-k- 



The Chestnut Attempts a Comeback 



A fruit grower in eastern Massachusetts told us a few days ago that 

 the chestnut timber on a particular piece of land now planted to orchard, 

 sold in IS50 for $1,000. The land was then allowed to grow up to chestnut 

 timber again and in 1S80 there was once more a sufficient timber crop to 

 sell for $1,000. Those were the good old days in so far as the chestnut 

 tree was concerned. It is doubtful if forests of chestnuts vvill ever again 

 cover the hillsides of llassachusetts although the fruit of the chestnut tree, 

 an Asiatic chestnut this time, maj'^ again be enjoyed by New Englanders. About 

 20 lots of chestnut trees of promising varieties, comprising 25 trees each, 

 have been distributed this spring by Dr. 0. C. Boyd, plant pathologist at 

 the State College. These trees were furnished by the U.S.D.A. at Washington 

 for tost purposes in Massachusetts. Thoy will be ^iven ordinarj'- orchard care 

 in the hope that here and there a start may again be made in the growing of 

 this interesting tree, for fruit at least, if not for timber. 



Fruit Insect Parasites 



The use of nicotine sulfate in certain spray applications has be- 

 come so common that fruit grov/ers use it as a matter of habit. But nicotine 

 is expensive, and everyone is looking for either a substitute or a disappear- 

 ance of the various sucking insects. For several years the work of parasites, 

 particulatly of aphids, has been watched with much interest. This season 

 there seems to be a larger than usual number of these parasites at work. In 

 some trees the parasite population is so large that aphids are literally as 

 scarce as hen's teeth. The more important parasites are ladybird beetles, 

 syrphus flies and lacowinss. A few days ago we watdaodAsyrphus fly larva as 

 it mowed its way through a colony of aphids on an apple leaf. Without the 

 advantage of ^es , it located its prey as it siirung its head from side to side. 

 In about five minutes, it load completely dispatched five grain aphids and 

 was still looking for more. 



Apple Trees for Looks or for Frui t 



In a recent issue in the Sural >'ew Yorker there appears an interest- 

 ing article by F. A. Waugh V7hich stresses the beauty of the apple tree. He 

 points out the desirability of the apple tree for the home grounds. We thinli 

 of the apple tree, of course, as being aost beautiful during the blooming 

 season and yet it excels as a sliade tree as well. Even during the dormant 

 season it is a thing of beauty. The article is well worth reading. And then, 

 whether intentional or not, the editor inserted just below this story a ques- 

 tion by one of the readers on t3ic prevention of wormy apples. This discord- 

 Oat note did not in any sense of the word detract from the interesting story 

 above, but it did call to our attention the kind of apples Virhich grow on un- 

 sprayed trees. },iaggots, curculio, codling moth, and what have you, will take 

 their toll unless wo do something about it and that is not always so easy where 

 apple trees are in close proximity to buildings. Of course, if we are content 

 to enjoy only the beauty of the tree wo can foTijct the fruit and buy our apples 

 from someone who makes a business of ^rowing them. 



Will Poison Bait Control I.Iice7 



In a recent questionnaire sent out by E. H. Mills in charge of Rodent 

 Control work in the Northeast, data has been assembled showing the amount of 



