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Prepared by the Fruit Program Committee of the Extension Service
FEBRUARY - MARCH 15,1955
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Place of Dwarf Apple Trees in Commercial Orchards
Pomologlcal Research
The 1954-55 Storage Season
Insect Control Recommendations for 1955
Strawberries
Recommendations for Apple Scab Control - 1955
Issued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Associate Dean and Director, in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914;
University of Massachusetts, United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating.
p..
;^3
YOUR POMOLOGY DEPARTI.IENT
Bailey, John S» - Associate Professor, Research - Stationed at East ViTareham
Doing small fruit research on strawberries, blueberries and beach
plvimso Mr* Bailey also handles considerable of the anall fruits
extension pr ograme
Fish, Almon S« Jr. - Instructor
Teaches small fruits and general fruit growiiig courses, Mr. Fish
is currently taking the place of Mr. J» F, Anderson vrho is on leave
for further graduate study.
French, Arthur P« - Head of Department
Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small
fruit variety testing, currently editor of FRUIT NOTES.
Roberts, Oliver C. - Associate Professor
Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental
courses. Currently also doing research on fruit marketing,
Southvdok, Franklin W. - Professor, Research
Most of his time is q)ent in research on chemical thinning, pre-
harvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutrition. Also,
teaches in certain advanced courses,
Vifeeks, Walter D, - Assistant Professor, Research
Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety and strain
tests and winter hardiness. Also teaches certain advanced courses,
^______^__^____ - Extension Fruit Sp cialist
Vfe hope to have this position filled before long«
Contributors to this Issue from Supporting Fields
Gilgut, Constantino J, - Extension Plant Pathologist
Wheeler, Ellsworth H, - Extension Entomologist
FRUIT NOTES
February -March .195$
Vfith this issue FRUIT NOTSo iindergoes a permanent change of leadership fcr
better or for worse. The originator aid fcrmer compiler, Professor M, H, Thies,
has retired as reported in the January issue* His shoes will be hard to fill,
but we are actively searching for the right man for the pesition of Extension
Fruit Specialist, so that service to the fruit industry, through FRUIT NOTES and
the fruit extension program, may proceed with as little interuptirn as possible.
Every effort will be made to bring you timely, interesting,; and we hope
valuable information on a wide variety cf aspects of fruit growing* However, -
your comments, criticisms and suggestions will always be welcome »
Regulations require that the mailing list cf such a publication be re-
checked periodically. Therefore, sometime before long each of you will receive
a request card which oust be sgned by you and returned if you wish to continue
to receive FRUIT NOTEg^ Otherwise, we are required to drop your naice from the
FRUIT NOTES mailing liste
JOB OPPORTUNITIES ni
The following is quoted from a recent nevrs letter from the Michigan State
College, Department of Horticulture t "We have not been able to keep up with the
ever-increasing demand for our graduates to fill positions as managers of nur-
series, orchards, greenhouses and vegetable farmsj as field advisors and techni-
cians and sales personnel mth organizations that manufacture chemicals and
equipment used in horticultural enterprises* as inspectors, extension and
research workers for the State and Federal governments, and so on. The attention
of promising high school graduates contemplating college careers should be called
to the many possibilities in the field of horticulture,"
Vfe have recent letters stating that two other states besides Massachusetts
are currently looking for an extension man in fruit. One state has a good open-
ing in fruit research.
There are excellent graduate assistantships open in several states. Three
opportunities for a young man to work into an established orchard business have
recently come across my desk. For none of these could we offer a single recom-
mendation because of the s hortage of Pomology students in recent years. The
opportiinities are there for the right persons with adequate preparation,
•sHf^A, P.French
#############
"2 -
THE FIACE OF DWARF APPLE TREES IN COtMJlCIAL ORCHARDS
A recent story from Oregon on "Hedgerow Apples" has prompted the writing of
this article in order to present our views en the pla ce of dwarf apple trees in
commercial orchards*
The hedgerow system of growing apples as described ccaaisted ^f planting
dwarf trees which had been budded on Mailing IX roots tocks. The trees were planted
in rows 12 feet apart while the distance between trees in the row was fear feeto
The trees were supportedby a three-wire trellis* Pictures of the hedgerow showed
that the trees were allowed to develop into a thick, dense row of shod:s and foliage,
Yields •£ 1,690 boxes per acre at the end of 7 years were reported for Roue Beautyp
Advantages claimed for this sytem of culture were ease of harvesting, spraying and
pruning along with high acre yields,
¥e have been testing and evaluating Mailing rootstocks at the University for
the past 25 years, IThile we have never grown trees on Mailing IX in hedgercws,
we have had considerable experience with their performance under Ifessachusetts
conditions. In light of this experience, we should like to point out some serious
disadvantages in the "hedgerow system" as it applied to Massachusetts conditions 9
Our experience with Mailing IX has shown that the trees will not toler-
ate the competition ot grass and thus cannot be grown under a sod system of soil
management. We do not believe it wise to go back to a cultivation system of soil
management for apples in Massachusetts as such a system on our hillside orchards
w«uld create a serious problem of soil erosion.
The trees on Mailing IX are very shallow rooted ad often suffer for water
unless irrigation is provided. They are also very easily tipped over unless seme
method of mechanical support is provided. The need for mechanical support adds
extra expense and attention to detail which must be taken into consideration,
V/hile pruning under this system may be somewhat easier, it will be
more detailed and may require more man hovirs per acre. This becomes particularly
important as the trees get older, because it is not possible to maintain production
without detailed pruning.
The control of apple scab in our humid climate would be extremely difficult
in the dense hedgerows, as foliage inside the rows would be difficult to reach with
spray materials and it would be very slow in drying.
Dwarf trees on Mailing IX are expensive and difficult to obtain. The
initial cost in planting an acre of hedgerow trees could easily be so high as to
prevent many growers starting such an enterprise. Even a planting distance of
8x12 feet would require U5U trees per acreo This would represent an initial in*>
vestment of 9C0 to 1200 dollars per acre for just the cost cf the trees alone «
We do not believe that the "Hedgerow System" of growdug apples is practical
under Massachusetts soil and climatic conditions. In the next issue cf FRUIT NOTES
the possibilities of semi-dwarf trees for Massachusetts orchards will be (iscussed,
^HHs-W.D, Weeks
- 3 -
POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
2t The Influence of Orchard aid Post-Harvest
Treatments on the Metabolism of Tree Fruits
Frcm this flowery sounding project title^ it has been our objective to de-
termine the influence of orchard fertilizers and spray treatments on the rate of
respiration, scftening, storage disorders, and marketable life cf apples*, In ad-
dition, we are also concerned with the effect of post-harvest treatments such as
wraps, chemical dips and vapors, temperatvire, variations in atmospheric gases
(controlled atmosphere storage) on the various factors mentioned previously. Our
basic objective, therefore, is to find ways of slowing the rate cf fresh fruit
deterioration.
Seme information we have gathered while working on this project follows:
1» Excessive use of nitrogen has a pronounced influence on the firm?-
ness and rate of ripening of apples. High nitrogen apples, although greener and
less ripe looking, are actually softer and keep less weH than fruit from trees
at a moderate nitrogen level,
2, All our pre-harvest drop hormones hasten ripening to some degree.
Some of them cause much more ripening than others. Of the materials being sold
in Massachusetts, 2,U,5-TP hastens ripening more than either 2,li,^-TA or NAAo The
ripening effect on apples is much more pronounced when the trees are high in ni-
trogen than when they are growing at a moderate level of nitrogen,
3, Maleic hydrazide applied as a spray is capable of slowing the rate
of fruit ripening sLightly, One of ovir hopes is that some day a chemical ripen-
ing inhibitor will be found which will significantly lengthen the marketable life
of fresh fruit,
1;, ¥e have learned many things about controlled atmosphere storage
constructirn and management during the past 3 years following commercial instal-
lation of such rooms in this state,
i«H<-F ,W , S ttuthwi ck
#############
Learn and See Thru Yfcur TV
The Massachusetts Extension Service in cooperation with
Station IBZ-TV, Channel U, Boston, presents -
"Homecoming" - TiTednesdays 2rU5 - 3:00 PM
A program featuring many suggestions
of special interest to the homemaker,
"Down To Earth" - Saturdays 8:30 - 8:5$ AM
For those folks interested in agri-
culture acid the problems of the
hemp gardener.
TEE 195h-'SS STORAGE SEASON
Fruit Firmness - The presence of too many soft Mcintosh in storage seems to te an
annual problem. The best ways we knoTr for keeping Mcintosh in
good shape in storage are: . .
