-8- 



12. A study to dot^'nnine the offcct of various wettablo suli\irs and liiuo 

 sulfur in burninr; out scab. (VJalthfon) 



13. A study to detormino tho cause of fruit russotting and the tii'ie during 

 the spraying season when apples are susceptible to this typo of injury. 

 (VJaltham) 



14. A study of substitutes for sulfur and lead arsenate in relation to 

 insoct and disease control and the prevention of fruit russet injury. (Yfalthan) 



0. C. Roberts 



^^i^^iil-^ 0^' TliB 1942 HARVEST 



Last year when nany types and .ages of individuals picked apples, the 

 experiences of va rious growers are proving of great help in the 1943 harvest. 

 Several growers have remarked that some of their most valuable pickers were 

 husband and wife combinations. Together they finished the tree completely,, 

 tiie man placing the ladder and picking the upper branches while his vdfe 

 picked from the ground. 



Part time workers also did a good job in many orchards. Ambitious 

 factory workers ^rho found it possible to put in throe or four hours picking 

 apples in a nearby orchard cane to the orchard with a definite purpose in 

 mind and made an excellent showing. In contrast certain people who spent 8 

 or 10 hours in the orchard picked less efficiently. 



A disastrous experience with a group of high school boys under no super- 

 vision is \;orth mentioning. Experiences of this kind must be avoided this fall. 

 One grower said that he hired 25 high school boys who in his absence staged a 

 pitched battle with Fancy apples. The next day he "fired" all but one of the 

 26. Vifithout in any v;ay excusing the boys for their actions, the writer be- 

 lieves that the grower v/as as much at fault as the boys. At least his ability 

 as a tutor is subject to criticism. And perhaps he doesn't recall his ovm 

 •teen age shortcomings. 



Another experience involved a group of junior high school youngsters 

 Vifho v/ere transported to an orchard under the m.istaken notion that anyone could 

 pick apples and were then told by the owner that he did not need them. To make 

 matters worse, they v/ere compelled to walk home, a distance of about three 

 mil-is. These youngsters are not interested in picking apples this fall. YJq 

 must build good v;ill not only among consumers but among proapective pickers. 

 Next year may be v/orse than this from the standpoint of getting efficient 

 apple pickers. 



A fevj-firemen found their way into apple orchards last fall and did a 

 first class job. Being accustomed to climbing ladders, thoy v/ere right at 

 home picking the tops of trees. It is unfortunate that v/e haven't enough 

 firemen in Massachusetts to pick the entire crop. 



One grower paid his pickers in part with apples, and v/ith good apples 

 at that. One paid a bonus to pickers v;ho stayed through the season. Still 

 another rev/arded his key men in a special v;ay during the picking season. Un- 

 able, because of duties other than picking, to cash in on the good wages 

 received for piece work, thoy gained through a substantial voluntary "raise," 

 YIe pass these ideas along for what they are vrarth» 



