor of still younger grovrths."
A thought for today} "Do V^hat You Can of V-Tiat
You I'jiow You Ought to Do."
-3-
ruru^ :
That 275 carloads of apples were recently packed in 35 freight cars?
The explanation is that the apples were dried. They were forced under pres-
sure into No. 10 tin cans. Thirty two pounds of apples, dried until they
v.'eigh only 4 pounds, go into one of these cans. A total of 200,000 boxes
•or 275 carloads of fresh apples (7,680,000 lbs.) were transformed into just
under a million pounds of dried apples which were packed tightly into
240,000 cans. This made 40,000 cases.
That a close approximation of the date at Vifhich a given variety of
fruit will mature can be made at the tine of full bloom? After a three-year
study, M. A» Haller of the U.S.D.A. has concluded that the number of days
from full bloom to maturity is a more reliable index of maturity than pres-
sure test, ground color, seed color, or starch test. The average number of
days between bloom and harvest for a few varieties are as follows: Olden-
burg apple, 98; llclntosh, 127; Rhode Island Greening, 155; Llontmorency
cherry, 62; Bartlett pear, 121; Elberta peach, 128.
That there are approximately 4000 acres of cultivated blueberries
in the U. S. with a crop value of nearly Cl»000,000? The raspberry acre-
age amounts to about 59,000 acres with a crop value of more than v7»000,000.
Blackberries and dewberries total nearly 35,000 acres with a crop value of
$3,700,000.
That the total capacity for the manufacture of synthetic nitrogen
in the United States after the war will be more than tv/ice as great as this
country's maximum annual pre-war consumption of nitrogen for all purposes?
The amount of nitrogen v;hich can be supplied to farmers from this expanded
industry will greatly affect crop production after the war. The problem of
utilizing this unprecedented tonnage of nitrogen is to be studied by a re-
cently organized committee of which R. II. Salter, Chief of the U.S. Bureau
of Plant Industry, is chairman.
That soils of Massachusetts are by nature predominantly acid? Many
cultivated plants or crops grov/ poorly on an acid soil v;hile certain others
may fail utterly unless lime in some forra is used to correct this condition.
More than 50,000 tons of liming material are used annually to increase crop
yields in Massachusetts. For full details concerning this subject, see
Mass. State College Leafl^jt No. 134, "Liming Soils."
That crganic matter performs at least four important functions in the
soil? (1) It gives the soil a good structure and improves its tilth. (2) It
provides food for bacteria. (3) It keeps plant food available so the plants
can use them. (4) It serves as a storehouse of nitrogen, available phos-
phorus, potash and other plant foods.
.4-
That the State of V/ashington takes first place in the production of
apples and second in pears? This state is also second in apricots and fil-
berts, third in cherries, prunes and plums, fourth in grapes, and sixth in
peaches.
That bet\/een 2 and 2-^ million pounds of apple syrup will be produced
coimiercially this year from the U. S. and Canadian apple crop, thus opening
a nevj- market for apple growers? The ne-vi syrup has much the same qualities
as glycerine and is being extensively used in the manufacture of tobacco.
This nev; material will free millions of pounds of glycerine for use in the
manufacture of explosives.
That plastic, self-lubricated bearings are now in use in large,
rotary fruit juice extractors? Faced v/ith a shortage of bronze bearings,
one machinery manufacturer found that a nev; type of "Lucite" bearing ivas
actually lubricated by contact v;ith citrus juices. The nev/ bearings are
equally resistant to orange, grapefruit and lemon juices.
That a record grapefruit crop of 46 million boxes is indicated for
the present season compared v/ith 40 million boxes last season and 42 million
boxes the previous season? The quantity of Florida grapefruit handled by
commercial processors to the end of February this year is more than twice
as much as was handled up to that date last year. Texas also has a record
grapefruit crop, 16 million boxes, which is 14^o more than in 1942,
That a thin film of water-miscible v;ax applied to apples during the
packing operation is now considered as a low cost method of prolonging stor-
age and market life of the fruit? This means of reducing losses from shrivel-
ing is being studied at the Maryland Experiment Station, using Grimes Golden
and Golden Delicious, both of which are very subject to shrivelling.
That red currants nay not be as dangerous in the spread of v/hite
pine blister rust as is coiiimonly supposed? Recent studies show that white
pines become infected only rarely, even at short distances, from red currant
bushes. The necessity of removing red currant bushes v.'ithin 900 feet of
which pines has not apparently been conclusively demonstrated.
That an unbelievable total of 27 million board feet of lumber may
be saved by making a fev/ simple adjustments in the thickness of apple box
boards? According to a committee in the Northwest, these suggested changes
will do the trick; Reduce the thiclcness of the ends from 25/32 inches to
11/16 inches; sides from 3/8 to 5/l6, and tops and bottoms from l/4 to 3/16
inches. It is claimed that the slight reduction in thickness of the sides
alone viould save 12 million board feet of luraber in a single year.
That a gigantic machine for shredding orchard brush is now in use in
the VIenatchee district in YJashington? This brush shredder, purchased by a
group of 40 growers last year is capable of chewing brush at the rate of 6
acres per hour. The brush is first windrowed which enables the machine to
scoop up everything in its path, leaving a trail of finely ground wood chips
and splinters.
