MP-SSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE 

 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

 AND COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICES IN AGRICULTURE ^ND 

 HOME ECONOIZCS COOPERATING 



FRUIT NOTES - May, 1937 



W. H. Thies 

 Extension Horticulturist 



Spray Lime 



For the fruit grov/er, the term "spray lime" printed on the bag is no 

 assurance that the contents are suitable for his purposes. An experience that 

 v/e had recently mil serve to illustrate the point. Needing some hydrated 

 lime for use in the College orchards j we called the local merchant and asked him 

 if he carried spray lime in stock. Ke replied that he did and "ohat "spray lime" 

 was printed on the bag. Wlien questioned as to the analysis, he could find no 

 statement as to the calcium content, but hoping to make a sale, informed us that 

 it was high in magnesium. There-upon he was told that he could sell his lime 

 to potato growers for it wasn't the kind of lime that we wanted for our fruit 

 trees, llhen buying hydrated lime for spraying purposes, fruit grov/ers should 

 insist on a product that is high in calcium and low in magnesium. The better 

 brands of high calcium spray lime have a calcium oxide content of at least VO/o 

 and less than 1/t magnesium oxide. The failure of lim.e to produce the results 

 expected may frequently due to the use of the wrong kind of spray lime. 



(0. C. Roberts) 



Ad.justing the Crop to the Tree 



This expression is used by M. J. Dorsey of Illinois in an article on 

 peach thinning printed in the April issue of the iimerican Fruit Grov/er. The 

 number of peaches of different sizes in 50 lbs. varies, according to his figures, 

 from 500 in the 1-|" size, to 100 in the 2-^ to 3" size. An experienced fruit 

 grower can make a fairly good guess as to the number of bushels which a tree of 

 a given size should bear. Suppose wc assume that a given tree is capable of 

 bearing a 5 bu. crop. From the above figures it is apparent that the number of 

 peaches mc^y be as many as 2500 if they average less than 1-f" in size, to as few 

 as 500 if above 2:^-" . All but 1,000 peaches should therefore bo removed from 

 this tree if we want fruit at least 24" in diam.etcr. V/ith our present heavy 

 set of peaches in many orchards, thinning should be thoroughly done this season. 

 Development of a largo number of extra pits means a heavy drain on the resources 

 of the tree. Harvesting the crop tv/o or throe times should not be considered as 

 thinning. Bettor size and quality are almost certain to result from a liberal 

 thinning immediately after the June drop. 



Further Work on the Prevention of Intornal Cork 



In a recent issue of Better Fruit, H. R. McLarty and his co-workers 

 report extensive cxperim.cnts in the Northvrest on the cause and control of drought 

 spot, corky core, and related .■'.ilmonta of the applo. Ho reports rather striking 

 benefits from the use of boric acid and ooncludcs his article with a statement 

 that further v/ork is necessary to determine how often the boric acid must be 

 applied, the relation of those ailments to a deficiency or an excess of water, 

 etc. In IJlassachusctts we are rmking some simple tests in the use of borax as 

 a preventative of internal cork. Tests are being made in seven orchards as 

 follows: Two each in IfLddlosex, V/orc ester, and Hampden Counties, and one in 

 Franklin County. 



