14 P.D. 123 



Man}' of our fruit growers are doing everj^thing possible to protect their orchards 

 from the maggot, but much of this work is nullified because of the presence in their 

 neighborhood of pest breeding trees in various stages of neglect. These neglected 

 trees are a menace to the future of our apple business. 



In order to get the facts as to the location of these uncared for trees and also to 

 secure definite information as to the number and infestibihty of such trees in a 

 representative apple town, this di^'ision made a thorough survej^ of the town of 

 Littleton in Middlesex County. This survey was carried on during the summer 

 months at the time when apple maggot flies were in full flight and continued into 

 the fall in order to provide a check-up of some of the extent of infestation. 



All the apple trees in the town were spotted on a map, with colored designations 

 showing the extent of spraying in each orchard. Information was secured from 

 each owner regarding spraying and cultural treatment of liis orchard and samples 

 of fruit from each orchard were inspected for the percentage of maggot injury. 



We were assisted in this work b}^ the Emergenc}^ Planning and Research Bureau 

 who provided an engineer for the map work. We also are indebted to the Middle- 

 sex County Extension Service for valuable assistance in analyzing the results of the 

 survey. 



Startling proof of the injuries suffered by owners of well cared for orchards be- 

 cause of the presence of neglected trees on nearby farms was afforded by the results 

 of our inspections. It was shown that in cases where well cared for orchards were 

 isolated, with no maggot breeding trees nearby, the average percentage of infes- 

 tation was less than 8%. Where there were neglected trees within two hundred 

 yards, the well cared for orchards had an average infestation of nearly 30%. Where 

 neglected trees adjoined the properly spraj'ed orchards, the latter had an average 

 infestation of over 50%. 



With the results of this survey as an actual basis for consideration of the problem, 

 a committee of fruit growers and public officials have held several meetings and 

 have evolved a plan for apple maggot control to be put into operation in 1933. 



The committee realizes that legislation requiring spraying or removal of ne- 

 glected trees should be urged only as a last resort and consequently has recom- 

 mended for the coming year a combination educational and regulatory measure 

 which will be carried on through the cooperative efforts of the county extension 

 services, the Division of Moth Control of the Department of Conservation, and 

 the Division of Plant Pest Control of this Department. This program will not be 

 put into operation on a state wide basis, but will cover only those sections where 

 neglected trees are a menace to commercial orchards. 



It is hoped that this plan will be successful in remedying the situation and that 

 the need of legislation for maggot control will be avoided. 



Statistical Information 



The Bulletin "Receipts and Sources of Boston's Food Supply" has continued to 

 fill a demand for detailed information regarding the food needs of the Boston area. 



The publication is a compilation and tabulation of statistical data of amount and 

 sources of foodstuffs coming to Boston and is supplemented by short reviews or 

 summaries relating to and explaining the situation of many of the products or 

 groups of products. The information for these summaries is obtained through 

 personal interviews and study and analysis of past records. In connection with 

 special investigations and studies conducted throughout the year, much statistical 

 information was tabulated, particularly in the canned milk investigation. Retail 

 and wholesale prices and amounts of production and market receipts were tabu- 

 lated for various purposes — individual and organization inquiries, basis for talks 

 and articles, preliminary work on minimum budgets such as informing the Depart- 

 ment of Public Health of the market situation of local agricultural products in order 

 that the maximum amounts of local agricultural products may be included in pub- 

 lished budgets. 



Included in our statistical information is a complete and detailed summary of 

 the weekly receipts and average prices of the important vegetables sold on the local 

 market. The information has been published as a guide to market gardeners in 

 planning their crops each season. 