-5-
That only about IS^^o of the apple trees in the U.S. were of non-
bearing age in 1940, compared v;ith about 24fo in 1930? Even thouch there
were only about l/o as many apple trees in the United States in 1940 as
in 1910, the production has not declined greatly owing in part to the
gradual shift to better soils, higher yielding varieties, less caustic
fungicides, and better all around orchard management.
That an average ton of farm laanure contains about 10 pounds of
nitrogen, 5 pounds of phosphoric acid, and 10 pounds of potash? The amount
of manure produced annually per 1000 pounds of live weight is about 15
tons by cov/s, 12 tons by horses, 10 tons by sheep or fattening cattle, 18
tons by hogs, and 4.2 tons by chickens.
That the guano birds of Peru consume about 5g- million tons of fish
annually, while the people of Peru consur.ie only 4 thousand tons. The guano
birds are considered to be araong the most important in the world because
of the enormous quantities of fertilizer for which they are responsible.
That ragv:eed has at least one advantage to offset its disadvantage
as a spreader of hay fever? The ragweed borer has been found to be host
to several parasites of the Oriental fruit moth, a serious pest of peaches.
One experiment station has even recommended that ragv/eed be allovred to grow
in peach orchards in order to favor the development of these parasites.
That apple scab, fungus disease Enemy !Jo. 1 of apples, is known in
all apple growing regions from the Atlantic to the Pacific? It is also
found in British Columbia and in Southern Canada, in European countries,
and in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The annual loss attributed
to this disease in the northern part of the United States alone is estimated
at v3, 000, 000 while for the entire United States the loss is approximately
!1^40,000,000.
That the entrance of apple scab into a leaf or fruit is dependent to
a large extent upon temperature? If the temperature is 43° the process takes
about 15 hours, at 48° 11 hours, 59° 7 hours, 68° 4 to 5 hours, 75° 6 hours.
Higher temperatures tend to retard or prevent grovrth. Leaves must remain
wet about three times as long at 43° as at 68°.
That spray lime if exposed for a period of time to the air, loses
its effectiveness as a corrective for arsenical burning? This is due to the
fact that thfe essential ingredient, calcium oxide, is changed into the car-
bonate form, calcium carbonate, by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the
air. In the carbonate form, the calciura is ineffective in preventing spray
injury.
That 29^^ of the farm accidents in the United States have to dowLth
machinery? 22^^ involve animals; lO^o, excessive heat; 9^^, falls of various
kinds, 9^j, vehicular traffic, 6% lightning, and 15Jo other causes.
That about 18,500 farmers in the U.S. lost their lives last year be-
cause of accidents? In addition, it is estimated that 100 times as many
were injured. Hazards are even greater no\/ because of new help. Greater
care must therefore be exercised to avoid accidents, particularly with trac-
tors and other farm equipment.
-6-
That the average farm garden in Michigan, amounting to l/z acre,
produces enough food to rate as one of the best cash crops? On good land,
properly managed and with rows spaced three feet apart, this average farm
garden requires 92 hours of work. The resulting vegetables, accordingto
a recent study, are worth nearly s?200. The average farm gardener plants
18 different crops.
BOX CEILINGS
In order to establish a price on New England apple boxes, the
Office of Price Administration has issued recently Amendment No. 3 to
Maximum Price Regulation No. 320, effective April 15, 1943. This estab-
lishes price ceilings on apple boxes, cranberry boxes and field crates
in the six New England states. The original regulation did not include
New England. The amendment places a ceiling of 021.50 per hundred on
1 l/8 bu. apple crates, in the shook, and a price of v24,50 per hundred
nailed up including delivery within 50 miles of the sawmill. The price
on cranberry boxes is ^28. 00 per hundred in the shook, and 1)31.00 nailed
up,
IM7 STRAV/BERRY VARIETIES
The following new strawberry varieties which are being named and
introduced by the New Jersey Small Fruits Council this spring have been
fruited twojears at Amherst. Our observations are as follows:
Julymorn (N.J. 225). Very late, very dark red, large, objectionably
furrowed, firm, very tart, good production. It is reported to be desirable
for canning or freezing, but is not resistant to red stele.
Crimson Glow (N.J. 311). Mid season, dark, glossy, large, good
quality, but not outstanding. Not resistant to red stele.
Sparkle (N.J. 312). Late, excellent quality, attractive red, firm,
good production. Promising at Ajnherst. Reported to be very resistant to
red stele.
A. P. French
PRODUCTION OF FRUI TS IN N ORTH AFRICA
17e have recently obtained from Fred A. Ilotz, formerly foreign market-
ing specialist of the U.S.D.A., some figures concerning the production of
fruits in a much publicized corner of the world. North Africa. The 1938
figures for Morocco are as follows: oranges, 1,547,000 trees; almonds,
4,604,000 trees; figs, 7,366,000; dates, 1,118,000; pomegranates, 585,000;
and chestnuts, 204,000.
The average annual production of various fruits in Algeria between
1934 and 1938 were as follows: oranges, 1,522,000 boxes; mandarin oranges,
1,253,000 boxes; lemons, 102,000 boxes; figs (fresh consumption) 25,500
tons, (dried) 19,200 tons; dates, 114 tons; olive oil, 15,400 tons.