1, Only apples which are quite firm at harvest are suitable
for long storage. Apples testing Ih lbs* or less at
harvest time will not keep well beyond Christmas time*
Mcintosh lose about one pound of firmness about every 3
weeks,
2« Place apples in cold storage the same day they are picked
or at least within 2^ hours of harvesting e Every day in
the orchard at 70°F. takes a week off the marketable life
of an apple o
3» Get the apples cooled to 32°F, m thin U or 5 dayse This
means for some storages more cooliiag capacity, better
stacking methods, and better air circulation. An apple
will ripen much more rspidly at 36-iiO°F, than at 32°F,
Although Mcintosh have about a weeWs marketable life at room tem-
perature after they reach 10 Ibso pressure, Mcintosh apples are
much better eating at aro\md 12 Ibso In other vrords, you'll
make more friends selling a 12 lb, Mcintosh than a 10 lb, one,
A pressure tester is a rather valuable toolfor keeping track of
the storage condition of apples « There shea Id be many more of
them being used today. One costs about 1)30,00 but we believe it
is worthwhile as an investment. The address of the manufacturer
can be p: ovided upon request.
Storage Humidity - The subject has been discussed many times but many storages
still have humidity problems. There is a very good atomiser
on the market which can be hooked up to the water line and
will adequately humidify apple storages© A line strainer and
.. : 2 nozzles cost less than $10,00, A humidity measuring sling
psychrometer should be standard equipment in all storages o
They may be had for less than ^lOcOO, Information concerning
these items may be had upon request, also, Why have apples
which show some shriveling when it can be prevented by proper
storage management.
Storage Scald - This year we've been lucky! No great amount of scald has appeared
even en Gortlaid, a very scald susceptible variety o How come? In
general, it seems that when we have a cool growing season such as
the one just past, scald is much less of a problem than when we
have a hot, dry growing season, Vife are testing mineral oil sprays,
as suggested ty Ve Shutak at the University of Rhode Island, to
determine their valiae on Greening, Cortland and Rome, Since so
little scald is developing we shall not bring our treated apples
out of storage vmtil JIarch or April when we hope there will be
some scald to control.
Controlled Atmosphere Storage - This type of storage seems to be gaining acceptance.
■".Je now have capacity for about 1^0,000 bushels of
Mcintosh in Massachusetts o It will not surprise
us to see our capacity rise to 100^000 bushels or
more within the next 2-»3 years if results obtained
from present rooms are favorable a New York State
now has a capacity for more than 500,000 bushels.
. All rooms operating in this state have been run
very well. It now appears that rooms can be made
sufficiently gas tight without the use of sheet
metal, Vfe are anxious to provide any assistance
we can to those interested in constructing such
rooms,
■sHHfF ,Vif , Southwick
#######//#####
YOUNG TREES IN AN OLD ORCHARD - When a young tree is planted T/here an old one is
taken out, growth is frequently disappointing. At one time it was thought that
a mature tree left something toxic in the soil. But that ideahas been very largely
discarded. The scanty groiirth of the young tree is explained in this way: (l) Certain
elements may have been depleted leaving a lack of balance in the soilo (2) The
organisms vhich bring about decay of the dead roots require nitrogen ard therefore
compete with the young tree, (3) If other mature trees with mdely ranging root
systems remain standing nearby, they also offer serious competitiono (U) Use of
sulfur in s cab control over a period of years lowers the pH to a level unfavorable
for the growth of the young tree. After removing an old tree a soil improvement
program is frequently essential. This involves more than a mere surface applicaticn
of lime and a complete fertilizerc These materials incorporated into the soil,
plus a rank grov/th of cover crop will help to restore the depleted soil to its former
condition, A year spent in growing fertilized cover crops will be time well spente
If manure is available it can be used to good advantage o The soil must be handled
in such a viay that the young tree makes good growth from the starto If 'vre allov/ a
young tree to loaf along, making one year's growth in three, we lose both time aad
money,
###### # # # # # f!' #
Orchards Old ard New - According to J, R, Magness
of the USDA, no commercial apple producing area
has ever made a reputation for its product from
old orchards. He estimates that not more than k%
of the national commercial apple crop is produced
in orchards more than kO years old. To stabilize
commercial production and to maintain orchards in
a more profitable age group, it is essential that
new plantings be made each year and old plantings
discarded,
(This statement appeared in the December 1937
issue of FRUIT NOTES, It is just as true today
as then,-^!),)
6 -
INSECT CONTROL REC0M1'IEI€)ATI0NS FOR 1955
I am happy to report but few changes in our fruit insect control reccmmenda-
tions for 1955 • All of you are aware of the extremely rapid introduction of new
materials that took place in the years follovjing the end of World War lie This
made rather drastic changes in recommendations necessary and oftentimes led to
much confusion.
Through the sorting process carried out by you growers in your orchards,,
as Tsell as by those testing the many materials in their experimental set-ups, much
of the chaff has now been separated from the wheatj I feel that we are on much
firmer ground when making most of our recommendations*
It should not be overlooked that at least part of the confusion and the
necessity for rather extreme changes in our recommendations during the past sever-
al years resulted from the appearance of pests not considered important previous
to the use of some of our newer materials. You know what I mean when I name red-
banded leaf roller, yellow mite and 2-spotted mite« This is a strong argument in
support of the lead arsenate program for the growers who do not have serious cur-
culio or codling moth problems.
The development of air-blast sprayers and the use of concentrates.iiave.' in-
fluenced greatly some recommendations with respect to the uses of certain materials.
As fungicides and methods of combatting diseases are changed, it is often necessary
to re-evaluate the insect control program, Vifith the development of each new mat-
erial there must come a consideration of its compatibility with all the materials
with which it may be used or irahich it may pre cede . or followo
The changes in recommendations are not arrived at lightlyj they are intro-
duced only when it is believed growers will be benefitted,
A great majority of the apple growers in Massachusetts were very suc-
cessful in controlling insects and mites during the 19$h season, YiTe were helped
to some extent by the weather, but I believe that use of the right materials for
your particular situation, and their thorough application at the proper time were
very important contributing factors in your success. If you are one of those
growers who did control insects and mites successfully in your orchards in 195U, I
would urge you to use the same materials, timing and application techniques in 1955 o
A new program should be used only where it can be shown there is a dis-
tinct advantage to you or where some insect or mite has not been well controlled.
Try experimental programs on tank-sized or smaller blocks worked out in such a way
that you have direct comparisons between the new program and a more standard one,
Nov/ let's consider some of the individual pests and materials, keeping in
mind that the ideas expressed here are to give you additional help if the program
you have followed has not given satisfactory results.
Rosy Aphid ; This aphid caused a groat deal of damage on susceptible
varieties in 195 U; we have no way of knovdng whether there will be a repeat per-
formance in 1955* Outstanding control can be obtained with a DN material in the
Dormant if the application is thorough. Fortunately, vire now have alternative
measures such as BHC added to oil or to an early scab spray in Delayed Dormant,
Good to excellent control is attainable vdth a phosphate material such as malathion
or TEPP used in 1 or 2 Pre-bloom fungicide spr^s. Check your 1955 Spray Chart
for compatibilities and details.
Bud Moth ; This insect is well controlHed by a thorough Dormant ap-
plication of DNc It may be handled also with malathion or parathion in a Pre-blocm
application. Even minimum concentrations of parathion used in 5"th or 6th Cover
will provide complete control of the summer broodc
"Superior" Oil ; It is advisable to use oil at least once every
three years* Many growers are using oil every year and swear by it» The complete
omission of oil, every year, may lead to a build-up of San Jose Scale, Also, the
lack of oil may hasten the time when you can no longer control red mite mth one of
the phosphate materials such as TEPP, malathion or parathion because strains re~
sistant to these materials also develop. It is best to try to kill them in several
different wayse
There is a new wrinkle to consider. If you plan to use the fungicide, captan,
to protect against scab early in the season, then the oil spray must be put on be-
fore any green tissue is showing in the buds. Leaves may be severely injured if
sprayed with oil and then with captan,
Gypsy Mot h; This insect may be more of a problem in 1955 in many
orchards in Worcester, JliSdle sex, Essex arid Berkshire counties* Much depends upon
hew soon the Department of Natural Resources sprays woodlands surroimding your
orchard if you are in one of the towns where the gypsy moth reached the outbreak
stage in 195U. I would suggest that you be ready to include a poimd of DDT-50 in
the Pink Spray if there is any evidence that gypsy moth is at a peak or near-peak
in your area*
Red-«Banded Leaf roller ; This insect continues to surprise growers
with the amount of damage it does during the 3-U weeks follovdng Petal Fall, To
prevent these losses and to reduce the potential for 2nd brood, we are recommending
that TDE (DDD) be included with materials ueed against curculio in either the Petal
Fall or 1st Cover Sprays, Plase note that with the fungicides, captan and glyodin,
only the wettable powder types of TDE are safe, whether it is being used early
against 1st brood or late in the season against 2nd brood.
Plum Curculio ! Dieldrin has provided excellent control of curculio^
The small quantity required, just one-half pound of the S0% powder: in 100 gallons,
makes it possible to use dieldrin at a saving even though it is absolutely essential
that TDE be used with it at least once and that DDT be added to it when codling
moth must be controlled, Dieldrin is very toxic to bees; applications to blossoms
of any kind being worked actively by bees should be avoided, Methoxychlor also
continues to give outstanding control, but may need TDE added to handle moderate
to heavy outbreaks of leafroller.
