-l]._ 



In one Worcester County orchard we found striking evidence to show 

 that mere depth of rooting is in itself not very important. To 

 obtain enough water the deeper roots must penetrate a layer which 

 is permanently moist. In the above orchard, one tree of rather 

 poor performance had some roots at a depth of about 7 feet, in a 

 shattered rocky strata vrhich, even at this season, was very dry. 

 Another tree in the srjne orchard, a high producer of large size 

 apples, showed a slightly shallower root system but the subsoil 

 was entirely different. Here vras a loamy material of high water 

 holding capacity. 



Stray Thoughts 



An acre of land is capable of producing only as many ap- 

 ples as the water supply \7ill permit. On Massachusetts acres the 

 potential yield wilj vary from nothing to perhaps 1000 bushels. 

 In many orchrrds, 2J trees or less vrould, if given a chance, pro- 

 duce more good apples than the present crowded planting of 5^ to 

 log trees. 



Its 



Overheard at a recent fruit meeting, "The orchard has 

 grown but the equipment hasn't." Hovi true thnt is about the aver- 

 age fruit enterprise. A sprayer that did good vrork x-'hcn the trees 

 vere ten ye.^rs old is still expected to do its stuff ten years 

 later, v:ith perhaps five times the area to be covered. 



This question was asked at a recent study group meeting, 

 "Is it possible to get good yields and good color, year in and 

 year outj*" And the answer is, "It depends." It depends on the 

 water supply ajid on our willingness to be satisfied with fewer 

 apples for the sake of getting maximum color. It takes good 

 judgment to bring things into balance, to recog'nizc the limita- 

 tions of a soil, and to determine what spacing of trees will 

 bring the most profitable returns. 



A treat is in store for the finder of a Mcintosh apple 

 left on the tree until after the first of October. In our trench- 

 ing ope rr't ions vie ha.ve enjoyed many such treats in the form of a 

 late "drop" hidden in the grass. Here is a rare combination of 

 an apple reaching full maturity and then being stored under al- 

 most ideal storage conditions. 



A new and unusual strawberry, the Bnron Solemachcr, v/hich 

 is grown each year from seed, is said to be produced quite exten- 

 sively in Germany. Seeds are offered for sale by a midwest concern. 



According to the records of W, D. Whitcomb, maggot flics 

 emerged from his co.ges in almost perfect accordance with the 

 recommendations of the state spray schedule. There ^'as a fairly 

 heavy emergence shortly after July 10 and a second "peak" about 

 two weeks later. 



The Essay Contest, being conducted by the Mass. Dept. of 

 Agriculture in Boston, is in full swing. G-cncrous prizes are of- 

 fered for the best essays of 500 vjords or less on "VVhy I Like 

 Massachusetts Apples." The contest is a feature of National 

 Apple Week and all entries must be in by November 9* 



