-4- 



poles around the garden to control canker worm. In Pliny's time, all inhabi- 

 tants in the area v/hich is now the North Africa battle zone, were ordered to 

 wage war against the locust. People were compelled to hunt the locust eggs 

 and crush them, or to crush the young and adult stages. Neglect of this duty 

 was punishable by severe penalties. 



That a nation-wide poll places the total number of Victory Gardens in 

 1943 at 20,000,0002 As a conservative estimate, all Victory Gardens grovm 

 this year total about 4,000,000 acres and produced 8,000,000 tons of food. 

 An estimate of 25,000,000 families did some home canning during the summer 

 and fall) 22,000,000 Victory Gardens, a 10^i$ increase, is expected in 1944. 



That the decaying remains of plants exert a very beneficial influence 

 by facilitating the penetration of rainfall on a sloping area? Careful measure- 

 ments in Ohio showed that 5=l/2 inches of the total annual rainfall soaked 

 into the soil in a cultivated field, while 13 inches soaked into a forest soil. 

 In an orchard, we may approach the conditions of a forest floor by applying a 

 heavj'- mulch and by improving the cover crop. 



That for the seventh consecutive year, American farmers set a new food 

 production record in 1943? Nevertheless, there is not enough food in total 

 to satisfy all the demands and there are definite shortages in a number of 

 our favorite foods. The increases during the past seven years are indicated 

 by the following percentages: 1937 - lOl^-^j 1938 - 103j^; 1939 - 106^; 

 1940 - 111^; 1941 - 115;^; 1942 - 126,1; and 1943 - 131/1. 



That about 5,000,000 pounds of dynamite are used annually for agricul- 

 tural purposes? The various uses include ditching, land clearing, drainage, 

 irrigation, stump blasting, and to a limited extent, fruit tree planting. 

 Ditching constitutes one of the largest agricultural uses. 



That 59 soil series and eight land types have been recognized in Massa- 

 chusetts. Glacial till soils are most abundant and of these the Gloucester 

 series is the most extensive, comprising 20.6^'^ of the land area. Glacial 

 outwash soils are second in expanse and of these the Merrimac is the most 

 important, occupying 10.4,1 of the total area. A Key to Mass. Soils has re- 

 cently been prepared by A. B. Beaumont, and is now available for distribution. 

 If interested, ask for Special Circular No. 64. 



That a codling moth infestation is likely to be more severe on trees 

 adjacent to a packing house where boxes are stored during the winter, or to 

 a pile of apple wood? In one case where a Massachusetts apple grower cut down 

 a number of old trees and piled the wood next to tho orchard, the infestation 

 was so severe on adjacent trees that each apple showed one or more codling moth 

 blemishes. The infestation was so heavy that the grower removed the entire 

 crop from these trees during the summer and destroyed it. 



That a mulch of straw or other suitable material on a strawberry plant- 

 ing may increase the yield by at least 50l? The ideal tine for mulching a 

 strawberry planting is about the time the ground freezes. In most localities 

 this means early November. If mulched too early there is some tendency to 

 smother the plant and if mulched too late there is likely to be some crown 

 injury from low temperatures. 