-7-
The 1930 statistics show 29,800 acres in orchards in Algeria with
a total of 1,400,000 trees. Amonc the deciduous fruits v/ere apples and
pears, 4,400 acres; plums, 5,900 acres; peaches, 5,200 acres; cherries,
2,300 acres; apricots, 2,000 acres; almonds, 4,600 acres; medlars, 959
acres. To v/hat extent these fruit plantings are being taken care of at
the present time is a question. Under Axis domination the production un-
doubtedly dropped. It will be interesting to Icnow to what extent the events
of last November may have changed the agricultural picture in North Africa.
RAIN - HAY - MICE - GIRDLED TREES
That's about the order of events which has resulted in some of the
worst cases of mouse injury we've seen in years. In four orchards which
have come to our attention growers are faced with a real job of bridge graft-
ing. The reasons for so much mouse injury are not difficult to determine.
A heavy hay crop in 1942 plus many unharvested drops set the stage
for an unusually heavy mouse population. Ideal "cover" provided not only
protection against natural enemies but a good food supply in the form of
tender grass. And so liicrotus raised large families and many of them. With
well established runs around the bases of apple trees the next step was to
supplement the grass diet with generous samples of succulent inner bark.
Another factor which worked to the advantage of the mice was this. At the
time when mouse bait would normally have been distributed help was scarce
and difficult to get. Ilany growers took a chance on mouse injury, — and
lost. There v/ill probably be a renewed interest in the use of zinc phos-
phide bait next fall, thanks to a combination of circurastances v/hich favored
the furry Enemy No. 1 of tiie orchard underworld.
HERE'S AIT IDEA
At apple harvest time next fall apple growers v;ho are fortunate
enough to have a crop will undoubtedly be scouring the neighborhood for
"scarcer than hens' teeth" apple pickers. Good apple boxes will be not
only expensive but difficult to get. Available storage space must be
used to good advantage. Considering all these things, why not make sure
that at least 90^ of the apples you grow this season are worthy of your
efforts at harvest time, your packages and your storage? Grow only good
stuff. Solve the low grade fruit problem by not growing low grade fruit.
Even in normal times apples below U.S. No. 1 grade are likely to
be more of a liability than an asset. In wartime they become increasingly
so. ITalter R. Clarke of Ulster County, New York, v;riting in the Rural New
Yorker, has this to say about apple grades and prices. "I believe it is
true that the retail prices of apples are as high as we can expect for the
nop notchers, Fancy and good No. I's, but our trouble comes in the growing,
handling and selling of that 30 or 40 per cent betv/een cull and these top
notchers. Carefully worked out figures show a loss of almost 20 cents per
box on that percentage of our crops. This loss, taken from the gain made
on the good GO per cent, does not leave enough profit for the grower and his
investment to keep him happy, grov/ing apples."
■ 8-
FRUIT PEST CONTROL IN GREAT BRITAIN
The ingenuity of the people of Great Britain is v;ell illustrated
in a group which has come to be knovm as Britain's "Golden Angels." The
girls of Great Britain are doing work of every description during these
wartime days that have taken men from their normal posts of work. Included
are the multitude of tasks that must be done in the orchard. The girls are
being trained thoroughly in the use of all apparatus and in the technical
principles of spraying. Recently, a corps of spraying girls was formed in
an endeavor to free orchards and fruit plantations from pests. One of the
sprays generally used has the effect of turning the skin a bright golden
yelloT/. As a result, the spraying girls have become knovm throughout Britain
as the "Golden Angels." (Let's hope that the material they are using is not
liquid lime sulfur.)
J. H. Putnam, former county agent in Franklin County, says, "Right
now there is only one thing we should all be thinking of; that is
what we can do to help win this war. No sacrifice is too great -
no surrender of ordinary rights too momentous - no privation too hard
to bear. Wiy should mq gruinble about rationing of sugar, and oil,
and gas, parity - subsidy, labor troubles, and heavy taxes, when
our boys are offering their all - even their lives?"
THE PLACE OF SHALL FRUI TS IN THE IIOIE GARDEN PRO GRAI.I
Home owners throughout Massachusetts are v/ondering whether or not
fruits of various kinds should be included in the Victory Garden. To ansv/er
questions along this line, the Department of pomology lias prepared the fol-
lowing statement covering the various small fruits.
Vfhere space is limited and the garden is a wartiiiifi measure only,
small fruits should not be grown in preference to vegetables. However,
they make a welcome and valuable addition to the diet, V.'here space is
available and the garden is to be continued for tv^o or more years, some
of the small fruits may well be included. No small fruit plant should be
allowed to fruit the first season except "everbearing" strawberries, which
are not generally satisfactory. Small fruits should not be planted in the
middle of the vegetable garden,
StraviTberries bring the quickest returns. Plants set this spring
will bear a crop next spring. Fifty plants should supply a family of four.
For best results new plants should be set each spring. Grapes usually bear
the third year and continue for many years. Quicker returns maybe had from
renovation of old vines, since they are capable of producing a crop the
next fall. Red Raspberrie s bear a small crop the second year and should
come into full bearing the third year. Boysen berries are not recommended
for general planting in this state but ;iay suc^ceed'on lighter soils. Blue-
berries come into full pi'oduction so slov/ly that they are not well adapted
to the wartime garden.
One definition of Entomology - "Gettin' right in among the bugs
and watohin' 'em work."
