mSSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE 

 UNITED STATES DEPMTI.ENT OF AGRICULTURE 

 AND COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICES IN AGRICULTURE AND 

 HOIiE ECONOMICS COOPERATING 



FRUIT NOTES - July, 1937 

 W. H. Thiesj Extension Horticulturist 



Coope rative Clonal Stock Orchards 



There have been planted in the state this spring 21 orchards of trees 

 of our GOianon and some new varieties on clonal or asexually propagated stock. 

 Many of these stocks are more or less dviarfing to the varieties budded on them. 

 The. purpose is to learn v/hat are the effects of these stocks on the various 

 varieties and whather these stocks have any value in commercial fruit gromng. 

 The orchards vary in size from ton treos up to nearly four hundred trees. The 

 distribution of the orchards by countios is as follows i Hampden 6^ Hampshire 7 5 

 I'liddloscx 3 J Worcester 5. Wo vidll liavo several hundred trees available in the 

 spring of 1938 and perhaps in 1939. Wo will be glad to hear from any grower 

 who would bo interested in planting some of those trees. It will take some 

 time to get results but they should bo interesting and valuable. 



J . K o Shav/ 



Emergence of Apple Mag^^ot Flies in 1937 



On July 20 5 approximatoly one-third of the expected number of flics had 

 emerged in cages at Waltham. Probably the actual maximum number of flies emerg- 

 ing in one day had net occurred but it promises to occur before July 25, and the 

 period of greatest emergence vri.ll be from July 16 to 25. In general, the ap- 

 pearance of the flics this y.ear is very similar to that in 1235, and It should 

 be considered normal. The first fly wns found on June 28 but appreciable numbers 

 wore not collected until July 11. As in other years, the greatest early emer- 

 gence took place in light, cultivated soil exposed to, the aun, and the least 

 emorgenco has been in shaded sod. The spray dates recomuondcd in tho College 

 schedule are very timely this year and should be followed. Late varieties 

 should be sprayed tho wee!: of July 26. Observations in recent years in orchards 

 interplantod vdth early and late varieties indicate that the maggot can be more 

 satisfactorily protected in the late varieties by spraying the early varieties 

 just after the fruit is harvested. Apparently, the flies stay in the trees of 

 the more attractive early varieties for some time after the crop lias been har- 

 vested. 



In many orchards in the eastern part of the State, the white apple 

 leaf hopper v/as more abundant on July 1 than it has boon in tho past 10 yxiars. 

 With normal conditions, the infestation by the second generation promises to be 

 extremely heavy. If tliis occurs, foliage injury, frvit spotting, and excessive 

 late drop due to loafhoppor attack vri.ll probably vrar".ant rorc spraying about 

 September 1 than usual. Nicotine sulfate and soap, ^r pyrcthrum extract sprays, 

 vri.ll control this post and a pyrethruiii-clay 30-70 dust or a 2;^ nicotine lime 

 dust vri.ll be effective. \7. D. Yi/hitco:ab 



The Re Loafhoppor 



Apparently the rose loafhoppor is much more abundant than usual in many 

 orchards this season. This species is primarily a pest of potatoes but is also * 

 found on apples v/hcre it usually confines its attention to nursery trees or 

 young non-bearing trees in the orchard. On elder trees it attacks the terminal 

 leaves, causing them to curl or become cup shaped. Badly injured loaves turn a 

 pale yollovri.sh green and later brovm. It is seldom abundant on apples, being 



