phosphorus can be absorbed by the leaves and translocated to other parts 

 of the tree and fruit. Tests are now under way to determine whether foliar 

 applications of that material are beneficial to the trees or fruit under normal 

 orchard conditions. 



R. Eggert, L. T. Kardos 



Storage of Butternut Squash. 



A material known as VL600 continues to store butternut squash with less 

 shriveling and decay. Approval of the Pure Food Department must be secured 

 before using it on squash which are to be sold. At the present time, there 

 is no apparent reason why this approval should not be forthcoming. 



A. F. Yeager 



Frozen Blueberries Vary in Quality. 



Five commercial varieties of highbush blueberries were picked at inter- 

 vals of one week. Fruit from each picking and of each variety was poured 

 directly into tin cans and into cardboard-pliofilm freezer cartons. Carbon 

 dioxide at normal pressure was also added to some of the fruit in tin con- 

 tainers. All containers were sealed without addition of syrup, sugar, or water, 

 were frozen immediately, and were held at 0°F. After one year, a taste pane] 

 of fifteen people indicated that fruit processed in tin was less tough-skinned 

 than that frozen in other containers. Carbon dioxide added to fruit in tin cans 

 did not decrease its skin-toughness and did produce a product of inferior 

 quality. Results also indicate that if skin of fruit is tough at the time of 

 freezing, then processing it in tin will not decrease that toughness. 



R. Eggert 



Fertilizers for Blueberries. 



Results of many fertilized plots in several lowbush blueberry areas in 

 New Hampshire indicate that the yield of blueberries can be doubled, es- 

 pecially in fields that have been in production for many years. However, the 

 primary object of fertilizing lowbush blueberries has been to invigorate the 

 blueberry plants and the accompanying grass to make fuel for fire so that 

 the area can be burned. We believe fertilizing grass to produce fuel for 

 burning is more practical than using oil or hay because it increases fruit 

 production at the same time. 



Good results have been obtained with ammonium sulphate at the rate 

 of 300 lbs. to the acre. A 10-10-10 at 700 lbs. per acre has been used. Nitro- 

 prills is now being tested because it is easy to apply and because of its con- 

 centration of nitrogen. This concentration makes it more economical to 

 carry up the hills. For best results, fertilizer should be applied in the early 

 spring before plant growth starts. 



In the case of highbush blueberies, best results have been obtained by 

 applying ammonium sulfate at weekly intervals during May and June. Nu- 

 green applied as a soil fertilizer has given excellent results in the. blueberry 

 nursery. Since highbush blueberry roots are shallow, care must be taken not 

 to apply fertilizer in bunches, for it is easy to kill the plant. The fertilizex 

 should be spread very thin. 



W. W. Smith 

 35 



