On June 11 a careful check of each of the four trees was made 

 to determine the percent of set on each tree as well as the mimher of 

 apples per spur. The results were as follows: 



Apples Set per Spur 



Hone 1 2 "^ U Total Spurs Set j Set 



Tree #1 325 15 15 k.k 



Inside Tent "^ ' 



Tree #2 299 109 19 2 I30 3O.3 

 Tent (Torn) 



Tree #3 76 92 6I 25 1^+ I92 7I.6 

 Outside 



Tree #U IO5 96 56 12 7 I7I 61.9 

 Outside 



The shove figures speaJc for themselves. Bees are essential 

 for Mcintosh pollination. Furthermore, they must carry pollen of ajiother 

 variety if a large crop of well formed apples is to he ohtained. 



Stray Thoughts 



Real progress is heing made in mouse control in Massachusetts 

 orchards, throTigh the work of D. A. Spencer of the Bureau of Biologica.1 

 Survey who ha.s been stationed at Littleton diiring the pa.st few months. 

 Briefly stated, his advice is this: First, find out whether or not there 

 axe any mice in j'^our orchard, and second, place the halt in the "runs" 

 where the mice are actually feeding. For more detniled instructions, con- 

 sult yoTxr County Agricultural Agent. 



A limited number of scions of the newer, promising apple varieties 

 are again available for distribution to interested growers this spring. 

 This material is being passed out as a means of furthering the testing of 

 varieties which may prove suita.ble for Massaxhusetts. Requests will be met 

 in the order in which they a.rrive as long as the supply lasts. If interest- 

 ed, get in touch with your County Agent promptly. 



In a, recent windstorm two trees in a front yard in Amherst were 

 badly broken. One of them was an old, black hearted apple tree which had 

 long since outlived its usefulness. The other wr.s a middle-aged maple 

 which had been allowed while young to develop a double top with aji extremely 

 narrow angled crotch. Both of these lessons should be taken to heaxt by 

 owners of old, decrepit orchards ajid by trainers of young trees, 



A fruit growers ' organization has recently been orgajiized In Austria 

 with an ajinounced goal of increasing from SO lbs. to 200 lbs. the annual con- 

 sumption of fruit by the average Austrian. Austria has about 20,000,000 

 fruit trees, or three to every inha^bitant. Yet this country does not produce 

 enough fruit for home consumption, about $3,000,000. worth being imported 

 annua.lly, mostly from Italy, 



As the month of March comes to a close, a. reminder on grape pruning 

 is in order. If good grapes are desired, good pruning a.ssumes a rajik of first 

 importance. And like other fruit plants, what we cut out is of less concern 

 than what we leave. In the untangling of pn \mruly vine, we first decide 

 which parts should remain, and then we cut out everything else. 



