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a maximum crop of honey. For a complete discussion of the problem of swarming 

 and its controj, see U.S.D.A. Farmers' Bulletin 1198. 



During this summer, weak colonies should be united to other weak 

 colonies or to strong ones. This will eliminate in part the necessity for 

 fall feeding and will also take full advantage of the available force of bees. 

 It is the opinion of both of the writers that beekeepers must recognize tha 

 importance of strong colonies of young bees provided with ample »tores of 

 honey and pollen in order to accomplish successful wintering. G©od manage- 

 ment throughout the honey flow is absolutely essential in order to have colo- 

 nies strong in bees and well provided with stores. Old queens should be re- 

 placed by August 1. Small colonies should be united or else killed by the 

 first of October and the hive and etjuipment be placed in safe storage until 

 the following spring. 



The situation is briefly this: (l) The prospects for obtaining sugar 

 for fall feeding or for spring feeding in 1943 are very unsettled. (2) Good 

 management throughout the active season is especially important since swarming 

 is prevalent and since we must obtain as large a crop of honey as possible, 

 (3) Do not bother with weak colonies. Unite them to other colonies or destroy 

 them . Do not foed colonies sugar syrup unless it is an absolute necessity . 



Timely Tips for Fruit Growers (by H.A. Rollins, U. of Conn., Storrs, Conn.) 



F ruit Th inning Impo rtant in 1942 . By thinning fruit on heavily loaded 

 peach and apple trees, fruit growers will definitely reduce the harvest labor 

 problem. With inexperienced harvest help last year, too many cull apples went 

 into storage. Here is an opportunity to remove the culls in early summer and 

 allow the clean apples to improve in size and color. Although it may be dif- 

 ficult to obtain labor for thinning, it certainly is worth the trouble and 

 effort to thin both apples and peaches in view of the reduced labor problem 

 at harvest. For best results in size of fruit and improvement in color, thin 

 early. With proper supervision, high school boys, high school girls and 

 women can be used for fruit thinning. It is too early to make any procJSctions 

 regarding crop prospects but at present there appears to be a fair-to-good 

 fruit set. Mcintosh apples appear to be heavy enough and in some orchards 

 the Baldwin set is much too heavy. If the June drop does not greatly reduce 

 the load of fruit on some trees, you certainly should plan to thin fruit on 

 these trees as early as possible. 



Ladino Clove r Frunishes Nitrogen . With the prospect that there 

 will be less nitrogen fertilizer available next year, there is even more 

 need for Connecticut fruit growers to plant Ladino clover as an orchard 

 cover crop where it is possible to do so. Mr. Henry Fetors of Hamden, after 

 seeding Ladino clover four years ago, has omitted nitrogen on mature Mcintosh 

 apple trees for the past three years with very satisfactory crops of apples 

 and excellent tree growth. Other growers have found that they can definitely 

 reduce their nitrogen application if they have a good stand of Ladino clover 

 as a cover crop. It is not too late to consider seeding for this year. For 

 more complete information on using Ladino clover as an orchard cover crop, 

 see your county agricultural agent. 



Apple Boxes for the 1 942 Crop. If you have not already obtained apple 

 boxes, either used or nev;, for" the 1942 apple crop, you should not delay order- 



