-6- 



spraying, ''It often affords dead caln oonditions which permit spraj'-s contain- 

 ing nicotine to produce a fumigation effect that is seldom possible in daylight. 

 The taxie fumes hang in the trees for long periods seemingly killing all active 

 insect life. After such a treatment it is usually a week or 10 days at least 

 before in§ect life becomes re-established," L, Southwick 



Keep 'Em Growing 



About the v:orst thing which can happen to a newly set fruit tree is 

 to stand still or make practically no growth during the first season. If this 

 happens, it means not only a loss of time, but when the tree is finally in- 

 duced to grov;, it is more than likely tn sprout from the trunk instead of the 

 branches. Let's make sure this does not happen with fruit trees set this 

 spring. Whatever is needed to insure good grovrth should be provided. Early 

 planting, watering, mulching, and if needed, a little nitrogenous fertilizer 

 or manure, provide good insurance that the tree will not only live during the 

 summer but that it will make a vigorous grovrth. It is easy to develop a good 

 framework in a tree which makes good grov.i;h from the start. But if it loafs 

 along for a year or two, shaping is difficult and the stage of profitable bear- 

 ing is postponed. 



Direct Sales of Fancy Fruit 



A few days ago a representative of three hotels in Boston expressed 

 an interest in supplies of five fruits, — strav/berries, raspberries, blueberries, 

 peaches, and grapes during the coming season. Instead of picking up these 

 fruits on the wholesale market each day, he wants to contact individual growers 

 in Massachusetts v;ho can supply these fruits while each is in its prime. Of 

 the small fruits, the amounts needed var^' from 2 to 7 crates daily. Five to 

 10 bushels of peaches and about 2 bushels of grapes are daily requirements. 

 Any grovrer interested in this opportunity for direct sales of fancy fruits may 

 obtain further details by dropping a line to the v/riter. 



D'-' You Know? 



That about half of the total area of Llass. is suitable for agricul- 

 tural utilization? The percentage of agricultural suitability varies from 

 nearly l/3 in Barnstable County to slightly less than 2/3 in Vforcester County. 



That of the total state area, nearly 2/3 is under wooded cover? The 

 highest proportion (nearly 3/4) is in Barnstable and Berkshire Counties. The 

 lowest (slightly more than half) is in Essex and Middlesex Counties. 



That salesmanship means "selling goods that won't come back to cus- 

 tomers that v/ill?" 



That American consumers pay about $2,000,000,000 a year for fresh 

 fruits and vegetables? O^t of this total, according to E. R. French, marketing 

 director of a large chain store, the farmers who grov/ the fruits and vegetables 

 get only about $700,000,000. 



That the United States farm price of apples as recorded for Feb. 15 

 was $1.20 per bushel as compared viith 93/ per bushel on the same date in 1941? 

 V;ith the exception of the latter part of the 1936-37 season, the 1942 farm 



I 