''Mi
^
@m4
May 24, 1943
Prepared by the Fruit Program Committee
of the Extension Service
VJ". H. Thies, Extension Horticulturist
Contents
Curculio Emerging from Hibernation
Apple Scab Situation
Do You Know?
Apple Blossoms
Price Ceilings for Apples
Farm Labor Problem Being Solved
List of Emergency Farm Labor Assistants in Mass.
New Method of Preserving Fruits
VJinter Killing of Raspberries
Controlled Atmosphere Storage
Fungicide and Insecticide Situation
CURCULIO EMERGING FROM HIBERIJATION
As this issue of Fruit Notes is being prepared, the following mes-
sage comes from YL D. VThitcomb of Ifaltham: "Fifteen (15) curculio beetles
were jarred from the trees Friday morning. May 21. This is the first col-
lection this year and represents about 2% of the expected total number.
If warmer v/eather occurs in the next fe\v days, the calyx spray with lead
arsenate v;ill be very helpful in controlling this pest, Curculio collec-
tions vj-ill be made Monday, Vfednesday, and Friday mornings for about one
month. Cankervrorms are quite abundant in some places and are beginning
heavj' feeding on unsprayed apple and shade trees,"
Issued by the Extension Service in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June SO,
1914, vmiard A. Munson, director, Massachusetts State College, United States
Department of Agriculture, and County Extension Services cooperating.
-2-
APPLE SCAB SITUATION
Vfhatever we may say about the present season, this much at least is
true* It's different. From the apple grower's standpoint, the season is
characterized by late bud developipent, early scab development, and day after
day of wrong kind of weather for spraying. Below normal temperatures in April
delayed fruit buds to an almost unprecedented degree. Bud development has
been lagging approximately two weeks behind 194E, This spring vihen Mcintosh
buds had reached the Delayed Dormant stage we were reminded that on the same
date in 1942 the buds were in the Pink stage. Fruit buds, being very sensi-
tive to temperature, refuse to open up until the weather is reasonably warm,
V/hile the apple buds were biding their time, the apple scab in the
old leaves on the ground was steadily developing. At the Pre-Pink stage of
bud development there were about as many mature spores in the old leaves as
we normally find at blossoming time, Vfe may safely say that a larger per-
centage of scab spores were either mature or already released by the time
the blossoms were ready to open than has been the case in all the years
we've been fighting scab in Massachusetts, Careful studies of old leaves
from various sections of the state, made by 0, C. Boyd on May 19, revealed
the interesting fact that a mere 10 to 20^o of the scab spores still remained
in the old leaves. This represents an unusual spore discharge - not from
the standpoint of the calendar, but of bud development.
Spray Message for Massachusetts Fpuit Growers (No. 8), issued May 19,
carried this timely suggestion: "If apple trees came into bloom before the
Pink spray could be completed, it is advisable to finish that spray with sul-
fur alone, Apple varieties subject to scab and cedar rust need protection
throughout the blossom period, particularly if v/et v;eather threatens. Either
a sulfur dust or a wettable sulfur spray may be used, but lead arsenate should
be omitted. The protection from the Pink spray can be expected to last only
five or six days at most, Vifhere apple scab infection occurred on May 10 to
12, the new scab spots should begin to show up around May 24,"
Apple leaves were hot held back by cool weather to the same extent
as apple buds. As a result, there is more leaf area in evidence on Mcintosh
spurs at blossoming time than in a normal season, Baldwin trees, on the other
hand, always show a considerable leaf area at blossoming time. This year there
is much less difference in the leaf area on Mcintosh and Baldwin spurs.
Following is a siommRry of the scab situation in Amherst, prepared by 0. Ct Boyd*
Date when scab opots
may be expected to
appear on leaves
? (May 21.22)
Length of
Fruit
Minimum time for
Date
wetting
Bud
Scab infection at
period (hrs,)
Stage
prevailing temp.
5/3
18 hrs.
Late Del. Dorm.
22 hrs.
5/8
14 hrs.
Early Pre-Pink
15 hrs.
5/10-12
60 hrs.
intermittent
Late
45 hrs.
Pre-Pink
15 hrs.
continuous
5/18-19
24 hrs.
Early bloom
8-10 hrs.
5/19-20
10 hrs.
Early bloom
12 hrs.
5/21
?
Full bloom
12 hrs.
May 24-26
May 31- June 2
? " (June l-3j
? (June 3-4)
'J
That only about 20,000 of the 625,000 known species of insects
in the world, damage crops and other property, or spread disease? Of the
80,000 U. S. species, only 600, or less than 1 in 100, are considered
destructive.
That the ovenvintering spores of Black Rot of Grapes are suffi-
ciently nature to cause infection by the time the new shoots are 2 to 4
inches long? Fruit infection vrtiich occurs several weeks later is the re-
sult of summer spores which come from the early infection on the new growth.
That every fruit plant of a given variety in existence, whether
Howard 17 strawberry or Mcintosh apple, is a direct vegetative descendant
of the original seedling? One Baldwin tree in Massachusetts is said to be
of the third generation. In oth.^r v/ords, it vras grafted from a tree which
was grafted from the original Baldwin. The latter is listed as a casualty
in the hurricane of 1815.
