-3- 



liVa increase tha quantity of upplus daily and d^icr&usa the quantity of other fefcds 

 until th<i cows consumu from thrua-f ourths to onu bushol uach morning und night. 

 By tha tirao wtj havcj reached this quantity at u fouding, we h^Va diminishod thu 

 other dairy feud to about one-third thu quantity that wo find necossury when ap- 

 ples are not available. During the season when hfiy is fed, each cow will consume 

 not more than one-third to one-half aS much hu.y over the period when -pplas ure 

 being fed. V/o find th.>t the flow of milk increasos with the feeding of apples." 



Another Virginia farmer, J. B. Bonhom, has usod apples Vury effectively 

 along with grass silage. He writes, "¥/e decided to mix apples with the grass, 

 allowing the ensilage cutter to handle grass and applus at the some time. We 

 used ubout two-thirds gruss and one-third apples. The surprising thing with ub 

 was to see how quickly a large quantity of apples disappears. V/e did not have 

 half enough apples so v/e began to repack some that v/ere not keeping too well. 

 This gave us a use for specked apples. All this was done without any messy re- 

 sults. The most pleasing aroma you could imagine came from the mixture. V^a 

 watched the results and found that the horses neighed, the cattle bav/led, the 

 sheep bleated, and the hogs rooted--all trying to got their sharu of this apple 

 ensilage. Vi/e are planning to use a great quantity of apples in our corn ensilage 

 this fall." 



Sono Massachusetts farmers oro also reporting interesting obsL^rvL-tions 

 on the feeding of apples to livestock. One fruit-dairy farmer has noticed that 

 his cows come to xhc b;,.rn much more promptly while h« is feeding apples. He 

 says thc.t they run the last 100 ya.rds. Another combination farmer s..ys his cows 

 are recoiving a bushel of apples pur day with good results. Horses, too, like 

 apples. County .■igent ; J. H. Putnam tells us that ha is feeding a half bushel 

 per day to a pony, - tOid a sleeker, fatter pony you seldom see. 



Mouse Population Decroases 



Trapping investigations conducted by W. Vi/. Dykstra of the Biological 

 Survey during the past year indicate a marked drop in meadow mouse infestations. 

 Spring checks revealed that populations were only about 10/. of the 1938 peak. 

 Fall population checks indicate that infestations are now less than <;5/o of the 

 1938 peak. Trap checks in a South Amherst orchard showed a population of 32 

 mice per acre aS compv.red with a high of 300 por acre in many orchards last year. 

 Hov/evor, in hurricne damaged areas the mice appear to be concentrated in heavy 

 uncut grass cover beneath brixed trees. There is still evidence of considerable 

 underground activity. Although populations are less, tho possibility of serious 

 injury exists, and control should not be neglected. Demonstrations in control 

 will again bo conducted throughout the state this fall. Discussions will include 

 new tricks in poisoning, acceptance of apple varieties, status of the pin« mouse, 

 and fluctuations in the mouse population. 



Meadow mouse populations, according to Mr. Dykstra, are at their lowest 

 ebb in early spring. Altern'-te rain, snow, freezing and thawing Viieather are 

 probably responsible for this reduction. Fifty-six per cijnt of the mulched trees 

 in one orchard had mice present last fall. Trap checks in the spring indicated 

 a drop of 92/{ in the mouse population. Heaviest fall mouse mf estt^tions hud a 

 survival of about 30 mico per acre this spring. A Connecticut orchard had 105 

 trees blown down in the September hurricane. They were pulled out in the spring, 

 and 85 were fuund to haVe serious root injury from mice. Drifting of mice took 

 place during warm spells lust wintur. Tnorefor^, when extended warm periods take 

 place, orchcard borders may need re-treating. 



