■8- 



Although irrigation has given favorable results in liinited 

 trials in England, drought conditions seem to be mentioned less fre- 

 quently by the English than by Massachusetts farmers. The maritime 

 climate of England is probably responsible. Besides less sunshine, 

 temperatures ran^e lower during the growing season, and humidity^may 

 be higher than in most parts of Massachusetts. There is reason to be- 

 lieve that a total rainfall of only 11.8 inches from April through Sept- 

 ember would be inadequate on many Massachusetts fruit farms. L. Southwick 



Rab bit In j ury 



A newly developed repellent for preventing rabbit damage to fruit 

 trees v/as mentioned in December Fruit Kotes. This repellent is a fruit 

 tree coating and is effective against cottontails. It has been recommended 

 by v;orkers in the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. More than 200 

 materials or :aixtures have been tested since 1937. The only repellent that 

 proved to be safe on trees as well as effective against rabbits v»-as a mix- 

 ture of rosin and ethyl alcohol as stated in Fruit Notes. Cheaper grades 

 of rosin and of denatured commercial ethyl alcohol were found to be as 

 satisfactory as the higher grades. Seven pounds of rosin are dissolved 

 in one gallon of alcohol (slightly more than one part of rosin to one part 

 of alcohol by weight). This may take up to 24 hours in a warm room. The 

 container should be closed to prevent evaporation and to allow shaking. 

 iJo heat should be appliedl Treated trees vrill turn white but this does 

 not'~change the eTfectiveness nor does it harm the trees. The repellent 

 should be applied in the fall and only when the bark is dry. One applica- 

 tion protects all winter. Yie have not tried this repellent as yet at the 

 State College. L. Southwick 



Classification and Taxation of Forest Lands and Fo rest Products 



The'T.'aw covering the taxation of forest lands was ainended last 

 year by the Massachusetts Legislature as follov^s: All forest land, having 

 an assessed valuation not in excess of ^25 per acre for land and growth 

 became automatically classified January 1st, 1942. The assessors notify 

 owners of forest land' on or "before March 1st, 1942, that such land is 

 classified. If the land is not classified, the owner can appeal to the 

 State Forester for a hearing. The owner of classified forest land may cut, 

 free of tax, wood or timber therefrom for his ovm use or for the use of a 

 tenant, not to exceed s;25 in stumpage value. On any amount above this $25 

 he must pay a products tax of such percentage of the stuiapage value as is 

 set forth in the following schedule: 



VJ"ood and Timber Cut from Land Classified — Less than three years, 

 \%; three to six years, 2^; six to nine years, 3%, nine to twelve years, 4^; 

 tv/elve to fifteen years, 5^; fifteen years or more, 6^. 



The ovmer shall make a return to the assessors before April 1st, 

 showing the amount of wood and timber cut from classified land during the 

 preceding c'ttLendar year. A form for this will be provided. The owner pays 

 annually a land tax based on an adjusted valuation. The adjusted valua- 

 tion of classified forest land shall be the percentage of the full value 

 of the land including the growth thereon as of January first of each year 

 as set forth iij the following, schedule; 



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