That the waste in paring, coring and trimming apples for commercial
canning of sauce amounts to more than twice as much in the 2'^" size as in
the 3" and up? The losses per 100 lbs. amount to about 43 and 18 lbs. re-
spectively. Numbers of apples per 100 lbs. are about 665 and 268. Losses
in the 2-|-" and 2 3/4" sizes amount to 30 x 23 lbs. respectively.
That more than 9,000,000 tons of commercial fertilizers were used
in the U. S. in 1941? Of all the states, North Carolina used the largest
amount - more than 1,000,000 tons. Of the total tonnage used in the country,
federal agencies (AAA h Ilk) distributed about 800,000 tons.
That the total cash income of American farmers in 1941 amounted
to $ll,830rpOOO,000? This is the largest income received since 1920 v^hen
it totalled $12,608,000,000. The increase in 1941 over 1940 was
$2,700,000,000.
That the stone walls in Massachusetts, if placed end to end, would
be long enough to circle the globe at least 5 times, or reach more than half
way to the moon?
That several fruit bulletins from Massachusetts State College have
recently been revised? Among them are: "Peach Growing in Massachusetts,"
"Grape Growing in Massachusetts," and "Top Grafting Fruit Trees," Another
revised bulletin, "Spraying and Dusting Fruit Trees," will be off the press
soon.
EVERY FOREST FIRE IS AN AXIS FIRE , I,t. Gen. H. A. Drum says,
"Forest fires destroy a priceless source of raw material and also
serve the enemy by endangering vital installations,"
■ 4-
■APPLE BLOSSOMS (A Borrowed Editorial)
Seeing an apple tree in bloom makes it easier to understand Johnny
Appleseed's passion for planting orchards in the wilderness. A well-ordered
orchard is a magnificent sight at this time of year, but even more breath
taking must have been the beauty of the trees the old wanderer planted all
up and down the Ohio Country when most of it was still Indian Land. Primi-
tive Christian that he was, old Johnny must have exclaimisd many times at
the beauty of God's works and the bounty of His benevolent hand.
Those who walk the hills today get the same feeling when they come
upon an orchard abandoned to meadow grass and gone wild. The old trees,
gnarled with struggle and untrimmed for years, lift their blossom-laden
branches as offering to the sun, and all around them stand the young wild-
lings, sprung from seed and surviving only by their ovm strength and hardi-
hood. The air is sweet with their fragrance and loud with their company
of bees. Every stage of beauty lines the branches, from the flush of the
bud to the ivide-petaled whiteness of full bloom.
The abandoned apple tree and its seedlings belong with the wild
rose and tho blackberry tangle; with the roso in particular, vihich the
botanist meticulously points out is its cousin once or twice removed. And
it is the particular possession of May, when Spring is no longer in doubt
and Summer has not yet really turned on the heat. It belongs v/ith warm
rain and the first buttercups and scarlet tanagers telling the morning
what a lovely thing it is to be alive.
Johnny Appleseed knew what he was about,
PRICE CEILINGS FOR APPLES
A committee representing the apple growers of the northeastern
states, including John Chandler and John Lyman, has prepared the following
statement for the OPA after considering all angles of the apple industry:
The Northeast has become the arsenal of the United States. In-
dustry has expanded beyond the most optimistic estimates. Agriculture in
the Northeast is not extensive in the light of the over-all picture, but
agriculture is definitely rising to the emergency with greater than anti-
cipated production under handicaps of shortages of labor, machinery,
materials, etc. The apple growers of the Northeast produced and harvested
one of the largest crops on record in 1942 and marketed it in a vory order-
ly manner at fair prices to the consumer. Indications in the orchards this
spring point to a crop of apples which v;ill probably be smaller than that
in 1942, but may not bo smaller than an average crop for the five years
prior to 1942. Thus, we should not expect a real shortage of apples -
neither should be expect a run-away market.
The apple growers of the Northeast feel that we have a definite
part to play in the production of food for the successful conduct of tho
war, Vfo are anxious to grow, harvest and market a crop of the best apples
-5-
possible and, given the propor market support, it v.'ill be done. Any novo
to establish ceiling prices vj-hich will weaken this support will have a
definite destructive effect on the production of apples.
Following a meeting of the National Apple Planning Committee and
a meeting of the apple grov/ers of the Northeast, at which price ceilings
v;ere discussed, it was concluded that ceiling prices on apples v;ould be
impractical and have a tendency to discourage the greatest production of
apples.
Apples are highly perishable, subject to t he vagaries of weather,
deterioration and many other factors beyond the control of growers. Arbi-
trary controls introduced into such situations do not provide for suffi-
ciently flexible adjustments for these rapidly changing conditions.
However, if our Government is committed to ceiling prices on all
commodities, to control inflation and protect the consumer from run-away
prices, the apple grov/ers stand ready to cooperate v;ith it.
To make the plan simple and easily understood by the consumer and
easily enforced, v/e suggest that should there be such a price ceiling, it
be a price ceiling to the consumer v/ith no other control along the line.
This price should be sot high enough to encourage the largest production
of the best grade of the most desirable variety grown in the most remote
areas of production.
We feel that should such a ceiling be established with an average
crop of apples well distributed in all producing areas, as was predicted by
the National Apple Planning Committee, it would provide a chance for the
law of supply and demand to work as nearly normally as possible.
IN CONCLUSION: 1. Vie do not believe arbitrary price controls
are for the best interests of the producers or the consumers
in that they discourage production and hamper distribution.
