-2- 



We believe th\t these test orchards (with ^dc rhaps a fev; more added next 

 spring if wc have trees available) should reveal the relative values of clonal 

 rootstocks for apple trees under Massachusetts conditions. There is a good possi- 

 bility that some of those "standard" rootstocks will nio.ke better trees than the 

 common seedling roots, and, further, v/o should be able to obtain a good deal of 

 v.'orthv/hile inf ornx-.tion on the adaptability of the several "dwarfing" stocks. 

 In addition to these cooperative ventures, similar experiraontal blocks have been 

 established in the College Orchards as well as at the Vfaltham Field Station. 



(Lav;rence Southvn^ck) 

 The Dwarf Stock Situat ion 



V/e have had several inquiries concerning dwarf fruit trees and dvrarfing 

 stocks on vi/hich our various varieties may be budded. Those arc scarce and diffi- 

 cult to obtain. This is partly because the importation of such plant mr.tcrial is 

 prohibited by U. S« Plant Quarantine No. 37. A very few stock growers in this 

 country are trying to propagate dwarfing stocks but thus far with indifferent 

 success. Dwarfing stocks may be imported in limited qua.ntitios under special 

 permit "for any necessary experimental, educational or scientific purposes." 

 Until stock growers in this country learn how to propagate dv^/arfing stock in larger 

 quantities, both stocks and budded dwarf trees will be scarce. (j. K. Shaw). 



Boron and Internal Cork 



Did you harvest rrr.ny apples la. st fall that wore injured by "internal cork?" 

 If so, and you know where the diseased trees are, the State College and the County 

 Extension Service would like to know about it and try some experiments to see if 

 the trouble can be prevented, should conditions bring it on next summer. The 

 remedy which has been very beneficial in other regions is boron . We would like 

 to try it on troes known to have suffered from the disease, leaving some trees 

 as checks, because the trouble r?.ay not appear next summer. As boron improperly 

 used is very toxic, fruit growers should not use it without expert advice. 



(j. K. Shaw) 



Raspberry Notes 



Anthracnese iiny be a serious disease on some varieties of red raspberries 

 as well as on blacks and purples. In Nov; Jersey it has been found that spraying 

 the Latham, variety to control anthracnose not only increased the yield but prac- 

 tic:.lly eliminated all signs of cold injury during the v/inter of 1934-35. 



A test of heavy mulch in Now Jersey materially im.proved cane growth on red 

 raspberries. Yi/hen applied '.t the rate of 4-5 tons per acre, cane height vra,s in- 

 creased 30 psr cent and cane diameter 15 per cent. Bigger canes means higher 

 production. (A. P. French) 



Calcium Arsenate 



Calcium arsenate is an eff'^ctivo poison for insect control and its use 

 eliminates load from the spray residue. The de.ngor of foliage injury to fruit 

 trees cjid some vegetables has restricted its use in mCuny parts of the country. 

 For several years Experiment Stations have be^n studying the use of calcium arse- 

 nate on apple trees and while much progress has been made tovr.rd a hotter under — 

 standing of the conditions in v/hich it can be safely used, it still holds a rather 

 uncertain position in the fruit spray schedules of most states. 



A recent article by Waters and Yifitmnn of the Shcr\ri.n-V/illiams Research 

 Project indicates that considerable progress in understanding and controlling tho 

 steps in the manufacture of c'.lcium. arsenate which incluence the safety of the 

 prcpo.red product. Some of tho factors which produced a safer form of calcium 

 arsenate in these studies ares (l) Rapid agitation of the lime \/hile the arsenic 

 acid v;as being added. (2) A basic rather than acid reaction of the mixture while 

 being agitated. (3) Temperature of the iV.ixturc at about 100 G. when ingredients 



