-7- 



scarce metal parts such as stainless steel balls, aliiminum heads for spray- 

 brooms, etc. T/herever such parts are needed u strong claim should be made 

 by the interested grower. A considerable quantity of rubber hose will also 

 bo needed for replacement on our older sprayers. All of these items should 

 be ordered early. Early placing of orders will undoubtedly influence the 

 nuraber to be delivered and will also insure having the equipment in v/orking 

 order at critical times. 



Spray and Dust Materials. Supplies of all needed insecticides and 

 fungicides for 1944 appear to be adequate, although manpower will be a critical 

 factor in their manufacture. Distribution may be a factor. This emphasizos 

 the need for fretting orders in early. Standard materials including lead arse- 

 nate and sulphur are not likely to bo more restricted than in 1943. Not 

 enough p^rrethrum was available last year for use on cranberry bogs. In view 

 of this fact, more pyrethrum should be made available in 1944. 



Fer-'-.il izers t. If our orchards are to produce to the limit of their 

 capacity wt- nvx^z have enough nitrogen to maintain ^ood tree Arit^or and to de- 

 velop the 1944 crop. Certain forms of nitrogen, pr.rticu-arly :u.imoaium nitrate, 

 will apparently be available in quantity. Arrangements must be m&de to re- 

 lease enough nitrogenous fertilizers at tne right season to S'Vizlj- our orchard 

 needs. Fall application of nitrogen is not recommended. Iheru is danger of 

 winter injury at this latitude from such treatment. Farthe:.- sov;th that danger 

 does not exist. For this reason our growers must have an adequate supply of 

 nitrogen for early spring application. Where sufficient nirrcgcn for a broad- 

 cast application is not available, a ring application is recommended. The 

 wider use of nitrogen in impoverished orchards will help to attain the fruit 

 production goal in 1944. 



The supply of phosphorus will apparently be ample for orchard needs. 

 Potash will be scarce, although this will not greatly handicap our growers 

 since Massachusetts orchards, in general, are well supplied with potash. Most 

 growers can well afford to release potash supplies for other uses. A liberal 

 potash application tends to encourage magnesium deficiency. Symptoms of mag- 

 nesium deficiency are now very prevalent in many orchards. The general use 

 of high magnesium, or dolomitic limestone, is therefore recommended. Liming 

 of orchards can best be accomplished through the AAA Program. Dolomitic lime 

 in bulk shipment, spread by means of an end gate spreader, will constitute a 

 valuable addition to the orchard fertilizer program. Mulching is also strongly 

 recommended. 



Marketing . No particular problem can be foreseen at present, 



Packages. More wooden boxes will be needed in 1944 than in 1943 on 

 account of the larger prospective Mcintosh crop. Containers made from substi- 

 tute materials are entirely unsuited for storage use since they do not hold up 

 under the high humidity conditions existing in a storage. Higli priorities 

 should be given to v/ooden containers for all fruits including apple boxes, 

 cranberry boxes, strawberry crates, peach basketc, etc. Delivery of apple 

 boxes should be made before July 1, 



Transportation . Since fruits are highly perishable, and during peak 

 seasons the fruit grower is dependent upon truck transportation, trucking 