2. If a ceiling is to be applied, it should
be applied only on the retail price,
3. The Apple Industry is highly competitive,
both vrithin itself and with othJer fruits. If a price ceiling
is applied, we suggest it be applied at a level that will inter-
fere as little as possible xrith the normal laxt of supply and
demand.
FARI/I LABOR PROBLEII BEING SOLVED
Vfith emergency farm labor assistants appointed for all counties
and with state and federal agencies coordinating their efforts, Massachu-
setts is rapidly developing a program which should effectively handle the
farm labor problem.
The program developed by tho Massachusetts Farm Labor Committee
is right in line with the federal farm labor plan which went into offect
■ 6-
May 1. Hence the program already started will continue under the super-
vision of the Massachusetts State College Extension Service at Amherst.
In close cooperation will be the Massachusetts Farm Labor Committee ap-
pointed several months ago by Governor Saltonstall, the high schools, the
U.S. Employment Service, and other interested groups.
In dealing with the farm labor problem first attention should be
given to the full utilization of all labor resources within the comraunity.
ViThere there is not enough labor available locally the farm labor assistants
will attempt to recruit workers from nearby communities. The need of year-
round workers on farms presents a much more difficult problem. There is
no supply pf year-round workers. Consequently close cooperation with local
selectiTO^D%iards is needed to keep present necessary year-round workers on
productive or essential farms.
The county agricultural agents have full responsibility for the
recruitment and placement of farm workers in their respective counties.
They will be assisted by these nev^ly appointed emergency farm labor assist-
ants. These men will do everything in their pov;er, but it will be necessary
for any farmer who has a farm labor problem to take that problem to the
county agricultural agent's office. For Suffolk County the emergency farm
labor assistant is John B. Casey, head master of the Jamaica Plain High School.
In close cooperation with the farm labor program will be the woman's
land army and the 4-H farm labor project,
— Roy E. Moser
State Supervisor
of Emergency Farm Labor
LIST OF EMERGENCY FARM LABOR ASSISTAIITS III LIASS.
County IJame and Address Office Telephone
Barnstable Tr. Edmund deS. Brunner, Smexgelicy Farm Labor Assistant
Cape Cod Extension Service Barnstable S6
Barnstable, Mass.
Berkshire Yifells Conklin, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant Fittsfield 8285
Berkshire County Extension Service
Federal Building
Fittsfield, Mass.
Bristol Carl L. Erickson, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant Dighton 3611
Bristol County Agricultural School ~
Segreganset, Mass.
E s sex Wm. P. Scott, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant Danvers 50
Essex County Agricultural School
Hathorne, Mass.
■7-
County
Name and Address
Office Telephone
Franklin George C. Hubbard, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
Franklin County Extension Service
Court House
Greenfield, Mass*
Hampden George \{. Harris, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
Hampden County Improvement League
1499 Memorial Ave.
V/est Springfield, Mass.
Hampsh ire Vta. R. Kershlis, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
Hampshire County Extension Service
15 Gothic Street
Northampton, Mass.
Middlesex ViTm. H. Slayton, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
Middlesex County Extension Sf^rvice
19 Everett Street
Concord, Mass.
Norfolk Hilmer S. Kelson, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
Norfolk County Agricultural School
Walpole, Mass.
Plymouth Frank T. YJhite, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
Plymouth County Extension Service
Court House
Brockton, Mass.
Suffolk John B. Casey, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
Headmaster, Jamaica Plain High School
Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Greenfield 9698
Spring field
6^7204"
Northampton
2-55^
Concord 845
V^alpole 268
Brockton 4993
Arnold 4074
Worcester John A. Gatti, Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
Y/orcester County Extension Service
Federal Building
Y^orcester, Mass.
Vforcester 3-5477
NEW I-ffiTHOD OF PPi:SERVING FRUITS
The British made a request when we began to ship them fruits under
the Lend-Lease program. Vfould v/e please just preserve them in sulphur di-
oxide solution, and ship them over in wooden casks? That was a big surprise
for our food men. Wouldn't the British prefer fruits canned in bright tin
containers? No, the British really wouldn't. Ylell, the British were eating
the fruit, so let them have it the way they wanted it. And the sulphur di-
oxide method is saving tin.
So the big American canners turned out the British fruit orders the
■ 8-
way they wanted it: 250,000 barrels have gone to them in this sulphur
dioxide solution during the past three years. The sulphur dioxide method
is simple. Take strawberries, for example. The berries roll straight
from the field to the freight loading platform, alongside the railroad
tracks. They're washed, hulled, and dumped into wooden barrels with a
2jb sulphur dioxide solution. The barrel is sealed, put on the freight
car, and it's on the way to England. The whole thing takes half an hour.
Millions of pounds of these sulphited strawberries are being shipped to
England this season.
The preservation of peaches takes a little longer because they
have to be peeled and pitted. Last year v;e shipped, in this manner, citrus
pulp, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, and dev/berries. This year we'll
probably add cherries. Fruits preserved in sulphur dioxide are used for
preserves, jams, ice cream, and pies.
These sulphited foods, such as strawberries, have to go through a
special step when they're taken out of the wooden casks to start on their
way to jams and pies. They must be boiled vigorously for 45 minutes. That
drives off the sulphur dioxide in the steam. And with it, the bitter sul-
phur taste. Oddly, the sulphur dioxide solution takes most of the color
out of fruits. But when they boil for 45 minutes, the color comes back.
