2)."U 





That the Common Barberry (Berberis vul^^aris L.) is one of the 

 first plants brought over by the early English settlers for the purpose of 

 providing a fruit from which jellies and jam could be made? This plant with 

 its sour fruit makes an interestingly flavored jelly. Since its early in- 

 troduction it has spread because of birds eating the berries and thus dis- 

 seminating the seeds, until now it is found all over our pasture hillsides 

 in the Northeast, This plant is frequently used as an ornamental in gardens, 

 and in the fall of the year the sprays are much used in decorative arrange- 

 ments. Of interest to fruit growers, however, is the fact that it was orig- 

 inally introduced from Europe for its fruit. It has always been interest- 

 ing to me that in a land which abounds v;^ith native fruits, the early set- 

 tlers, because they did not know these fruits, made an effort to introduce 

 some from the region v;ith v;hich they were familiar. Of the native fruits 

 three are outstanding, - the blueberry, cranberry, and native strawberry, 

 all of which soon offered stiff competition to a plant which was introduced 

 for its jelly possibilities. — A, M. Davis 



That history records the finding of cranberries on Cape Cod as 

 early as 1602? In 1638 an English naturalist visited this section and in 

 making a record of New England "rarities" mentions "cranberries" which he 

 stated "The Indians and English use much, boyling them with sugar for sauce, 

 to eat with their meat". 



That the use of magnesium as a soil treatment may become as com- 

 mon in some sections of the U. S, as the use of calcium, nitrogen, phosphor- 

 us and potassiura? An application of one of the magnesium compounds appears 

 to be very much needed on some iiassachusetts fanas. 



That ground limestone obtained under the AAA program maybe ap- 

 plied to crop land, pasture, poultry ranges or commercial orchards? Ground 

 limestone may be secured by farmers up to a tonnage not exceeding that de- 

 termined by the total of the units on the farm, divided by 5, fi^jured to the 

 nearest ton on the basis of farmyard delivery. If lime is taken at the rail- 

 road siding, 20/j more material may be added. If taken at the lime manufact- 

 uring plant, another 20;,o is added. 



That ceiling prices idll probably be established on all fresh 

 fruits during 1944? OPA is planning to bring under control, well in ad- 

 vance of next season's crops, all the remaining fresh fruits including sweet 

 cherries, apricots, peaches, pears and plums. 



That certain gift packages of apples are exempt from price con- 

 trol regulations? The provisions of an OPA release dated November 25, are 

 as follows! "Apple growers and shippers v/ho package their apples in boxes 

 with a net weight of not more than 26 pounds, with not more than 5 boxes 

 sold at one time to one buyer, shipped by Express or parcels post, are not 

 under price control with respect to such sales." 



