LI. F. G. A. Directors Meet v^lth Membors of Colle;-e Stn.ff 



In order to bccor.ie nore fpnlllar vith the ^'ork of the 

 Stpte College rs it riffects the fruit industry, p. committee of 

 directors of the I.L F. G-. A. visited the College cnnpus, Thursdp.y, 

 December 17, for an p11 d.-y meeting v'ith members of the College 

 st^iff. The meeting opened nith r, short tnli: by President Bp.ker 

 after '-'hich each department having apiy contact v'ith the fruit in- 

 dustry presented a brief outline of the vork novr under ^"ay in 

 both research and extension. The follo^"ing departments ^-'ere rep- 

 resented at the meeting: Pomology, Entomology, Botany, Agricul- 

 tural Engineering, Horticultural Ilanuf actures. Agronomy, Agricul- 

 tural Econop.lcs and Farm. Management. In addition to President 

 G-eorge Dren of the U. F. G-. A., the follo^''ing directors ^"'ere in 

 attendance: H. P. G-ilmore, H. A. Priest, G-. H. Harris, A. Pierce, 

 C. E. Llbby, and R. Flske. The meeting served a double purpose 

 in bringing to tlie attention of the gro^"ers the varied activities 

 of the State College and a clearer conception of the services 

 available, and second in conveying to the members of the staff, 

 suggestions regarding additional services vhich the State College 

 might render. Am.ong the latter vere requests for information on 

 orchard irrigation, on the food value of apples, and a ner account 

 book for fruit gro^"'ers. A more detailed report of this meeting 

 v'lll be printed in the annual report of the M. F. G-. A. nov In 

 process of preparation. 



Stray Thoughts 



During the years 1922 to 1933> Wenatchee, V/ashington 

 apple growers averaged $1.22 per box for Extra Fancy Winesaps de- 

 livered to the shipping point. Extra Fancy Delicious averaged 

 $1.6k, nhlle Jonathan end Rome Beauty averaged $0.^^. 



Many eastern newspapers refused to run California Fruit 

 Exchange advertisements ^"hich contained the statement that Sunklst 

 navel oranges are "22^ richer In vitamin C than Florida oranges." 

 The claim vas made to offset statements in Florida citrus advertis- 

 ing that Florida oranges contain one-fourth more juice than others. 



A forecast of the fruit growing Industry by a responsible 

 organization in California advises the removal of all pear trees of 

 unpopular varieties and those of low yields or inferior quality. 

 Sucli action Is urged as a means of benefiting both the individual 

 grower and the pear industry as a. •'"'hole. This advice is equ.ally 

 applicable to the apple Industry of the Northeast. 



The Pacific Fruit Express Company, making provision for 

 an increased volume of perishables from western territory, plans to 

 spend $10,500,000 in the construction of refrigerator cars. This 

 Is in addition to contracts made Inst April for 2700 nex"' refriger- 

 ator cars. 



As ^"'e look forv'ard to another spraying and dusting season, 

 with memories of certain shortcomings in 193^, this question is a 

 logical one. If a change is to be made in ray 1937 program, shall 

 I stress better timing, better coverage, or shall l" try other mater- 

 ials? This answer has been offered by a number of gro^"^ers, - "The 

 m.aterials on the market arc O.K. if you use 'em right." 



The Boston V/eather Bureaxi reports a record rainfall for 

 the month of December of about S Inches. If it were possible to 

 conserve all of this ^''ater for use next summer, our orchards could 

 easily v-ithstand a two months' drought. A mulch of sufficient depth 



to smother out all vegetation is an excellent means of conserving 

 water, since it tends to prevent surface runoff and also eliminates 

 grass and weeds i-'hich compete ^-Ith the tree for the available y^rter. 