Codling Moth : In Massachusetts DDT still seems effective against
this pest although reports of rather high resistance in some strains continue to
come in from orchard areas to our west. If you have a codling moth problem and
are not satisfied v/ith the control being obtained and you are sure that it is not
because of poor timing or the lack of coverage, then you may wish to supplement^
the DDT with a pound or more of the 25^ malathion wettable powder as indicated in
the 1955 Spray Chart.
Apple Maggot ; This insect continues to be a seriov® threat. The
last several years in particular the appearance of flies late in the season has
caused much concern and too much damage. Whether these flies are those which
emerge late or whether they are migrants is not well understood, but the fact re-
mains they are flies ready to attack our fruit. It seems absolutely essential that .
- 8 -
growers keep very close ivatch of their susceptible varieties and make -use of the
regularly recommended sprays or dusts for apple maggot control plus emergency ap-
plications of methoxychlor closer to harvest. If organic materials such as DDT,
IDE and methoxychlor are depended upon entirely for apple maggot control, then it
is unsafe to stretch the interval between applications beyond 10 days,
European Red Mite ; Oil used in Delayed Dormant (Dormant in the
captan schedule) is still very desirable for the control of this mitec If you
want to do a 100^ job, this oil application can be supplemented in Pink or in 1st
Cover or later ty some of the other miticides such as malathion or TEPP,^ Some
trials have been made with ovex (Ovotran, Orthotran, etct)» Results have been
excellent. Care must be taken, however, not to overspray and not to exceed the
recomraended dosages of l/k lb, of $0% ovex in Pink and If! t Cover and l/2 lb, per
100 in any later application.
If no oil is used, then it is very desirable to plan a mite control program
using one of the foliage type miticides such as malathion, TEPP or for extensive
trial, the ovex mentioned above. Such programs are well outlined in the 19^5 Spray
Chart,
TtTO-Spotted Mite ? This mite continues to be a problem in orchards
on the schedule making full use of organic insecticides. It appears relatively
late as compared to red mite and thus is not well controlled with the applications
put on during the early part of the seasono There is some indication that the full
ovex program of four sprays such as Pink, 1st Cover, 3-d Cover and ^th Cover, may
also handle two-spctted mite, I am of the opinion that the amount of ovex applied
to the ground cover during the process of spraying the trees might have a great
deal of influence upon the effectiveness of this program against the 2-spot,
If two-spotted mite does develop and aphids are not a problem vinder hot; dry
conditions, Aramite is one of the most effective materials that can be used. If
aphids are also a problem one of the phosphates such as malathion would be more
logical,
Demeto n (Systox, etcc)» This newer phosphate which is described
more fully elsewhere in this report, is worthy of limi ted trial on bearing trees.
Its compatibility with other materials that may have been used earlier or vfill be
used along with it, is not well known. This is a good reason for limited trials .
For the control of red mite, two-spotted mite and green aphid, demeton may be tried
in a single application used late in June or early July at a rate equal to 6-8
ounces per 100 gallons. On young or non-bearing trees, there should be no need
for hesitation in the use of demeton to control green aphid or mitese Ei+her BHC
or lindane could be used on non-bearjjig trees and might prove more economical and
certainly a lot less hazardous to those applying the material, Demeton must be
handled TJith the same safety precautions necessary with parathion .
Residue Tolerances ; For many of our commonly used pees tic ides
definite residue tolerances on harvested crops have been or are being established
nan ty the Federal Department of Health, Education and Vvelfare, Eventually, it
will be unlawful for new pesticidesto be sold vmtil a residue tolerance on harvest
crops has been established for the material wiien used for the proposed purpose.
It is important for all growers to understand the significance of t his amend-
ment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, It is even more important for
growers to use pesticides in a manner which provides a high degree of pest control
while at the same time assuring crops at harvest time free from residues in excess
- 9 -
of established tolerances.
To the best of our knowledge, excessive residues should not result from
using any of the products named in the ^est Control Charts if they are applied as
reconniended,
(This article is used in FRUIT NOTES through the courtesy of the Massachusetts
Fruit Growers Association, 1955 Annual Report, — EDc)
^HHi-E .H.Wheeler
#############
STRAWBERRIES
Three new red stele resistant strawberry varieties, Orland^ Ifeine 55 and
Monmouth, are suggested for trial in the recent revision of Special Circular Noc
212-.D available from the Mailing Room or your county extension office* These
three varieties appear to be mid-to late-season, high yielder, of better than
average quality but not too firm, in limited trials to date. At the moment, Orland
looks somewhat better than the other two, but all three should be worthy of trial
where red stele is a problems
Speaking of red stele, a report by Ee K« Vaughan, etalo in
Phytopathology , October 195U, indicates that Douglas Fir sawdust mulch caused a
significant increase in the seriousness of red stele o Under a four inch mulch
36?5 of the plants vrere affected by red stele whereas under clean cultivation only
8% were visibly injuredo A similar amount of sawdust vorked into the soil caused
only slight increase in red stele o Since the reason given for more red stele under
a sawdust miilch is thought to be lower soil temperature and higher moisture content,
one might expect that aiy kind of sawdust would have the same effect iJrtien used as
a surface mulch o
Virus-free strawberry plants are being offered for sale by several
northeastern nurseries this spring. Pomology Department Sheet No, 12, which may
be had for the asking, lists the local sources of such plants of vhich we know,
•»HH«-A. P.French
##############
BEES AND GRAPES
"Grape growers frequently see bees sucking the juice from grapes and there
fore blame the bees for destroying their fruit© It has long been known that
bees do not have mouth parts which can cut the skin of fruit. In the Bee
World (England), Go Giordani, Bologna, Italy, reports experiments which inj-
dicate that bees are not capable of damaging smooth skinned fruit, although
they will suck the juice of fruit previously damaged by birds, wasps and
other insects,
"Giarvarini in 193U showed that bees in cages died of starvation when grapes
were the only source of food, unless the skin had been previously pierced ,"
•»H«5-from Yi/isconsin Horticulture
- 10 -
RECJMMEMIIAnjNS FOR APPLE SCAB CONTROL - 19^5
Apple scab can be controlled satisfactorily on a protective schedule with
the modern fungicides. In such a program, the fungicide must be applied thoroughly
before each rain which is long enough for infection to take place or during such a
rain before infection has taken place.
However, there are times when it is not possible to apply a f\ingicide before
an infection rain or, if the fungicide was applied on time, it was v/ ashed off by
prolonged and heavy rain so that green tissues are no longer protected toward the
end of the infection period. Fortunately, there are fungicides and combinations of
fungicides which have the ability - called "kickback" - to inactivate the scab
organism in the early stages of infection, A knowledge of the fungicides which
have "kickback" and the length of time after the beginning of an infection period
that such action is effective can be used to advantage in controlling scab.
Finally, if scab has not been prevented or stopped, and scab spots appear
on the apple leaves, the grower still has a chance. It is a drastic measure and
consists of using a powerful chemical to eradicate or "bum out" the scab spots,
Becaiose of the element of risk grovrers are urged to make a conscientious effort
to control scab by protection and use of "kickback" fungicides so that there will
be no need for eradication.
There are three basic protective schedules to choose from with variations
for "kickback". All of them will give satisfactory scab control is used properly.
Basic Ferbam^ulfur Schedule
In: this program, Ferbam 3 A Ih. is combined with Sulfur at half strength.
No sulfur is used in 2nd Cover or later and Ferbam is reduced to 1 lb, heire or in
3rd Cover if there is good primary scab or if the weather is dry. Combinations are
at he If strength each.
Delayed Dormant
Up-To-Pink
Pre Rain
In Rain
Post Rain
Basic
DiseSse Control
Ferbam 1-1/2 lbs.
Variations
Neutral Copper Fungicides
(gO^)-l lb,; 25^2 lbs.
Ferbam plus Sulfur
Ferbam plus Sulfur
Ferbam 1-1/2 lbs,
Dichlone plus Ferb, or Sulf ,
cr Dichl«ne or Sulfur dust
. Dichlone l/2 Ib.j Dichlone
plus Ferb, or Su3f .; Ferb.
plus phenyl mercury,
Pink
Same as Up-To-Pink
Bloom
Pre Rain
Ferbam plus Sulfur Ferbam
In Rain
Ferbam plus Sulfur Ferbam or Sulfur dust or spray
Post Rain
Ferbam plus phenyl mercury
Calyx
Same as Up-To-Pink
For eradication, if needed,
phenyl mercury full strength
alone .
- 11 -
Basic
Disease Control
Variations
1st Cover
Same as Up-To-Pink
Use no pl:^gon here or later.
Phenyl mercury alone for
eradication 8
2nd Cover
Use no Sulfur here or later.
Ferbam 1-1/2 lbs, Captan 1 lb. or glyodin 1-1/2
pts.
Phenyl mercury for eradication
only.
