■2- 



muximura, being grentor thtji thd former and loss then tho l-ttor. Tho norntil 

 muy bo doocrib&d as a condition of purfjct h faithfulness, unimpaired by drought, 

 hciil, insocts, or othi^r injurious agancy, and with such grov^-tn t^nd deveiopmo-nt , 

 as may ba roasonabiy look^^d for under th-jsa favorable conditions." 



Tho "normal" as ubud by the; U^S.D.A. h:,s beon criticized by omintnt 

 statisticii^ns on th^; ground th-t it hc4S no dufinite statistical basis and, 

 therefore, by itself, cannot convey any muaning. But it has baon found thv.t 

 th>j crop reporter doos have a woll defined idea of wh.-t constitutes "normal" 

 for his locality. Representing the mass judgment of a multitude of observers, 

 it adjusts itself slovi^ly and naturally to any actual trends in yields p^r acre, 

 such ..s might arise from development of improved strains of higher yielding 

 seed or the introduction of a plant post. The exp^riencu of thi. official sta- 

 tisticians of countries or states v/here the average is used as a basis for 

 con-.p..rison, indicates that the fctnner really makes his comparison with the 

 "full crop" or "normal" rather than tho avur=^ge. Thu farmer tunds to remember 

 thu best crops or the usual crops and docs not always t-.ke into consideration 

 the yui-.rs when the crop failed. 



Poach and Pear P rospects 



The peach crop in Nuw England this yii^r is expuctod to total 247,000 

 bushels compared vdth 274,000 bushuls harvested last so^sen, and 333,000 bushels 

 fur the 10 yuar average, 1928 to 1937. The lighter crop prospect is largely 

 duti to tree losses caused by the hurricane. There was little dum-^ge from 

 spring frosts. The outluuk fur pears is 136,000 bushels carip..r«d with 170,000 

 busnels l<^st yu._r ^nd 159,000 buLihols f^r thu 10 y^c^r av^r^gu. Puar cr^p pros- 

 pects .re lightijir than a yo.-r age in all of the New iingland st^.tes, except 

 Vermont, as with puaches, tno reduced prospocts for pe_.rs ..re due ^uite largely 

 t>^ tr-<j losses cused by the hurricane. 



Lading Clover as a Cover Crop 



\i/ith something like 1200 acres of Ladino clover now grov/ing in IJassa- 

 chusetts, dairymen are very familiar vdth this plant for pasture purposes. 

 Numerous demonstrations have been established by R. V/. Donaldson, Extension 

 Agronomist, among Massachusetts dairymen. Little has been done, however, in 

 the growing of Ladino clover as an orchard cover crop. In the June 15 issue 

 of Seasonal Fruit Notes prepared by H. A. Rollins of Connecticut, .ve find this 

 interesting statement. "Fruit growers who have been using one or tv/o pounds 

 of Ladino Clover seed in their orchard Seeding mixtures during the past 3 

 years have been very well pleased v/ith the results of this relatively nev/ 

 legume. Ladino Clover is proving to bo one of the best cover crops for Con- 

 necticut orchard soils. For further information see the enclosed material 

 on orchard cover crops." 



The use of Ladino clover and orchard grass in combination is suggested 

 with this word of expl-nation. "Ladino is a giant strain of perennial white 

 clover. It Kckes a large, quick gro\¥th, remains vigorous throughout the sum- 

 mer and is an excellent nitrogen collector. A crop of Ladino will collect far 

 more nitrogen than any orchardist c.n buy in Cuiiimerci^l mc.terials. If the 

 soil is prepared as suggested above and the crop cut two or three times c;. year 

 the sti^nd will remain guod severed ye^rs, probably for an indefinite period. 

 Orchc^rd grass withstands shade better than any other lt.rge grass and is tolerant 

 of m,ny adverse conditions. It does net compute with Ladine so much as the 



