-2- 



and cover for tree girdling niico. Thoir hidden runways vri.ll bo Gvcrywhorc in 

 tho orchard whoro this grass cover exists, provided of course that mice are 

 prosont. Experienco has taught us that vro must locate those runvra.ys for placo- 

 raont of poison baits if our control of this trcc-girdler is to bo successful. 

 This is a task for the fall season, so we suggest the follovri.ng program: 



Meadow Mice can be dravm in from a rather largo area in the orchard 

 by making suitable nest sites for them. Hay mulching about the base of a tree 

 vri.ll serve this purpose. VJhere this type of orchard culture is not employed, 

 mako small haycocks vri.th a couple of forkfuls of mown grass, approximately one 

 to each tree. This haycock should be thrown on and in a stand of grass in 

 which mice live. It need not be near the base of the tree. In frxt it vrill 

 be much more useful if this haycock is placed at the side of a rock outcrop, 

 or across a rut or furrov;, or on tho lower side of a terrace. Be sure to con- 

 struct such haycocks along all drainage ditch banks at about 25 foot intervals, 

 and in all marshy areas vri.thin the confines of tho orchard. They need not be 

 placed before tho latter part of August but must bo in place at least ono month 

 before the poisoned bait is distributed. 



You gain one big advantage by establishing Mouse Concent rat ion Stations 

 this summer. It v.dll bo a simple rir^ttcr next October after the apple crop has 

 boon picked and vri.ndfalls gathered, to check oach of these mulch piles and drop 

 poison bait in any mouse runway that occurs thoro. Those mulch piles protect 

 the bait from birds and other beneficial wild life and save inany hours of labor 

 scratching about through tho grass trying to locate mouse rummys. For in- 

 formation on the now mouse control baits consult your County Agricultural Agent 

 noxt Soptombor." 



Early Tliinning Pays 



There seems to be more interest in early thinning of apples 

 and peaches than for many years past. Jfeny grovrers who formerly v>ra.ited until the 

 June drop was over are learning from experience the profitableness of getting 

 the extra fruits off the tree before tho first of July. However, July thinning 

 is much better than none at all, even on early varieties, as the following ex- 

 ample will show. A few years ago two heavily loaded Yellovir Treinsparont trees 

 wore selected for demonstration. Botli trees were vigorous and rather brushy. 

 On July 5 one of tho trees was thinned thoroughly. Apples removed~3600. Time 

 required - 4 hrs. On July 29 the apples wore picked from both trees, sized, 

 packed and sent to Boston. The fruit on the thinned tree v/as not only larger 

 but it ripened earlier and more uniformly. These returns v/ero received s 

 Size No. Bu. No. Bu. Average Price 



(inches) Thinned Tree Unthinnod Tree per Bushel 



2 3/4 1 $1.07 



2 1/2 7 2 .93 



2 1/4 5 8 .38 



2 1 2 1/ 3 .00 



14 12 1/2 

 Total returns: Thinned trco, $9«48| unthinned tree $4.90. Difforonco in 

 favor of thinnod tree $4.58. 



Late Summer Meetings 



July and August vri.ll again offer several opportunities for getting out 

 and seeing how other folks aro tackling their fruit grovri.ng problems. Follovi/- 

 ing the regular Farm and Homo Wook fruit meetings in AmJricrst, July 27 and 28, 

 at least three other meetings arc planned for August as follov/ss August 5, 



