■2- 



lation may reach extromely dangerous and damaging proportions. Orchardists 

 should check their orchards immediately after the apple crop is harvested 

 and where girdling occurs, the orchard should be treated at once with zinc 

 phosphide apple bait to reduce the population and eliminate further damage 

 to the trees." 



In vievf of the large number of mice now present in our orchards, every 

 apple grower in Mass. should place mouse control on the priority list, insofar 

 as fall jobs are concerned. We cannot afford to lose vigorous young fruit 

 trees at a time when maximum yields from our present plantings are urgently 

 needed. Another job which should be completed even before we tackle the 

 mouse problem, is that of finishing the apple harvest and getting the apples 

 properly stored. October 25 should be the deadline for the apple harvest. 

 In years past, too many apples have been lost by severe freezing in late 

 October or November because they were either unpicked or left standing un- 

 protected in a shed. All marketable apples should be stored in a cool, moist, 

 rat-proof building. If a suitable storage is lacking the apples should be 

 sold before cold weather sets in. 



STRAWBERRIES IN THE FAL?:OUTH AREA 



Records have been assembled from four commission merchants by County 

 Agent Bertram Tomlinson covering strawberry receipts from Falmouth growers 

 for the years 1943, 1941, and 1939. The total shipments received by these 

 concerns during the three years vrere as follows t 1943 - 419,800 quarts; 

 1941 - 652,515 quarts; 1939 - 938,606 quarts. The numbers of growers inr- 

 volved were respectively, 109, 150, and 211, while the average numbers of 

 quarts per grower were 3840, 4350, and 4450, 



From these figures it will be seen that the receipts of strav/berries 

 in 1943 were less than half those in 1939, that slightly more than half as 

 many growers were in the strawberry business in 1943 and the average number 

 of quarts per grower was somewhat smaller than in 1939. These facts indicate 

 a shortage of help and to some extent disappointing prices in previous seasons. 

 It is estimated that the above data includes approximately 1^% of the Falmouth 

 strav;berry crop. Based on these figures the 1943 Falmouth strav/berry crop 

 was 35.6;^ below the 1941 crop, and 52,t belov/ the 1939 crop. 



The drop in acreage for 1944 is not expected to equal that of the pre- 

 vious year. Strawberry growers on the whole made good returns on their in- 

 vestment this year, and despite the labor shortage, every effort has been 

 made to maintain production up to the 1943 level. In many cases, this is 

 being done by holding over a greater proportion of the old beds than v/ould 

 be done normally. Much depends on winter and spring v/eather conditions, but 

 the crop outlook for 1944 is about the same as for this year. There has been 

 a gradual increase in the quantity of berries shipped in the 24-quart crate 

 which is now the most popular package. 84/t v/ere shipped in that type of 

 container in 1943 and only 42.5,=^ in 1939, 



WANTED - BOYSENBERRY INFORI'L^tTION. Many Boysenberry plants have been 

 sold in New England. A summary of growers' experiences with this new fruit 

 will be of interest. If you are experimenting with Boysenberries in your 

 garden or on a commercial scale please jot down on a penny postcard any com- 

 ments you may have to offer and mail to thj' writer. 



