-6- 



tons. Germany leads in nitrogen output with 1,300,000 tons followed in order by 

 Japan, U« S., France, j£ngland, Belgium, etc. One or mere plants are to be found 

 in 24 different countries. 



U« S. Low in per Acre Use of Nitrogen . The U. S. Tariff Commission reports the 

 nitrogen consumption in Europe and the U. S. as follows (The figures represent 

 pounds per acre of crop and pasture land): Belgium - 26.3, Netherlands - 23.9, 

 Germany - 13.6, Denmark - 9.6, Norway - 6.6, France - 4.4, Italy - 4.2, Sweden - 

 3.5, Gt . Britain - 2.9, Czechosluvakia - 2.4, Austria - 1«4, U. S. - 1.1. J. G. 

 Llpman of the N. J. Agr'l. Exp. St a., estimates a net annual log a of over 6-2 

 aiiJ.lion tons of nitrogen from the soils of the U. S. after allowing for more than 

 300,000 tons applied in the form of fertilizers. 



? aker Takes New Radio Job with U.S.P.A* John C. Baker, a former Extension Editor 

 it the State College and more recontly in charge of the farm programs of WLS in 

 Chicago, has assumed the role of extension radio dpadialist with the U.S.D.A. in 

 Washington, according to a recent announcement in the Extension Service Review. 

 In his new position. Baker will assist in the radio progr:.jn3 on tho National Farm 

 & Home Hour and will also spend considerable time in the field in connoction v/ith 

 local programs. 



A Task Well Done. The Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation has purchased a 

 total of 321,410 bushels or 484 cars of apples in Massachusetts during a period 

 of about four weeks following the hurricane, returning t o tho growors a total of 

 about $225,000. To facilitate loading, cars wero placed ut 42 different sidings 

 in 9 counties. Purchases from other N. E. states through the Concord office 

 brought tho total jauober of carloads up to 525, New Hampshire contributing 27, 

 Maine 10 and Vermont 4. Mr. Engols and his co-workere are to T§e congratulated 

 on their efficiency in handling a big job. 



Must All Drop Apples be Picked Up? Valuable time is often wasted in gathering 

 up drop apples long after they coase to bo a menace. At this souson, about the 

 only excuse for further attention to drups is to eliminate them as feed for mice 

 thereby making a poison bait more effective. Mice cortainly will not be as in- 

 terested in pieces of apples containing zinc phosphide if they can find a supply 

 of untreated apples nearby. From the standpoint of insects and diseases, however, 

 there is no evidence to show that a late fall cleanup of drops is worth the tine 

 involved. So long as the drops contain larvae of the apple maggot, there is, of 

 course, no question about the proper procudure. With that insect, the prompt de- 

 struction of drops of early and fall varieties is of greater importance than hard, 

 winter varieties. 



1938 an Apple Maggot Year . More than the usual number of "railroady" apples were 

 apparently found in Massa;chusetts this fall. Light to moderate infestations were 

 reported in many orchards, some uf which have been relatively free from maggot 

 for several years past. Inspections in connuction with tho federal apple purchase 

 progrEua revealed more infested c. pples than was anticipated. The explanation may 

 bo twofold: First, a natural upward trend in the cycle so common in the insect 

 world, and second, the usual effect follov/ing a season of low prices for early 

 apples. With a poor apple market in 1937, more than tho usual proportion of ap- 

 ples were left unharvested. This resulted in more maggots entering the gro-und 

 and a larger fly population in 1938. 



