some shade of brown. In the upper subsoil there may be lighter colored layers 

 and some slight mottling but on the whole there is reasonable uniformity of 

 color and in general an absence of sharply defined changes for several feet in 

 depth. Such soils are generally, although not always, light in texture and 

 make ideal fruit soils." 



Large U. S. Cranberry Crop . 



Production of cranberries in 1939 in the United titates is estimated at 

 668, UuO barrels, compared with 475,700 barrels in 1938, and the ten-year cover- 

 age, 1928-1937, of 598,720 barrels. The increase in estimated production in 

 Missachusetts over October 1 is partially offset by reductions in Nevir Jersey, 

 Washington, und Oregon. The crop this season is expected to be about 4u p^r 

 cent larger than the 1938 crop, and 12 per cent larger tn^n the ten-year average. 



Mud Used in Cleft Gr:.fting. 



This is not a mud--slinging story but only a reference to the succes&ful 

 use of mud from a roadside puddle by Jonn Geggatt of i^cujhnet in cleft grafting 

 several young treos. Mr. Geggatt used the ordinary method of grafting v^ith this 

 extraordinary method of keeping the scions moidt. Tne mud vi/as mer-ly packed 

 j,round tne scions and held in place with ;^ piece of cloth. Of course, this 

 method is not recommended, but, it does show th^.t with careful workmanship, graft- 

 ing may bo successfully done even vi/ith a seemingly hopeless material for keeping 

 the Tivound moist. 



Are Surface Applications of Potash Effective? 



There is a general opinion among fruit growers supported by some in- 

 vestigational work that a broadcast application of potash fails to penetrate 

 the soil to a depth of more than an inch or two and for that reason may become 

 fixed before it is taken up by the tree roots. A recent report from the North- 

 west brings information of a new tool for making furrows through the orchard 

 in which the fertilizer is placed. This insures a greater intake of both potash 

 and phosphorus since it is brought nearer the roots and at the same time in a 

 moist soil zone. There is reason to believe that the "tying up" of these ele- 

 ments is dependent to some extent upon the soil type. For this reason the furrow 

 method of application may be more desirable in certain soil types. In contrast 

 to this method a rather extensive experiment has been conducted in Nev/ Hampshire 

 with broadcast applications of potash by Potter and Percival. Analyses of the 

 soil and of leaf petioles were made to determine penetration and intake. The 

 results are not very consistent. In one block however, there is ratnor clear 

 evidence that a surface application penetrated to a depth of 6 or 8 inches. 



Annual Spray Chart Revision Conference 



The annual spray conference for revising the spray schedule for various 

 tree fruits was held in Amherst November 21. This all day conference was attend- 

 ed by three members of the staff of the VVultham Field Station, members of the 

 Departments of Pomology, ^iitomology , and Botany in Amherst and by some of the 

 county agents. On the basis of this discussion tho 1940 Spray Charts will go to 

 the printer within a fev; days. 



