-4- 



Strav/borry Shortconings 



On the v/hole tho strawborry crop in Ifessachusotts has been very 

 so.tisfactoiy. Horo and thero, howovor, vro have observed instead of on abun- 

 dance of potential shortcakes one or more of the follovdng shortcorangs: (l) 

 A densely nattcd rev/ which resulted in too nany decayed berrios:j (2) The 

 opposite condition ivhere plants are too far apart ovdng to a lack of trulch 

 last fall or to the drouth last surxior, (3) An abundance of leaf spot which 

 gives evidence that a highly susceptible variety is being gro\7n in place of 

 certain standard varieties like Howard 17, (4) A weedy planting in which 

 nany of tho weeds are unwonted stravi/borry plants. This last condition is 

 especially important in such heavy feeding varieties as Dorset and Fairfax. 

 Spacing of the rimnor plants in late surmer is essential with those varieties 

 if boDt results are to bo obtained. The above suggestions are made noroly 

 to call to the grower's attention the need for observing at harvest tine 

 certain fundamental principles in strawberry culture^ for after all the har- 

 vested crop is the best indicator of tho success or failure of our cultural 

 ncthods. 



An Unwclconc Midsurjncr visitor 



The Apple Ifaggot or Railroad Worn has again rjade its appearance in 

 fcssachusotts apple orchards. In looking for the adult flies it is well to 

 look first at such sunr.icr varieties as Astrachan, Yellow Transparent, etc., 

 since the flies are/ inclined to nakc their initial appearance in tho trees 

 of early varieties than they are in trees of winter varieties. A fcv; flies 

 were reported during the first fov/ days of July. It is safe to say that tho 

 Third Cover Spray (about July 10) v/ill bo well tincd for the average orchard. 

 For the later appearing flies a second application of lead arsenate (2 lbs. 

 in 100 gallons) should bo nado about July 25 except on early varieties. If 

 dust is used three applications are recoixaendcd at ten day intervals beginn- 

 ing about July 10. In our efforts to control this sumer visitor, v/c should 

 not neglect to take care of all apple trees vri.thin infesting distance of the 

 orchard (about 200 yards) . As a supplcnentary control neasure all riaggot 

 infested drop apples should bo gathered up at least once a v;eek and disposed 

 of by feeding to live stock or enptying on soil previously saturated vdth 

 crank case oil. The outstanding results which Massachusetts growers have ob- 

 tained by using the above control measures prove conclusivoly that tho 

 apple nagget or railroad worn can bo controlled except where the environ- 

 nont is decidedly imf avorabii-O . 



Ti'/ilip.ht Glinpses 



Tvdlight noctings of fruit grov/ors have been hold in the follovdng 

 counties this surxioij Yiforcostor, J£.ddlcsox, Franklin, Hanpshire, Hanpdon, 

 Bristol, and Flyr.iouth. Aii additional nocting is scheduled for Norfolk County 

 vri.thin a few days. More than 20 such meetings are being hold this season 

 in Y/orcoster County alone. Tho attendance has been extremely gratifying. The 

 average number of growers attending tho first thirteen meetings in ViTor coster 

 Coimty was 35. It lias been a comon tiling for an occasional grov/er to derive 

 as much as 30 or 40 miles to attend one of these evening sessions. Comments 

 from a number of growers load us to believe that meetings of this type are 

 very much worthv/hile. 



