FRUIT NOTiS - September, 1940 



7/. H. Thies 

 Extension Horticulturist 



A striking bit of evidence concerning the effect of terracing a 

 slope subject to erosion is repoi-ted by A» B. Beauuiont in the latest issue 

 of Tiie Soil Auger. Samples of soil \7ere taken nugust 23 from the 11th and 

 15t]. terraces of a peach orchard planted on the contour s^'^stem and from 

 corresponding levels of an adjacent vineyard vmich v;as not terraced. Both 

 the crciiard and the vineyard had cover crops ox barleif and v/eods. The 

 perccntago of moisture (dry soil basis) found was as follov/rj. Poacli orchard, 

 lov/er terrace, 20.6^ upper terrace, 15.2., Vineyardj lower slopej 10.2, uy;?3r 

 slopoj 7 .4. 



• The author goes on to say that the importance of w^-ter conserva- 

 tion in Itissachusetts agriculture should not be underestimated. TIaere is 

 a tendency to viev/ the proclen of adequate moisture supply with complacency 

 because of a generous total precipitation. But it is the distribution that 

 counts. From April to j^ugust , 1940, inclusive, 20.74 inches of rain fell 

 in Ar:ilierst. This amount is 1.86 inches above the normi-l for the period. 

 April and I:Iay were so v/et that i;.any crops could not be planted 3.t the nor- 

 mal time. But the precipitation in August was less than half normal, caus- 

 ing an undesirably dry condition in less favored soils. l's2V/ of the su:m?.er 

 rains of this section came in heavy showers, a large proportion of wnich 

 ran off the soil '«vithout penetrating it thus causing soil loss by erosion. 

 Even during the heavy sho\/er of July 18 when 1.18 inches of rain fell in 

 a 30 minute period, there was no evidence of loss of moisture in tiie ter- 

 raced peach orchard, v/Iiile plenty of erosion occurred on adjacent areas. 



iiccording to population studies being conducted by the U. 3, Fish 

 c: ^^ildlifc Service, formerly the Biological Survey, meadow r.iice are tv.dce 

 as numerous as last fall. It is therefore important to carry on adequate 

 control \¥ork during the next two months. 



Populations of these rodents rise a.nd fall in throo to five year 

 cycles. Infestations wore at a peak during the fall of 1938, and were un- 

 usually low during 1939 and in the spring of 1940. However, favorable 

 weather and abundant grass cover has helped their increase, and although 

 populations are not yet at a ncv/ peak, the mice :ro num.erous enough to causo 

 e:5iSonsivc dain-.ge this vdntor. 



j^uring peak years, populations range from a lev/ of e:;bout 25 per 

 acre in i.i,rch to a high of near 200 nor acre in September. Infestations 



Issued by' the iSxtension Service; V/illard A. Kunson, Director, in fur- 

 therance of Acts of Ivlay 8 and June 30, 1914. Massachusetts State College 

 United States Department of Agriculture, and County Extension Services 

 cooperating. 



