-5- 



a lot of thnt trnde. The Inrge "buyera, such re the chains, vmuld, 

 I believe, Trrotect the local crop if it ^^ere pf^ckod n s wf^-ii rc> out- 

 cicie shipments. New England growers all pack a different package 

 usually in a second hand "box, slack, without covers. A chain 

 store "buyer cannot get a volume of uniform packages. They there- 

 fore buy a southern basket in order to get uniform carload ship- 

 ments." Button goes on to express his views in these words, "Many 

 growers don't bother to care for their crop, then ship a lot of 

 cider a-oples to a commission house or auction and ruin the mar'Ket 

 for the good growers. The cider mill is the greatest helD in 

 keeping up the price of good apples, only our friends don't ship 

 half enough to that outlet. With Fancy pnd U.S. #1 southern fruit 

 selling for bO^ to $1.10, what is a spotty, soft, bruised, native, 

 in an old second hand box, really worth? I hope to see a better 

 ppckag*^ and a lighter ci-op. Then we will have a good year." 



The Set of Mcintosh 



As this is being written numerous reports are being re- 

 ceived about the light set of Mcintosh. There seems to be little 

 relation between the percent of bloom and the aoples nnv- on the 

 tree. The situation in the College orchards is in keeping with 

 the observations of growers and others around the state. What 

 promised to be a .90\ percent crop of I.lclntosh may shrink to a. 6C;' 

 percent crop. One of the most reasonable explanations :for the 

 light set in many oi'chards is unfavorable weathf^ r at a critical 

 time. Many growers reioort plenty of bee activity and more T3ar- 

 ticularly bumble bees. A few ctri'King illustrations of _ the valu.e 

 of nearly pollenating varieties have been noted. But the whole 

 matter is so complex tha.t a. simple explantion for a light set is 

 impossible. The margin of safety between a good set and a poor 

 set is illustrated in individual trees where one branc'n has a crop 

 and the next one hasn't. Reoerrch workers point out at lenst 

 S or 10 factors which govern the set of fruit. Not all of them 

 are under the grower's control. Among the things known to be im.- 

 portant are good tree vigor, plenty of nitrogen, an abundance of 

 suitable pollen with insects to carry it, weather sufficiently 

 w?irm to permit of bee activity, absence of low tempera.tures, good 

 soil drainage, etc. Some authorities stress the need for good 

 weather conditions at and immediately after pollenation takes 

 place. To sift thece various factors and decide which one or ones 

 were responsible for a light set in 193^ i^^y bf^ possible in sn 

 individual tree. It is more difficult for the state as a ^"-hole. 



Item.G fr om Her e and Th ere 



A correction; Holdings of apples in cold storage in the 

 Boston Market Area were misquoted on page 3 '^f "tne April issue of 

 Fruit Notes. The figures should have read (193S) 164,990; 

 (1937) i^i|,b93; (I93S) 96,056; (193:>) 10:^,119. 



According to rumors, "Johnny Appleseed," that legendary 

 character born in Leominster, will once more roam our countryside 

 this coming fall. An Apple Festival Association representing 

 leading groups inttjresteci in the fruit industry, is making plans 

 for a real celebration at ax>ple harvest time. 



