-3- 



sapvrood to enable the tree to outgrow the damaged condition. The pith of 

 the twigs and spurs, where part of the food materials are comrjionly stored, 

 shows rather severe daiaago. LIuch less loose bark is in evidence on apple 

 tree trunks than in 1934. 



Not until the end of the 1943 growing season can we make anything 

 like a reliable estimate of the extent of damage in Massachusetts orchards. 

 It will probably vary tremendously in individual trees, and no one cultural 

 practice will facilitate recovery. Vfinter injured trees cannot be "pruned 

 into a normal condition." They may be better off with little or no pruning. 

 Mulching will be beneficial, and if the cambium, inner bark and sapwood 

 are reasonably intact, added nitrogen or perhaps strip cultivation will tend ,-' 

 to encourage the development of new tissues. 



In the College orchards severe iyury has been observed on sweet 

 cherry trees. Some of them are apparently beyond hope of recovery. Peach 

 trees also show uranistakable damage, A no pruning program for such trees 

 is strongly recommended. Only time will tell which trees or parts of trees 

 are capable of making satisfactory growth and (barring another cold winter) 

 of bearing a crop of peaches in 1944. 



"READY TO BEAR" FRUIT PLANTS 



V/lienever we consider buying fruit plants which, according to the claims 

 of the nursery, v;ill "bear the first season," we ou^ht to ask ourselves whether 

 such performance is an advantage or a disadvantage. Is the apple or two, borne 

 the first year, of prirae importance? Should we look for^^ard to harvesting a 

 few strawberries a month after setting the plants? In general, is early bear- 

 ing conducive to success in a fruit planting?- The ansv/er is definitely "No." 



All blossoms should be removed from newly set strawberry plants because 

 any berries borne the first season will endanger the growth of new plants for 

 next year. A strav/berry plant cannot mature berries and at the same time de- 

 velop strong runner plants, since the same rav^ materials are required for both. 

 Raspberry plants should be cut back to a height of 6 or 8 inches at planting 

 time in order to prevent fruiting, and thereby encourage a strong grovrth of new 

 canes. Otherv;ise, the crop of fruit will so tax the root system until mid- 

 summer that the growth of nev/ canes for next year vdll be retarded. Only a 

 severely stunted or a true dwarf apple tree can be expected to bear the first 

 year. If the tree does bear so early it is a sure sign that it is making very '^ 

 scanty growth.' 



With few exceptions, a fruit plant needs the first season to become 

 established and to make vigorous vegetative growth, instead of exhausting its 

 food resources in bringing fruit to maturity. If v/e focus our attention on 

 early bearing, and overlook the kind of growth necessary for future production, 

 we are horticulturally shortsighted. 



TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR SPRAYER. YOU IIAY HOT BE ABLE 

 TO REPLACE IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. 