3rd. Cover
Ferbam 1 lb.
Captan 1 lb, or glyodin
1-1/2 pts.
Uth & 5th Cover
Ferbam 1 lb.
Captan 1 lb.
6th & 7th Cover
Captan 1 lb.
Glyodin 1-1/2 pts.
Comments on Ferbam-Sulfur program:
Red Delicious and Baldwin - Ferbam only early in seasonj no dichlonej no
sulphur if lead is used before 3rd Cover,
Yellow Delicious: Captan only throughout c
Phenyl mercury eradicant (full strength) may russet Red Delicious, BaldYiin
and Rhode Island Greening, Iviay be desirable to use at half strength with
other fungicide o
Glyodin is left out in Uth and ^th Cover, when lead arsenate will probably
be used for insect control, to avoid injury to Cortland, Baldwin, Red
Delicious, Rhode Island Greening and tacoun.
Basic Captan Schedule
Captan at 2 lbs, is used as the basic fungicide. To avoid injury from captan
and oil, put oil on in Dormant and start captan in Delayed Dormanto Combination
at half strength each.
Delayed Dormant
Up-To-Pink
Pre Rain
In Rain
Post Rain
Basic
Disease Control
Captan 2 lbs a
Variations
C^ tan
Captan
Captan plus Mercury
Captan plus Dichlone
Pink
Same as Up-'i'o-Pink
Bloom
Pre Rain
In Rain
Post Rain
Captan
Captan
Captan plus ifercury
Calyx
Same as Up-To-Pink
1st Cover
Captan 2 lbs<
Captan plus mercury for
"kickback"
2nd Cover
Ijth through 7th Cover
Captan 1 lb.
Captan 2 lbs.
Captan 1 lb.
- 12 -
Connnents on Captan program;
Excellent fruit finish on all varieties in lead program. Best for Golden
Delicious.
Injury is possible, if used after sulfur or dichlone, on Red Delicious and
Baldwin, Do not use with or right after oil, Frogeye and leaf yellow-
IJig.
For Rusts, use at half strength with half strength ferbam, before rains in
Pink, Bloom and Calyx,
Basic Glyodin Schedule
Glyodin is used at 1 qt« and reduced to 1-1/2 pts. in covers and Captan sub-
stituted where there is danger from lead arsenate injury. Suppresses red mite if
season is started with lovf mite populations.
Delayed Dormant
Basic
Disease Control
Ferbam 1-1/2 lbs.
if oil is used
Variations
Glyodin;, if no oil used
or Neutral Copper $0% -
1 lb., 2^% - 2 lbs.
Up-To-Pink
Pre Rain
In Rain
Post Rain
Glyodin 1 qt,
Glyodin 1 qt.
Glyodin plus Mercury
Pink T
Bloora )
Calyx: )
Same as IIp-To-Pink
Ist Cover
Glyodin 1 qt.
Glyodin and mercury
(1/2 str, each) if
needed for "kickback".
2nd & 3rd Cover
Glyodin 1-1/2 pts.
Uth through 7th Cover Captan 1 lb.
Captan 1 lb.
Glyodin 1-1/2 pts. if
no lead arsenate is usedc
Comments on Glyodin program:
For rusts use ferbam 3/U lb, with glyodin 1 pt, in pre-rain applications in
Pink, Bloom and Calyx,
Do not use on yellow and green varieties nor with lead arsenate in covers on
Cortland, Baldwin, Red Delicious, Rhode Island Greening and Macoun.
Hfercury eradicant, full strength, may russet Baldvd.n, Red Delicious, and
Rhode Island Greening, May be desirable to use at helf strength each,
mercury and glyodin,
Glyodin with TEPP or emulsifiable concentrates of insecticides may cause
injury.
(This article is used in FRUIT NOTES through the courtesy of the Massachusetts
Fruit Growers Association, 19^5 Annual Report, — ^EDa)
■}HH«;;J,Gilgut
Publication Approved by George J, Cronon, State Purchasing Agent #19
APRIL 15, 1955
POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Explanation of the U. S. Weather Bureau's Forecasts
for New England
Hew to Keep Those Strawberries Virus-Free
The Mcintosh Outlook
Pomological Research
Apple Variety Survey
Clean Up Week
A New Water Repellent
Local Supply of Bees for Pollination is Short
Ismued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Asaociate Dean and Director,
in furtherance of the Acta of May 8 and June 30, 1914; University of Massachusetts,
United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating.
Publication Approved by George J. Cronin, State Purchasing Agent, No. 19.
YOUR POMOLOGY DEPARTlffiNT
Bailey, John S« - Associate Professor, Research - Stationed at East ViTarehem
Doing small fruit research on strav^berries, blueberries and beach
plums, lir, Bailey also handles considerable of the small fruits
extension program.
Fish, Almon S, Jr. - Instructor
Teaches small fruits and general fruit growing courses. >'ir. Fish
is currently taking the place of Mr, J, F, Anderson who is on leave
for further graduate study,
French, Arthur P, - Head of Department
Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small
frvdt variety testing, currently e ditor of FRUIT NOTES.
Roberts, Oliver C, - Associate Professor
Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental
courses. Currently also doing research on fi^it marketing*
Southwick, Franklin W, - Professor, Research
Most of his time is spent in research on chemical thinning, pre-
harvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutritim # Also^
teaches in certain advanced courses*
Weeks, Walter D, - Assistant Professor, Research
Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety and strain
tests and winter hardiness. Also teaches certain advanced courses,
- Extension Fruit Specialist
We hope to have this position filled before long.
Contributors To this Issue from Supporting Fields
Henry, Carl B, - U.S.Fish & V/ildlife Service
Parmenter, Robert B, - Extension Forester
Shaw, Frank R, - Associate Professor in Entomology &. Beekeeping
li/heeler, Ellsworth Hs - Extension Entomologist
FRUIT NOTES
April 19^5
EXPIANATION OF THE U.S. WEATHER BUREAU'S AGRICULTURAL FORECAST
FOR NEW ENGLAND t AI^O DEFINITIONS OF TERtIg USED IN WEATHER FORECASTS.
I vfant to urge each county office to have this information duplicated and sent
to all commodity nailing lists.
During April, I.Iay and June this information will be of particular use to fruit
and vegetable growers. The definition of terms regularly used by the Bureau in its
daily forecasts should be of interest to all readers of county publications and to
many others as well.
U.S» WEATHER BUREAU ACaUCULTURAL FORECAST PROGRAM IN NEW ENGIAKD
The purpose of this program is to provide special forecasts for agriculture in
order to give the farmer the weather information he needs for planning and conducting
his operations. These forecasts are "tailored" to particular operations such as
maple sugar production^ fruit-tree spraying, crop planting, spraying, dusting or
harvesting, frost protection and the like»
The U«S,Vifeather Bureau forecast center at East Boston issues detailed agricul-
tural forecasts every v/eekday morning for Inclusion on the early farm radio programs.
These forecasts cover the New England area wliich has been divided into convenient
"weather" zones. They are also made available to local Vifeather Bureau Offices in
each state and are used as a basis for specialized local forecasts which they issue
for use on special farm programso
The "weather" zones used at present are:
Eastern llassachusetts - from southern tip of Maine south to Cape, and inland
15-20 miles.
South Central N.E. - Most of Conn., R.I., central Mass., including Conn.
Valley.
Berkshires - highlands in western Conn., lilass,, ard southern Vt.
North Central N.E, - southern N.H. except near coast, southeastern Vt,
Northern Vermont - northern half of state.
Northern N.Hj - northern half of state,
J.Iaine - subdivided by special local forecast areas.
Radio provides the most adequate means of disseminating these agricultural
forecasts. If a radio farm program director decides he does not wish to read these
special agricultural forecasts, there is little ttie Weather Bureau or other federal,
state or county employees can do to change his mind. The people who use tliese fore-
casts and find them helpful are the ones v/ho can bring pressure on radio stations and
farm program directors, VJrite, call or see them and emphasize your desire to hear
those special agricultural forecasts.
Ellsworth H, Wheeler
Extension Entomologist
•^nore-
- 2 -
DEFINITIONS OF WEATHER TERMS
(Prepared by Dr, Oscar Tenenbaum, Meteorologist in Charge^ Airport Station)
I. STATE OF SKY
A) Clear - Sky free or practically free from clouds (average for period less
than l/lO of sky covered),
B) Cloudy or Overcast - Sky completely covered or nearly so (average for period
more than 9/10 of sky covered).
Intermediate conditions betrreen clear and cloudy taken into account by use of
the folloTfdng terms j
C) Scattered Clouds - Average cloudiness l/lO-^/lO sky covered,
D) Partly Cloudy - Average cloudiness 3/IO-7/IO for period,
E) Considerable Cloudiness or Mostly Cloudy - Average partly cloudy to overcast
for period.
Modifying Terms
Increasing cloudiness - Progressive increase in cloudiness, either in amount of
sky covered or in density of cloud layers.
