MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE 

 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

 AND COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICES IN AGRICULTURE AND 

 ■ HOlffi ECONOMICS COOPERATING 



FRUIT NOTES - June, 1937 



W. H. Thies 

 Extension Horticulturist 



A Rainy June and Its Effects in the Orchard 



For three consecutive months the rainfall in Amherst has been above 

 normal. Records show a total since January of 26.83 inches v;hich is nearly 6 

 inches above normal. May and June alone contributed an excess of 4.64 inches. 

 During May the rainfall amounted to 6.09 inches while June brought 5.72 inches. 

 The normal rainfall for the two months is 3.63 inches and 3.54 inches respective- 

 ly. How different is this record from that of 1936, when May and June brought 

 a shortage of more than 2 inches and July added to our deficit nearly 3 inches 

 more. Then we were observing actual drought conditions in many orchards. Now we 

 are trying to avoid getting mired while fighting the ever present menace of scab. 

 Then we ivere v/ondoring about irrigation. Now we have enough water, and some to 

 spare. Aside from the scab problem (and 0. C. Boyd reports 10 infection periods 

 between May 6 and Juno 22) what are the probable effects of all this water on 

 tree behavior? A few guossos may be in order. 



Orchards on doop, v;cll drained soils arc faring very v;oll. The ex- 

 cess of water drains av/ay and the rootc do not remain submerged because little 

 water logging occurs. Orchards on the more porous, droughty soils are also 

 making a good showing, assuming of course an ample supply of plant food elements. 

 Trees on such soils are quite contented when the \ifp.tcr supply is replenished 

 every v/oek. Their record for the season hov/cver, will depend very largely on 

 the rainfall during July rjid August. If wo ho.vo a late season drought, wc may 

 look for early dropping of Mcintosh and perhaps some pitting of Baldwins. The 

 same may bo true of other orchards underlain by ho.rdpan where the soil at this 

 season appears to be too v;ct. A high v/ater tabic in early summer results in a 

 shallow root system, which leaves the tree "high and dry" during an August 

 drought. As regards the sot of fruit buds for 1938, there is some evidence to 

 show that hot, dry weather during June is more conducive than cool, rainy 

 v;oathor. And if next spring should bring only a moderately heavy bloora, that 

 v/ill be an advantage, since excessive blooming tends to orchaust the resources 

 of the troe and encourages biennial bearing. Seldom have we seen so heavi' a 

 growth of grass in Massachusetts orchards. This is duo in part to a more general 

 broadcasting of fertilizers. Enough water for both the tree and the grass is 

 also a factor. The additional grass thus being gro^vn in the orchard, along with 

 a generally heavy hay crop throughout the state, v/ill m,akc it somev/hat en.sior 

 this year to add the tonnage of mulch material so much neodod in the average 

 orchard. 



A Now Idea in Orchard Mouse Control 



Donald A. Spencer of the U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey, offers 

 the follovdng timely advice roga.rding mouse control in Massachusetts orchards: 

 "A late spring coupled v/ith damp weather has resulted in an unusually heavy 

 stand of grasses in most orchards. This condition is most favorable as food 



