grov^th. The inechanisra by vvhich hormones "activate" grov/th is not well under- 

 stood at the present time. 



But v/hat has this to do v/ith the dropping of fruit? liany fruit 

 grov/ers have heard of investigations regarding the use of horr.iones to pre- 

 vent pre-harvest dropping. Scientists at bhe U.S. Horticultural Station at 

 Deltsville, I.lari'-land , have found that niany plant substances have the faculty 

 of delaying norrnal abscission (dropping) of various plant organs including 

 flowers, stems, petioles and even maturing apples. Recently, v/ith several 

 vai'ieties, very low concentrations of groiToh substances applied §,s late sprays 

 noticeably lessened the fruit drop. Other li".:iited tests suggest the sane 

 result. We conducted siid-lar tests this fall in two of our I.lclntosh blocks 

 in Ai-iiierst. In one case, the results seer.ied favorable but, in the other, 

 they v/ere inconclusive. It is just possible that v;e used too weak a con- 

 centration (.0005/^) and perhaps the material used (naphthalene acetaxiide) 

 was applied a little late. However, on the basis of results to date, we 

 believe his nev/ method should be followed with not more than a moderate 

 enthusiasm by most growers until more is knovm concerning its possibilities. 



Probably additio:ial data on this subject will be forthcoming during 

 the next few months. Further, next season we plan to carry on more extended 

 experiments here at Ilassachusetts State College. If grov/ers \n.sh to try out 

 hormone spraying on a small scale, a good plan to follov/ is to select trees 

 of the same age, vath simdlar vigor and crop and leave alternate trees in a 

 rov/, for example, as check (untreated) trees. Otherv/ise comparisons of any 

 value v/ill be difficult to ma.ke. (Additional inf orr.is.tion on tiiese nev/ ma- 

 terials v/ill appear in the next issue of Fruit Notes.) 



Lc Southv/ick 



A N_e w Orchard Account 3oo_k 



Have you ever vdshed for a simple, usable record book in which to 

 keep account of Receipts and Expenditva-'es, Inventory, exiC. Profits, if any? 

 V/ell, your v.lsh is granted. R. Ec IJoser of the State College staff has pre- 

 pared such a record book, and copies v/ill be sent to interested J.!assachusetts 

 fruit grov/ers as long as the supply lasts- A postcard will bring one by 

 return mail. 'iTnile designed primarily for fruit growers, there is also space 

 to keep account of secondar^r farm enterprises. 



Nev/ F_.S_.G_.C_.__Pr_o_£^''_Ean _St_ai-t_s_ Januarv^__9 



V/ith hea-'/j.' stocks of the Kclntosh variety in storage in the Northeast, 

 the F.S.C.C. v/ill begin the purchase of this one variety from lil._ .^uchucetts 

 storages on January 9 for distribution among families on v/elfare. Interested 

 grov.'srs should contact the county agricultural agent or a m.ember of the county 

 coixdttee. During the fall purchase program, 33 different varieties v/ere 

 offered to the F.5.G.C. in LJassachusetts- 



ITiSIIS FROi; IiiRi] Ai.'D Tll^RE 



ia_ss.p_uri_Take£ Dra^stp.c_ _^^^^ During the past year the 



L.h.s30uri Legislature passed an act requiring grade markings on all packages 

 of apples. This in itself isn't out of the ordinary but the act also re- 