Decreasing cloudiness - Progressive decrease in the amount of sky covered, and/or
density of clouds.
Clearing - (in general, used only after pscipitation has occurred) - Clearing sky
follovdng a period of mostly cloudy weather.
Variable cloudiness - Variable amounts of cloudiness. May range from nearly
clear to cloudy or vice versa in a small interval of time,
II. VJEATHER
A) Fair - Broadly speaking, free of precipitationo Usually means not much
cloudiness, but can include high thin clouds which do not obscure the sun,
moon or stars, but only dim their intensity. In other words, the term ordin-
arily means sunshine most of the day, and moon or stars visible at night,
B) Showers - Precipitation intermittent and of short duration. Characterized by
suddenness with -viihich precipitation starts and stops and its rapid changes
of intensity. Often accompanied by rapid changes between dark, threatening
clouds and clearing conditions «
1, General Showers (often indicated by use of word "showers" alone) means
that showers are expected over major portion of area,
2, Scattered shovrers - Showers expected to affect 30-70^ of the area,
3, Widely scattered or local showers - Showers expected to affect 30^ or
less of the area.
- -3 -
C) Rain - Precipitation of comparatively long duration as distinguished from
showers. Precipitation expected over major portion of area,
lo Occasional rain - Precipitation at infrequent intervals and not prolonged,
but rather v/idespread ,
2, Intermittent rain - Precipitation of more or less general and prolonged
character but frequently interrupted for short periods.
Modifying Terms for Shovver and Rain Forecasts
In Terms of Amount Expected In Terms of Bate of Accumulation
Very light - less than ,03"
Light - less than ,10" Tvr to ,10" per hour
Moderate - ,10" to ,50" .11" to ,30" per hour
Heavy - more than ,^0" over ,30" per hour
Very heavy - more than 1,0"
•M-T indicates a trace of rain, i,e,, an amovmt too small to measure,
D) Drizzle - Precipitation consisting of numerous tiny droplets which appear to
float in the air. Usually accompanied by loi/, stratus type clouds and fog,
E) Thunderstorm - liVhen thunder is heard a thixnderstorm is considered to be
occurring. It may or may not be accompanied by precipitation. If a shoiver
does accompany the thunder it is termed a "thundershower", (Treated similar
to showers in forecasts,)
F) Fog - Minute water droplets suspended in the atmosphere (results in reduced
visibility) ,
G) Dew or Frost - Widespread liquid or frozen condensation on surface objects.
May be modified by the terms "light" or "heavy", or by "killing" in the case
of severe frost,
III. TEMPERATURE
In general, temperature forecasts, actual readings (usually maximum and minimum)
v/ill be given. However, in trenci forecasts for longer periodsthe following
terms apply;
A) Ylarmerr or not quite so cool - The high or low teirperatures during the period
will be at least four degrees higher than the comparable extremes occurring
during the same period 2k hours before,
B) Colder, cooler , or not quite so warm - The high or lovx temperatxires during
period will be at least four degrees lower ttian the cwnparable extremes
occurring during the same period 2k hours before,
C) Little change - High or low temperatures during the period will not differ
by more than seven degrees from the comparable extreme occurring during the
same period 2k hours before.
IV. WIND
V/ind forecasts will include direction and velocity with velocity given in miles
per hour,
Modifying Terms Applied to V/ind Direction
a) Variable - Irregular « Usually subject to sIovt or moderate changes of varying
magnitude •
B) Changeable - Irregxilar changes of direction of a more decided nature and
magnitude than "variable",
C) Mostly - A modifier used when winds will be subject to some variability, to
indicate viiat direction will predominate,
V. HTO/HDITY OR DRYING CONDITIONS
The drying rate is a fvinction of wind velocity, sunshine, temperature and rela-
tive humidity. The first three of these elements have already been covered,
and the forecaster ^7ill combine his forecast of these elemenlswith expected re-
lative humidity to evaluate the drying rate, Eiying coiditions will then be
forecast as being in one of the following classes;
1, Poor drying: 2, Fair drying; 3, Good drying: It, Excellent drying,
VI. FORECAST PERIOD
A) " Today" covers today's daylight hours, if the forecast also mentions this
evening or tonight-
plete immersion of 3-U seconds is recommended for adequate treatment.
For hardwoods, 5-10 seconds is sufficient. Larger items than food
t
I
- n -
containers require immersion periods ranging from 1 minute upwards.
2* Brushing - Flow the treating solution on liberally rather than brush it
on. Keep the brush dripping wet at all times. Two coats are advised
on dense woods. After treatment, by any method, allow the solvents to
completely evaporate.
3. Spraying - Use spray guns. Be sure to apply a liberal coating to the
wood. Apply two coats.
Name of product source will be furnished by the undersigned on request.
Robert B, Parmenter
## ## ### # # # ###
LOCAL SUPPLY OF BEES FOR POLLINATION IS SHORT
Winter Losses Heavy : Winter losses of bees have been high. This information comes
to us from various parts of liassachusetts and f rom other New England states as well.
Losses have been so heavy as t) warrant real concern among fruit growers and others
who must depend upon bees for pollination.
Poor Honey Flow in Fall of 195^ t Undoubtedly, these excessive losses can be correla-
ted with the poor fall honey flow in many parts of New England last year. The cooler
than normal summer and fall, hurricane damage to honey plants, excessive rainfall and
long periods of low sunshine were contributing factors to this situation. Colonies
went into the winter with an inadequate food supply.
Early Attention Needed to Assure Adequate Supply of Bees for Pollinatlon t It is very
likely that bees for hire will be scarce this spring. Fruit growers and others v;ho
need bees for pollination are urged to arrange early for their supply of these very
necessary insect helpers.
What To Do ; Here, are some suggestions which may help to solve your problem.
(1) Contact immediately the beekeeper vrho has supplied you with colcnies in
the past. Find out ■v*ether he anticipates any trouble supplying your needs,
(2) If your usual source of supply appears inadequate, ask your county agent
for the names of other beekeepers. He is also in a position to bring your
needs to the attention of county or other local beekeepers' associations.
(3) Dealers in beekeeping supplies are often a valuable contact through \tiich
you may obtain additicaial names of beekeepers and some idea of the extent
of their apiaries. A list of such dealers has been supplied to each county
extensicn office.
ih) As an emergency measure, make use of package bees. Package bees are not
as efficient as overwintered colonies. They may fail completely unless
certain steps are taken to give them every possible chance to perform the
job for which you have obtained them. For best results package bees should
be installed in hives, fed, and encouraged to develop as far ahead of bloom
as possible.
- 12 -
Package bees may be purchased in 2-Foand packages for approximately $3 #00
to !!i)3.75« For larger units, add approximately ^1,00 for each additional
pound, exclusive of shipping »
The size package required depends upon several factors ; (a) The interval
between installation and bloom on the crop to^ggllinated. Packages of
two to three pounds, if handled properly, are'^aaequate if they are ob-
tained and installed four to six -/reeks before bloom appears on the crop
to be pollinated. If the interval between installation and bloom is
less than four weeks, especially if only seven to ten days, five pound
units are none too big. The shorter the interval between installation
and bloom, the larger the unit must be and also the greater need for a
larger number of packages e
(b) The weather during the build-up period is very important^ but we
don't know what you can do about it. It seems obvious that larger units,
and more of them, will overcome the adverse effects of unfavorable
weather to some extent,
(c) The availability of nectar and pollen from plants blooming ahead of
the crop to be pollinated. Here again, vre don't know what you can do
about it except to see to it that the colonies are adequately fed as a
substitute for the more desirable foods they could ©btain from plants.
If you do have to rely on package bees, why not contact local beekeepers
and make arrangements with them to secure necessary hives and other
equipment as well as some labor and "know-how" so as to assure the best
possible returns for the money you have spent to secure the bees. In
some areas cooperative arrangements have been worked out to the complete
satisfaction of both growers and beekeepers. The growers needing bees,
buy the packages; the beekeeper takes charge of them when they arrive,
installs them in his hives and then keeps the bees as part-payment for
the pollination service,
(5) Having exhausted all possibility of obtaining an adequate bee supply
locally, you may wish to contact beekeepers in other states. Some of these
make the rental of colonies for pollination pxirposes a main partof their
business. Transportation costs plus the rental fees may make this an ex-
pensive procedure.
Protect the Beea ; Do everything possible to avoid unnecessary destruction of bees
through the unvdse use of insecticides. At times when bees are most active, whether
on crop blossoms or on dandelions or other weeds, use those insecticides which are
the least toxic to bees.
If you rent bees or have an arrangement with a beekeeper to handle package
bees, make sure the owner has ample opportunity to get the bees away from the orchard
before applying post-bloom sprays or dusts.
Experiments carried out last year and in many other parts of the cotmtry give
us no reason to think the aerial spray program carried out for gypsy moth is deleter-
ious to bees to the extent that colonies are greatly weakened or lost,
F»R,Shaw &. E,H,Virheeler
Publication Approved by George J, Cronin, State Purchasing Agent - #19
H^->
POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST
MAY 15, 1955
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hew Can W« G«t Better Applet to the CenBumer?