And that's important, because who wants to eat pale ycllov/ strav/berry jam?
WINTER KILLING OF RASPBERRIES
The following table givjs an estimate of the amount of winter kill-
ing in a planting of young raspberries set at the State College in the
spring of 1942. To get a better measure of the true cold resistance of
the varieties, canes which were on the ground and therefore protected by
snow v/ere ignored in making the estimate. On all varieties it was very
noticeable that big, vigorous, branching canes v/ere injured vrorse than
smaller, less vigorous canes.
Red Varieties
% Injury
Red Varieties
% Injury
Sunrise
Cuthbert
25
Tahoma
5
Taylor
28*
Indian Summer
5
Vfeshington
30*
Latham
9*
Ohta
35
Ranere
10
Milton
44*
Chief
11*
Viking
45
Lloyd George
15
Marcy
68*
Cayuga
20
Newburgh
75
Purple Varieties
% Injury
Ruddy
5
Columbian
50
Marion
75
Sodus
90
♦Figures starred are averages of several plots; others are based on
one plot.
~J. S. Bailey
-9-
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE STORAGE
The controlled atmosphere or so-called "gas" storage room at H.S.C.
was opened April 30 just a little over seven months after it v/as sealed up
on September 25, 1942. The Mcintosh apples from this room vfhich vi&s held
at 40° F. were more firm, crisp and juicy and definitely higher in eating
quality than similar apples held at 32° in a common cold storage room.
This was due to the fact that in the controlled atmosphere storage vmere
the oxygen supply was drastically reduced and the carbon dioxide was main-
tained at a relatively high level, the apples "lived" at a comparatively
slow rate even at the 40° F. temperature. As previously described, apples
use up oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. In the tight room, this process
contined until the oxygen level was dovm to 2% or at times slij^htly lower.
The carbon dioxide increased, of course, but was not allovred to get above
10^ because of possible toxic effects. This was accomplished by periodically
removing this gas by passing the atmosphere of the room through a special
"washer." The contents of oxygen and carbon dioxide were measured every
other day or so to determine when "washing" or ventilation were required
to maintain the artificial atmosphere.
One trouble not encountered heretofore was a soft scald type of
injury which may have been due to an insufficiency of oxygen during the in-
tervals v/'hen the oxygen level v/as below 2^^. This experience indicates the
special care that must be exercised in operating a storage of this kind.
However, the peculiar difficulties encountered with this type of storage
are far from insurmountable as proven by the successful operation of sev-
eral controlled atraosphore storages in Hew York State. It is reported that
Mcintosh out of these storages this spring brought from one to tv-o dollars
a bushel above the wholesale market price of regular cold storage Mcintosh.
Perhaps, with the return of peacetime conditions, controlled atmosphere
storage may find a place in Massachusetts, at least on a limited scale.
— Lawrence Southwick
— 0. C. Roberts
THE FUNGICIDE AHD INSECTICIDE SITUATION
The following information is based upon recent reports chiefly from
the Agricultural Insecticide and Fungicide Association, the Agricultural Chem-
icals Section of the Office of Price Administration, and the Chemicals Division
of the Food Production Administration.
Lead Arsenate: The production for 1943, which will be lO^o less than
in 1942 but 10^T"g."^ter than in 1941, is to be cOmpletedby June 30. A re-
strictive order precludes its use on shade trees, ornamentals, lawns and golf
greens at least ui-^til after sufficient supplies are assured to protect essen-
tial crops. The supply available for food and fiber crops is expected to
equal that used for the corresponding crops in 1942.
Calcium Arsenate; The present schedule calls for a substantial in-
crease over the 'supply m 1942. Sixty per cent of the total production vail
be completed by June 30 compared with 40 per cent at that date last year.
■ 10-
Copper Fungicides! Until recently, the 1943 schedule indicated
80,000,000 lbs, of copper sulfate for agriculture, the same anount allocated
for that purpose in 1942. The Office of Food Production Administration re-
cently announced that this figure would likely be increased to 100,000,000
pounds, in view of the increased acreage of potatoes and vegetables through-
out the country. That office estimates that 75,000,000 pounds will bo needed
to protect potatoes, tomatoes and fruits. It also cautions that "
although the supply of copper compounds will be the largest in history,
every effort must be made to conserve supplies."
Rotencne; The nation's supply is drastically limited and strictly
allocated, "he country used in 1941 about 8,500^000 pounds of roots, and in
1942 about 6,500,000 pounds. The Food Production Administration estimates
that "this year close to 3,000,000 pounds will be available to meet
the requirements of the crops and uses as set forth in amended Conservation
Order K-'.".o3." This limitation ordor restricts the use of rotenone on crops
to per.f fcr weevil and aphids; to beans for the Mexican bean beetle; to
sweot corn fcr the European corn borirT and to cole crops other than cabbage
X^EKirV iSj"to broccoli, cauliflower, brussols 3p'rc'ut's~kaTe, etc.) for cater-
pillars and aphids J Rotenone dusts manufactured in 1943 may contain not
more than 0^5 per cent rotenone, and they may not contain any pyretiirum,
Derris and Cube powders may not contain more than 4 per cent rotenone. Re-
garding the dilutions for Derris and Cube preparations in spray form, the
amended Conservation Order 1.1-133 "permits the use of 4 per cent rotenone
spray powder in accordance v:ith common practice,"
Pyreth rum; Although supplies are substantial, their use in agricul-
ture is dra3tic"ally limited because of military needs. A limitation order
novj- in preparation, it is reported, permits the use of pyrethrum on all Cole
crops (cabbage family); on vegetables in the homo, farm and community gardens;
on beet-seed crops; on corn, beans and potatoes; and on grapes and cranberries,
Cryo lite ; Supplies for 1943 are much greater than ever before —
15,000,000 pouiids as coiapared with 6,000,000 pounds in 1942, Cryolite nay
be used in place of arsenicals on shade trees and« ornamental s , and as a
possible substitute for lead arsenate on apples and pears. It is also being
recoinraended for the control of chewing insscts on various vegetable crops.
