-6- 



II'IPRESSIONS IN THE inJDSON VALLEY 



A recent visit to Ulster County across the Hudson from poughkeepsie 

 renewed our impression that it is the habitat of up and coming fruit growers. 

 17e came away with a few definite impressions. (1) The absence of old neg- 

 lected orchards. Practically all the trees Mere young to middle aged and 

 vrare well pruned, vigorous and apparently productive. Spraying was already 

 under v/ay (April 6). (2) Diversified plantings. 7/hile apple tro^^s were 

 most evident, many pear, plum, cherry, and some peach orchards v/nre seen. 

 Currants and grapes were common. This locality is v/ell adapted to fruit 

 growing, and market connections v/ith New York City are good. But the most 

 important factor is Y/ide awake, up-to-date ^^rov/ers. Vfc will not adnit that 

 they are any smarter than Massachusetts growers but v;e must put on steam if 

 v;e are to compete successfully with them. 



Many of our good orchards are growing old and we must have new plant- 

 ings to replace them or we will fall behind in the race. V/hether v;e should 

 grov; more fruits other than the apple may be doubtful. We cannot grow sweet 

 cherries, and currants are out of the question in many localities because 

 they harbor white pine blister rust. But why should vre not grow enough pears, 

 plums and peaches to satisfy state markets during our season? Grov/ers would 

 have to learn the fine points of the game, but that can be done. 



Incidentally, two grov/ers applied the new blossom thinning spray in 

 1943 to biennial bearing VJ'ealthy trees. At the time they thought they had 

 ruined the trees, but they harvested a good commercial crop last year, and 

 the same trees promise to have a good crop this year. 



— J. K. Shaw 



CONTROLLED- ATMOSPHERE STORAGE IN liWJ YORK STATE 



Our trip into the Hudson Valley on April 5 and 6 was mainly to in- 

 spect, and discuss with the owners, two controlled-atmosphere storages. One 

 of these storages is in Clintondale, operated by Mr. Jerome Hurd. The other 

 is in I.Iilton, operated by Mr. Claude Hepworth. These men operate both con- 

 trolled-atmosphore and regular storage rooms, 



Mr, Hurd's 8,000-bushel controlled-atmosphere storage was built 

 some three years ago and was made "gas-tight" mostly by lining with sheet 

 metal. He opened this room on April 1 and the apples were in good condition. 

 Demand for them, of course, has been heavy, Mr. Hepworth 's 13,000-bushel 

 room was made over into a controlled-atmosphere storage by the use of special 

 paint over concrete v:alls and floor and aluminum foil on the ceiling. Many 

 of the Mcintosh in this storage v/ere grown in Upstate New York, 



Both men are satisfied v/ith their controlled-atmosphere storages, 

 even though this year they cannot get the usual premium of 50 cents to a 

 dollar over ordinary cold storage Mclntoeh. Mr. Hurd is building another 

 large storage and is planning to make up to one-half of this new space into 

 controlled-atmosphere storage. Two such storages were operated this year 