Summer Fruit Meeting*
Blueberry Maggot
Special Pest Control ll^ttages from U of M
Electricity - Friend or Foe?
Removing Strawberry Blossoms
Pomelogicol Research
The "Miller Bill" Becomes Effective
Issued by the Extension Service, James W. Dayton, Associate Dean and Director,
in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 19 M; University of Massachusetts,
United States Department of Agriculture and County Extension Services cooperating
Publication Approved by George J. Cronln, State Purchasing Agent, No, 19.
YOUR POMOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Bailey, John S« - Associate Profess or. Research - Stationed at East V/arehaau
Doing small fruit research on strawberries, blueberries and beach
plums. Mr. Bailey also handles considerable of the small fruits
extension program.
Fish, Almon S. Jr. - Instructor
Teaches small fruits and general fruit growing courses, lir. Fish
is currently taking the place of I^. J. F, Anderson who is on leave
for further graduate study.
French, Arthur P. - Head of Department
Does some teaching in Pomology and in Plant Breeding, active in small
fruit variety testing, currently editor of FRUIT NOTES.
Roberts, Oliver C, - Associate Professor
Teacher of pest control, fruit marketing and other departmental
courses • Currently also doing research on fruit marketing.
Southwiok, Franklin 1/Y. - Professor, Research
Most of his time is spent in research on chemical thinning, pre-
harvest drop, several aspects of storage and nutrition. Also,
teaches in certain advanced courses.
Weeks, Walter D, - Assistant Professor, Research
Active on research in nutrition, root stocks, variety and strain
tests and winter hardiness. Also teaches certain advanced courses*
__________^__^__^ - Extension Fruit Specialist
We hope to have this position filled before long.
Contributors to This Issue from Supporting Fields
Oleson, Grunow 0, - Extension Information Specialist
Parmenter, Robert B, - Extension Forester
Tomlinson, William E,, Jr. - Associate Research
Professor (Cranberry Station)
Wheeler, Ellsworth H, - Extension Entomologist
FRUIT- NOTES .
May 1955
>
HOW CAN WE GET BETTER APPLES TO THE CONSUMED?
This question vras the central theme at a recent meeting of the M,F,G.A,
Marketing Committee which ran late into the night e
The recent survey of 0, C, Roberts (which will be reported at the M.F.G.A,
Summer Meeting) shows that altogether too many cut, bruised and otherwise cull
Eastern apples are being offered for sale in retail stores. Steps must be taken to
correctthis situation if our local apples are to retain their rightful place on the
market and our Massachusetts apple industry is to survive.
Two approaches to the problem were acted upon by that committee j (l) the pre-
paration of a flyer of suggestions on careful handling to be inclosed in every
package J (2) working for compulsory grades for apples. On this second point the
committee voted unanimously "that the committee feels that all apples should bear a
correct grade label each and every time offered for sale and that we start working
for such a law and its enforcement,"
Western apples, competition from ivhich will be increasingly keen in years
ahead, meet such standards. Why not ours?
'/rti^k, P, French
#############
Summer Fruit Meetings
June 20-7 P»ni» — Annual Strawberry Twilight Meeting
at the University of Massachusetts, New
varieties, virus-free plants and production
problems vdll be stressed a
July 18 - 7 p.m. — Raspberry-Blueberry Twilight Meeting
at the University of Massachusetts, This is
the first such meeting to be held on campus.
Most of the new varieties will be fruiting
(weather permitting),
July 21 - all day — Summer Meeting of the Massachusetts
Fruit Growers Association at President Elmer
Fitzgerald's orchards in Leominster, Program
to be announced later.
- 2 -
-BLUEBERRI mOGOT-
The blueberry maggot has been noticed in abundance the past few seasons in the
fruit of cultivated blueberries in a few fields in the Cape Cod area. Maggot has
been a problem to the blueberry industry in other areas for a good many years and
there is no reason to believe that it will not be an increasing problem in South--
eastern Massachusetts as the industry expands.
The blueberry maggot is a native insect that infests both wild and culti-
vated blueberries and some related fruits from New Jersey northward wherever its host
plants are found. To avoid maggot infested fruit at harvest it has been found neces-
sary to dust or spray for this insect in the cultivated blueberry fields of New Jersey
and the areas of wild lowbush blueberries that are harvested in New England and else-
where.
The blueberry maggot is apparently a strain of the apple maggot, the only
difference being that the blueberry infesting strain is smaller in size. This size
difference is especially marked in maggots that infest the smaller fruited wild
varieties, while maggots developing in some of the larger cultivated bluebercy varie-
ties approximate apple maggots in size.
Like the apple maggot the blueberry maggot has one generation a year.
The winter is passed in the pupal stage in a quarter inch brown puparia buried in
the soil within a few inches of the surface. The flies emerge for about a month in
the summer beginning about the time the first blueberries start to turn blue« They
are blac^ in color with white bands on the abdomen and are smaller than a house fly
though similar in shape. The wings are marked with characteristic oblique black
bands. The flies do not lay eggs until about 10 days after they have emerged. Eggs
are layed singly under the skin of the blueberry c The eggs hatch in about a week and
the maggots leave the berries and enter the soil and form puparia in v/hich they re-
main until the next or some following spring vrhen they emerge as flies. Some of the
maggots remain in the puparia for two or more years before emerging, and as these
emerge later than those that emerge after one winter in the soil they complicate
control.
Though the flies apparently prefer ripe fruit in which to lay eggs, if they
appear before the fruit is ripe or if they are abundant, they will lay eggs in_ green
fruit as well as ripe berries during the harvest season. Consequently the timing of
the first dust application is ideally based on fly emergence, but lacking this know-
ledge the first dust should be applied just as the first few berries are turning from
red to blue. Because there is about a 10-day interval between emergence of the fly
ani the time it can lay eggs, subsequent dustings are applied at 10-day intervals
after the f irst dust application^ The number of dusts applied will depend on the
length of the harvest season, with three dusts usvially a minimum number and four or
five being necessary in a late season and with a high prcentage of late varieties
in the field.
Frequent picking of ripe fruit during the harvest season and prompt dis-
posal of the picked fruit helps in controlling maggot and reducing loss from it. In
no case should soft over-ripe fruit be shipped to market, though picking of such fruit
and removal from the field will help reduce the fly population the following season.
Vlhere practical, bushes should be picked clean as berries left on the bushes at the
end of the harvest season often become very heavily infested with maggots and are a
source of a large fly population in the next and following seasons.
- 3 -
Since blueberry maggot flies lay their eggs during the picking season of the
cultivated blueberry, rotenone sprays or dusts are favored for controlling maggot,
because of its safetyo A 2% rotenone di-ist applied by airplane at the rate of 15-20
pounds per acre has given satisfactory control. This can be applied by ground dustei*
also, A spray made up with S pounds of ii-5$ rotenone wettable powder in 100 gallons
of water and applied at the rate of 200 gallons per acre will also give satisfactory
control,
4HH{W.3B,Tomlinson, Jr,
#############
IS GRASS INJURING YOUR RASPBERRY YIELD?
Witch or Quack grass is frequently a serious problem
in an established red raspberry planting. This and other
grasses have been satisfactorily controlled in the plant-
ing of Latham and Taylor raspberries according to recent
reports from Michigan, A fall application (late October)
of Chloro-IPG at the rate of 5-8 l^So reduced the grass
stand by 68 and 76 percent in 1953 and 195U respectively.
This reduction in grass resulted in increased yields of
fruit of 30-UO percent. Eight pounds of actual Chloro-
IPC should be used in 100 gallons of water and since only
the row-areas were sprayed, it should cover about 3 acres
with 8 feet row spacing. For the home gardener that means
about one ounce of actual Ghloro-IPC in one gallon of
water to cover a single I4O foot row not over three feet
wide,
iH«t-A,P,French
#############
SPECIAL PEST CONTROL MESSAGES
from University of Massachusett s'
Special pest control messages to gruit growers, market gardeners, and other
crop producers are now being issued for radio broadcast twice each Vireek, These
messages are prepared by Ellsworth H, f/heeler, entomologist, and Constantine J,
Gilgut, plant pathologist at the University of Hfeissachusetts in Amherst, This is
the fourteenth year such special messages have been issued.
Messages are scheduled for release each Tuesday and Friday, and will continue
into July or August when the pest control season is pretty well over. Should weather
corditions warrant, extra messages will be prepared. The first message was issued
on April 15,
Following is a list of radio stations cooperating in special pest control
broadcasts and the approximate time when these messages can be heard:
WBEIK, Pittsfleld, 7;05 a.nio and 12:15 Ptin,
WHDH, Boston, 505 acsn, and 12:i|.5 p.m,
WSe, Boston, 6:00 a«m»
WBET, Brockton, 11:55 a,ra,
WHMP, Northampton, 12:25 p.m.