Nicotin e S ulfate ; Provision by U.S,D.A. for the production in
1941-43 of about Is800j000 pounds through a tobacco diversion program, in
addition to the quantity ordinarily obtained f rom tobacco wastes, insures
an ample supply for insecticidal purposes, A production of about 3,000,000
pounds is estimated for 1943.
Calciu m Case inat e; Domestic production is now low because of milk
problems. Tne' situation,"^nowever, is expected to improve with the advance
of the season.
These are Adequate ; Cyanides, Fish Oils, Hormone Sprays, Spray
Oils, Paradichlorobonzene, Borax, Spreaders and Stickers, Zinc Oxide, and
Zinc Sulfate.
—0. C, Boyd and A. I. Bourne
June 18, 1943
Prepared by the Fruit Program Coinmittee
of the Extension Service
W. H. Thies, Extension Horticulturist
Contents
Fruit Prospects
The Women's Land Army
Curculio on Non-Bearing Trees
Do You Know?
Cardboard and Fiber Apple Boxes
Do Bees Injure Ripe Fruit?
Grass and Fruit Trees
The Packed Lunch
Additional Nitrogen Released
Half and Half
Where Water Stands
Handling Apples from Tree to Table
Cutting Hay in an Orchard
FRUIT PROSPECTS
Early estimates of the 1943 apple crop indicate at least 10 million
bushels less than in 1942. The peach crop v/ill be about 20 million bushels
less. This 50-million-bushel shortage is only about 5% of the Nation's fruit
crop. The 19 major fruits, grown in this country, grossed in 1942 the re-
spectable total of 15,107,259 tons.
At a fruit meeting at the Chandler farm in Sterling, June 11, attended
by more than 150 growers, the following estimates of the 1943 crop, in com-
parison with 1943, were obtained. The total represents about 25)o of the com-
mercial crop in Massachusetts.
Mcintosh
Baldwin
Delicious
Other varieties
Total
1945
461,000 bu.
67,000 bu.
33,000 bu.
78,000 bu.
1942
500,000 bu.
115,000 bu.
26,000 bu.
93,000 bu.
% increase or decrease
/'
~zw —
'/o
-40^
+27^
-16??
-12^
Issued by the Extension Service in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June 30,
1914, YiTillard A. Munson, director, Massachusetts State College, United States
Department of Agriculture, and County Extension Services cooperating.
-2-
THS WOJffiN'S LMD ARMY
As part of the United States Crop Corps, the Women's Land Army has
been organized nation-wide, to help with the gigantic task of producing
enough food for our boys in service, our allies, and civilians.
The idea of women working on farms is not new. Throughout history
they have done many tasks. And so it is today - women are already working,
and still more - are willing to work on farms in Massachusetts.
Members of the Yifomen's Land Army must be at least 18 years of age
and must secure from their local doctor a certificate stating they are in
good physical condition for hard farm work. Women may enroll as either full-
time or part-time farm workers but must agree to work at least one month.
It is not necessary to have had farm experience. In fact, many farmers pre-
fer training their own help for specific farm \vork.
To hold the patriotic place with WAACS, TfAVES, Marines, and SPARS,
members of the Women's Land Army are eligible to wear the uniform designed
for farm labor. It consists of a dark blue coverall, a light blue shirt,
a hat of two shades of blue, and a dark blue jacket.
On a fruit farm there are many jobs that women have done and can do,
such as: help with the spraying and pruning, picking, grading and packing
of fruit, and driving the truck to market. In some cases, it might be more
efficient, if the members of the Yifoman's Land Army took over some of the
responsibilities in the home, and so relieve the farm homemaker to work out-
side on the farm.
Arrangements may be made by one or two neighboring farmers who might
have need for part-time employment of a woman to help on their farms. To-
gether they could keep her employed full-time. In other cases, a group of
6 or 8 women might be housed in the village center, and several farmers ar-
range for the transportation of workers to their farms nearby.
Your County Agricultural Agent or Emergency Farm Labor Assistant
located at the County Extension Office are able to help you in locating
members of the Women's Land Army to work on your farm.
—Beatrice E. Billings
CURCULIO ON NON-BEARING TREES
Having jarred five curculio beetles from a small peach tree a few
days ago at the Derby fann in Leominster, vfe were interested in knowing if
this insect is commonly found on trees without a crop of fruit. So we put
the question up to TiT. D. Whitcomb of Waltham. He answered as follows: "The
collection of curculio beetles on peach trees withovit fruit is not unusual.
In the early 
