-3- 



Wint er Mouse Activities 



'/;/• VJ. Dykstra submits the following summary of the mouse situation. 

 "Orchard inspections by the Biological Survey during the past few weeks have re- 

 vealed tv;o types of mouse injury^ (1) Damage above ground, extending up to ten 

 inches above the surface. Fifteen such trees v,fere observed from one spot in a 

 Nashoba orchard. (2) Damtige belovt/ ground, extending from trunk along roots (most 

 common where trees were reset after the hurricane without filling in holes at 

 their bases). In one instance all roots were completely stripped for a distance 

 of four feet from the tree base. Such trees appeared to be concentration spots 

 for twenty or thirty mice. Vlfell defined trails spread fan shape to neighboring 

 areas . 



"In orchards where control was not practiced, mouse populations remained 

 at a high level throughout the winter. Hov/ever, it is probable that rains v/ith 

 alternate freezing and thawing during the past few v^eeks have killed off many of 

 them. In other instances it has forced tnem to migrate to higher ground. 



"Tree bases should be thorougnly inspected six inches below ground -as soon 

 as the frost is out. If bridge grafting or inarching is necessary, the surround- 

 ing area should bo re-poisoned to prevent possible duraage to grafts. Apple baits 

 of good quality should be used. 



"Mouse dumuge to apples in cold storage is not always caused by the deer 

 mouse. Recent investigi.i.tions have revec^led considerable damage by meadow mice. 

 At least sixty were found in one cold stor^.ge plant. They h^d constructed nests 

 from shredded paper ^nd raised young throughout the winter in spite of low tem- 

 peratures raaintf..ined in the building. Grain baits ;;.re gener.-lly effective for 

 control in such instL.nces." 



Refri ge rator Cars for Storage Purposes 



companies 

 Two of the larger transportation/have recently quoted prices on old re- 

 frigerator cars which might be suitable for farm storage purposes. These prices 

 are subject to change without notice and are valid when and if cars are available.. 

 Any grower interested in this matter may obtain full details by dropping a line 

 to the writer. The cost of storage units made from such cars, as now set up on 

 several Michigan farms, has been around 20 cents per bushel capacity. 



For comparison, common storage costs in Massachusetts vary from 25 to 50 

 cents while the usual cold storage plants require construction expenditures gen- 

 erally exceeding 75 cents per bushel capacity. The variation probably runs from 

 65 cents to more than one dollar. Other possible advantages of old refrigerator 

 cars for storage purposes are economy of operation, minimum expense for upkeep 

 and replacement, and a.vailability for instant use as effective cold storage. 

 According to reports, the use of such cars in Ifichigan is increasing very marked- 

 ly. L. Southwick. 



Apple jLxports 



According to the Bureau of Agricultural iiJconomics (Washington, D. C), 

 exports of United States apples from July 1, 1938 to January, 1939, totaled 8.6 

 million bushels compared vi/ith 6.9 million for the corresponding period last 