WTIC, Hartford, Conn,, 6:35 a«m,
WTAQ, TiTorcester, 87 5.1
1" or over 28? 1.5
Total no, bruises 19288
- 3 -
Vifhile the number of bruises up to l/2" in diameter constitute seventy-eight per
cent of all bruises, this is relatively uningjortant as bruises of this size are super-
ficial and are seldom noticed. On the other hand, the remaining twenty-two per cent
is of great importance as these bruis es not onl;r affect the appearance of the apples
but are usually soft^ often result in rot, and cause a certain amount of wast iT
Elimination of these larger bruises which probably were due' to careless handling,
v:ould do much to improve the market quality of Jiiclntosh apples.
Stem Punctures, Cuts and Cracks
In addition to bruises, sixteen per cent of all apples had stem punctures,
twenty-three per cent had cuts and nineteen per cent had naturally occxirring cracks
in the skin.
Breaks in the skin, of whatever nature, not only detract from the appearance of
an apple, but provide a ready entrance for rots. Several specimens were observed in
which rot had started from one of these sotirces . More careful handling can reduce
the number of stem punctures and cuts but the cause and remedy of naturally occurring
cracks is problematical.
Color
Poorly colored apples detract materially from the sales appeal of a display of
apples and lov;er the price of the entire lot when mixed with well colored fruit. The
market for ^iclntoah apples would be strengthened if such poorly colored apples vrere
kept at the farm and made into cider of^sold separately .
Firmness
Using a mgness-Taylor pressure tester with a 7/l6" plunger, sixty-two per cent
of the apples were in the range of 8,0-^,9 poxinds. Forty-two per cent were in the
range of 9 » 0-9. 9 pounds. In other words, the majority of the apples were too soft
to be in prime eating condition. These apples were either held too long at high
temperatures in the stores or fruit grov/ers held them too long in storage before put-
ting them on the market, Y^erever the fault may lie , the solution is for fruit growers
to vmtch the pressure of apples in "storage more closely and sell them vrhile they are
above ten pounds and then for th~stores to keep them under refrigeration until they
are sold. Only ten per cent of the stores visited sold apples from a refrigerated
display counter. The usual answer to the question, "Can you afford to keep apples on
a refrigerated counter?" was, "Yes , because it keeps ngr apples in better condition
and saves waste, "
Temperature
The temperature of eighty-five per cent of the san^jles as taken from the stores
ranged from 50°F, to 69°F, with forty-six per cent in the 60^, to 69°F, range.
Holding apples at these relatively high temperatures will tend to hasten ripening of
the fruit as compared with the lower average temperature of 52°F, as recorded for
samples taken from refrigerated display counters.
Loss Dub to Waste
The average of prices posted for Mcintosh apples in the stores was 13.25 cents
Jier pound. The average cost of usable pulp, assuming there was no waste, was l5.8
cents per pound. The cost of usable pulp with waste removed was l6,5 cents per pound,
fence, the consumer paid 0,7 cents per pound for unusable waste due to rot and bruises.
While the financial loss due to blemishes should not be ignored, it appears that the
more serious objection to bruises, stem punctures and rotten spots is the effect on
eye appeal which resiilts in reduced sales.
Packages and Packing
ApproxLiiately eighty per cent of the packages in which apples were delivered to
the stores were the Eastern apple box or "orate". Fifteen per cent were delivered
in the cell tj^pe carton. Only about two per cent were packed in a tray type cartons
Seventy^seven per cent of apples in the "crate" were jumble packedo Since studies
in other states have shown that more bruising occurs in the "crate" jumble packed
than in any other type of package commonly used, a more extensive use of the cell
pack or tray pack would materially reduce the number of Wuised apples delivered't o
i-etail stores o
The number of samples obtained from bulk disp>lays and from prepackage displays
was about equal. The most common type of prepackage was a three pound polyethylene
bag. In spite of the fact that studies in New lork State have shown that more apples
per one hundred customers were sold when five pound polyethylene bags were displayed
with bulk apples, only one sTich display v&s observed in this survey but in this case
three pound rather than five pound bags were useH lJ Ouly one sample in a five pound
polyethylene bag was obtained from the one hundred sixty-eight stores visited,
t'farket Source
An analysis was made "with respect to grade, depending upon the source from which
the stores obtained the fruit. No measurable differeuceifms found whether the apples
were obtained directly from the grower-, from a wholesaler or from a warehouse. From
all three soui'ces approximately one'^t li:' rd of the apples were culls due chiefly to
bruises and stem punctures, — ~ ~
A markedly inferior grade of fruit was found in stores ^fil±ch purchased apples
from transient pedlars, ! ' ""
Random Comments
Mention should be made here of the excellent cooperation received from owners,
store managers and produce clerks. In every instance all information requested was
graciously given and in many instances considerably more than was requested,
A definite impression ivas obtained that store managers like to handle Mcintosh
apples becpuse they are a good selling item. In general, they indicated that they
could sell more if they could get vrell colored fruit, free from bruises and other
blemishes and more uniformly sieed. Hence, the key to increased sales of Mcintosh
-apples is chiefly in the hands of those who grow, grade, and pack the fruit,
—0,C, Roberts
More interesting and important fi.iidings from this study will be discussed by
Professor Roberts at the Summer Meeting of the ivkssachusetts Fruit Growers Association
at Fitzgerald's Orchard in Leominster, July 21st,
ED.
-5-
SOME ORCHARD OBSERVATIONS
By the time you read this, any chemical thinning you planned to do should be
done and the results becoming evident. We vrill not have obtained set records where
experimental trials were made until late June or early July, however, so we cannot
say how our testa have turned out yet»
It became apparent in the latter part of i/Iay that all growers did not have
an overset of Mcintosh even though most everyone had a " snowball" bloom on this
variety. This situation, we feel, supports ovir contention that chemical thinning of
Mcintosh should not begin until 10-lb days after petal-fall. The same sort of thing
happened in many Delicious blocks. This variety often "thins itself" to a desirable
degree without the use of chemicals « However, some of you may see more apples novT
and they may seem closer together than they did two weeks ago. Can you still do
some chemical thinning of Mcintosh? We have thinned Mcintosh satisfactorily a s late
as k weeks after calyx, so if you are still i*ithin t hat period or still ahead of the
final drop you might help this year's fruit size and next year's bloom by applying a
thinning material. If the June drop is well under way or complete, you cannot expect
to accomplish anything with chemical thinners, however.
Apparently the amide form of naphthaleneacetic acid is capable of causing foliage
injury occasionally. Early Mcintosh seems to be susceptible sometimes. In one of
our tests on this variety, this year, 12 ounces of the commercial material per 100
gallons of water applied diluted with a hydraulic sprayer in bloom, or at calyx, time
caused considerable leaf curling and shoot growth inhibition. The same variety in an
adjacent block sprayed with 8 ounces of Amide per 100 gallons with a speed sprayer at
petal-fall showed no injury. To our knovfledge Early Mcintosh is the only variety that
this material has injured in this state. At least two growers have noticed it, also,
on this variety. It looks like we'll have to suggest lovTer concentrations of Amide
for Early Mcintosh in the futvire.
You may be interested to know that controlled atmosphere storage capacity
in this state is on the increase. At the present time there are enough rooms under
construction to add about U0,000 bushels to our controlled atmosphere capacity. We
expect there will be a total capacity in Ikssachusetts of 75,000-80,000 bushels this
fall.
— P ,V»r. Southwick
ECHOES FROM THE STRAWBERRY CONFERENCE
at Beltsville, ifaryland
Research in strawberry growing is being carried on in so many different parts
of the United States, Canada and in foreign countries, that it is highly desirable
for the workers in this field to get together occasionally to talk over their pro-
blems and swap ideas. In order to provide an opportunity for a "get-together" to
discuss the latest developments in strawberry research, and to show \7hat is going
on at the U.S.D.A, Horticultural Research Statical at Beltsville, iiiarylard, the small
fruit staff at Beltsville organized a two-day conference on liay 26th and 27th, Al-
though the conference was designed to meet the iieeds of research workers, it was not
limited to them. Nearly 1^0 people attended tte conference. Of these, a considerable
number were nurserymen or their representatives and strawberry growers. These people
came from many parts of the U,S, - California, Oregon, Vermont, New Hampshire and
Florida, among others - and from Canada and even one researcher from the Netherlands,
- 6 -
The program included talks, demonstrations and field trips. Although niany
topics were discussed, most attention was given to breeding, virus and the nematode
problem.
The use of virus-free plants has increased very materially this year
as more virus-free plants were made available. The progressive nurseries are making
every effort to increase the supply and keep them virus-free. Two methods are being
used to keep the "foundation stock" or "mother plant beds" free of virus. In some
states, as is being done in liassachusetts, the plant growers are building screenhouses
to protect the foundation stock plants from the aphids which carry the virus from
plant to plant. In others, the foundation stock is grown in Isolated areas where
there are neither cultivated nor wild strawberries for several miles, as is being
done in California and Tennessee,
One of the serious problems being faced by every state where strawberries
are grown is how to be sure that the g rovrer gets virus-free plants when he orders
them. This involves a number of technical, inspection, control and financial problems.
