The lady beetle, Stetiiorus punotun, is the most abundant predator, but the 

 black hunter thrips and th'i Seius spider are also active. After the leaves 

 have been badly bronzed, many mites migrate to greener leaves, and the leaves 

 which shoT/i the most severe injury frequently become almost free from mites. 



This natural reduction in the mite population in late summer is cer- 

 tainly v;elcorae, but it does not eliminate the need for spraying and dusting 

 when the pest is abundant, because the foliage is usually so badly damaged 

 before the natural reduction occurs that the fruit is likely to be small and 

 vail not mature properly, and the buds may be weakened. 



^W. D. Vniitcomb 



FERTILIZER RATIONING 



Fertilizer rationing is expected to go into effect soon, with control 

 resting with the manufacturers but depending on supplies. 



Indications are strong that there will be a serious shortage of nitro- 

 gen which is an important element in the manufacture of ammunition. There will 

 bs some sulphate of ammonia available and probably a small quantity of nitrate 

 of soda but the amount is very uncertain. Most of the available fertilizer 

 supply will be in the form of mixed goods v;ith relatively low nitrogen content. 



This hits the fruit grower directly and especially the grower using 

 sod culture in some I'orm. It is good business to look forward now to handling 

 the orchard next year on a greatly reduced fertilizer supply. It is impossible 

 to continue a sod orchard in a high state of efficiency v/ithout added nitrogen 

 from some source. ViCith the best market outlook in a decade, any reduction in 

 yield would be most unfortunate. 



There are a number of things that may help. If there is a supply of 

 poultry manure within reach, get it if you can. Use it in light applications 

 any time after the ground freezes in the fall. Many orchards are being seeded 

 to Ladino clover. Orice well established, Ladino may add the equivalent of 200 

 to 300 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre per year, and under ideal conditions 

 will do considerably better than that. Hauled-in mulching material may be used 

 to replace nitrogenous fertilizers entirely if there is enough of it, but it 

 takes a little time to make its full effects felt. Discing the sod thoroughly 

 in early spring will help materially, and when it is equivalent to cultivation 

 should eliminate -the need for fertilization for several years or until the sod 

 and the accompanying reserve of organic matter are decomposed. 



R. A. Van Meter 



STRAVJBERRY "NUBBINS" 



Small, distorted strawberries made up a large part of the crop this 

 year in many beds. The trouble was so nearly universal as to suggest strongly 

 that some climatic factor was responsible. 



One or more light frosts occurred during the blooming season. Since 

 the tips of the developing strawberries emerge from the buds first and are 

 therefore exposed when the basal portions have a measure of protection from 

 calyx lobes, low temperatures might possibly have been a factor. Cold, wet 

 vie&ther has long been known to cause a failure of strawberries to develop at 