These are being attacked in several ways by different states, Tennessee has decided
to follow a "get tough" policy, A rather detailed set of rules and regulations has
been established and will be rigidly enforced xintil relaxation seems justified. The
cost of "indexing" (testir^ for virus), inspection and certification is borne by the
State, California, which also has a stringent set of rules and regulations, charges
the plant grower for these services. In both states the plant grower is allowed to
charge a premium of $U»00 per thousand for the virus-free plants.
Other states are approaching the problem the other way around. That is, they are
starting out with a few milri regulations which will be tightened upas it appears
necessary. Other states, including mssachusetts, have set up no regvilations as yet.
The nematode problem received a great deal of attentiontecause it is one of
the neT,Test fields of strawberry research and also because Dr, Caroline Klinkenberg of
the Netherlands was present and discussed the results of her work. She stated that
the nematode problem is the most serious strawberry problem in the Netherlands and
that work on it was started during the last war. It has still not been proved that
nematodes are the cause of the root condition called black-root rot, or simply black
root, , However, it has been shown quite conclusively that where black root is a pro-
blem, plant growth has been greatly improved and yields increased by soil fximigation
vdth nematocides, Dr, Braun, of the Geneva New York Experiment Station, discussed
his work on this same problem and agreed with Dr, Klinkerberg's conclusions.
During the discussion it was emphasized that the soil must be in the
right condition for fumigation, that is, in condition to make a good seed bed, the
right amount of soil fumigant must be used, it must be put down deep enovigh, at least
six inches, the soil must be sufficiently warm, 50^, for the commonly used fumlgants,
and the fumigant sealed in by a drag, smoothing harrow or cultipacker. Therefore,
for strawberries, fumigation in the fall before the plants are set is a practical
necessity.
Strawberry breeding is being carried on in twenty-one colleges and research
stations. The objectives vary with the needs of a particular region, Ona of the ob-
jectives of the breeding work at Beltsville is the production of varieties resistant
to all three strains of the jred stele disease. This phase of the breeding work is
being carried on in cooperation with the University of Maryland, The variety Stele-
master, which was named and introduced last vd-nter, is one of the products of this
project. It is recognized by the men who named and introduced it that Stelemaster
is only a stop-gap variety to be grown where it is impossible to grow other varieties
because of red stele. Varieties which are superior to Stelemaster and have the same
multiple resistance to red stele are in prospect for the very near future.
- 7 -
There is still no control for red stele other than resistant varieties. Some
soil fumigants look promising but too little experimental evidence is available to
dra\T any conclusions,
—John S, Bailey
BRUISES COST MONET-
Would you knoiving^y pass by a twenty dollar bill lying on the sidewalk and not
pick it up?
Possibly, you are passing up many twenty dollar bills by careless handlii^
of your apples.
As reported in "Apple Research Digest" the V/ashington State Apple Commission
estimates that over the past eight years, because of better handling methods,
Yfashington State apple growers have saved |2, 000,000 annually.
In 19hMi7 the Apple Commission made a survey of Delicious apples on re-
tail display and found 31,8 per cent of them severely bruised. After bringing this
situation to the attention of the grovrers by means of films, posters and similar
devices, the number of severe bruises was reduced to 11,0 per cent as determined tiy
another survey made in 195^^-55 •
The recent survey of Mcintosh apples on retail display in Massachusetts showed
23 per cent as being severely bruised. This would indicate that Massachusetts
grovTers might save thousands of dol].ars at least by adopting measures which would
reduce bruising to a minimum,
—0,0 .Roberts
#############
POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
5. Black-Root Rot
of Strawberries
One of the newest projects in the list of research projects of the Pomology
Department is that concerned with the cause and control of black-root rot in straw-
berries. This is being carried on under an informal cooperative agreement with the
U.S.D.A, Vife are working on control measures; the U.S.D.A, man on causal agents and
their nature.
The black»root rot disease can be found in all parts of Ldassachusetts, It
is more serious in some sections than in others. It is extremely serious in the
Southeastern corner of the state, A state-wide survey carried out in the fall of
1953 (see FRUIT NOTES for November 2k, 1953) showed that nematodes are generally
present in plants suffering from black-root rot, and that usually the plants showing
the worst black-root have the highest population of nematodes in their roots.
The presence of nematodes in the roots of black-root rot infected plants
- 8 -
does not prove that they are the causal organism. Proof of the cause is still lacking
as discussed elsewhere in this issue ol" FRUIT NOTES, Nevertheless, where plants are
to be grown on soil knovm to be infected with black-root rot, the increase in plant
vigor follOTving soil fumigation is very marked.
Several soil furaigants such as D-D^ ethylene dibromide (EDB), irethyl
bromide (MC), or chloropicrin are all good nematocides, Hovrever, only D-D and EDB
are economical for large scale use in strawberry fields, V/here these are being used,
the rates of application recommended are based on experience with other crops and are
not necessarily the right amovuits for best results in treating strawberry fields.
Therefore, an experiment has been started to test D-D and EDB at three different
concentrations and in split applications, ViThere a split application is used, half
the required amount of fumigant is put in the soil, two weeks later the soil is
turned over by plowing, or otherwise harroTied smooth and retreated with the second
half of the fumigant,
EDB and D-D are standard soil fumigants which have been in use for a con-
siderable number of years. Since these are toxic to plants, a period of at least two
weeks must elapse before plants are set. Several new fumigants are in prospect. One
of these is now under test. It is of such a nature that strawberry plants apparently
will tolerate considerable quantities of it. This would permit its use after the
plants are set if this seems desirable.
To insure the best results from soil fumigation, plants whose roots have
been freed of nematodes should be used for setting in fumigated fields. Roots can
be kept free of nematodes by rooting runner plants in fvunigated or sterilized soil.
This is slow, laborious and costly. The U.S.D.A, has developed a hot water treatment
which is much faster and cheaper, Hov/ever, there are certain aspects of this treat-
ment which need further study before it can be unqualifiedly recommended,
John S, Bailey
# # # # # ########
ARE EASTERN APPLE GROWERS TAKING THE LEAD? **■«■■«■■»■« -Jt ■«• ^c- ^;- * •»■ ^i- ^t ■«• •»■ -Ji- ^ ■«• i(- i^
(Excerpts from an address by G,P, Harley U.S.D.A,
before the Washington State Horticultural Association-ED,)
In the past decade we have witnessed a veritable revolution in many industries
and the apple industry is no exception. In this short space of time the apple grovrer
moved from a feeling of almost complete frustration to one of more moderate security
in the production of his fruit. Just 10 years ago many capable and progressive
growers in some eastern areas were firmly resolved to abandon growing of apples be-
cause the codling moth had literally taken over. One year's experience with DDT re-
legated this pest almost to the category of insignificance and now vdth the develop-
ment of many other new pesticides the problems attending fruit groiring have been
greatly eased.
Many other startling advances have taken place and have combined to bring about
important transitions in production methods.
Changes in Acreag^e Holdings - The eastern apple grower today is alert to all these
new discoveries, for the general trend is toward greater specialization with larger
acreages under one management. Small holdings are rapidly disappearing, Bfeiny trees
of poor varieties have gone out and very few have been replanted. Also, practically
all the new commercial planting is being done by experienced growers. Thus, for the
years immediately ahead it appears evident that apple production in the east will
- 9 -
come from a rather stable acreages
Outlet for Old Varieties - About UO per cent of the eastern apple crop is now market-
ed through processing channels s Canned sauce constitutes the major processed output
at present and, for every tushel of Mcintosh, Delicious or other dessert types, a
bushel of York Imperial, Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Stayman Vifinesap or Grimes
Golden is required for the proper bland for high quality sauce.
Improved Method s - Production practices in many eastern orchards have had a face
lifting in recent years 9 Vfith larger acreages the trend is definitely toward mechan-
ized methods both in the orchard and in the packing house. Pallet handling of the
fruit is becoming common practice. Automatic spray equipment of one type or another
is in greater usee Better pruning is achieved through the use of pneumatic equipment
and pruning platforms, Vifith the introduction of new pesticides;> Insect and disease
control has been tremendously im.proved»
Along with these changes the eastern grower is changing his perspective. His
sights are nov; set on growing high-^uaLity fruit. He has become "finish" conscious.
Eastern apples were characterized in the past as having rough finish vrLth much
russeting. This was due in part to the nedessity of using sulfur sprays for disease
control^ but cold weather in early spring was a contributing factor. Adverse climatic
conditions will continue to be a threat to fruit finish; however, much study is being
made to find combinations of the newer organic pesticides that vn.ll minimize spray
injury to the fruit svurface. Some excellent progress has been made In this direction.
Should these efforts to improve frxiit finish show any degree of success, competition
of dessert apples on the fresh-fruit market is bovind to increase.
Irrigation - Because of the possibilities of improving qual 
