-4- 



THE PEACH SITUATION 



(The follovdng information was obtained before the freeze of May 

 18-19. Honce tlie prospects here roport'^d are subject to modification) 



Judfjing from the results of a questionnaire sent to a number of 

 peach ^rovrers o-ror the state, the crop prospects are good. The information 

 sent in indicates the followingj 



1. Fruit bud killing has been less than 25^3 in most orchards even on 

 tender varieties. The highest killing reported v;as GOf^, 



2. Most young trees have made a good recovery from the severe v^inter 

 of 1942-43. 



3. Many trees 15 years old or older have not made a good recovery, 



4. In a few orchards, trees under 3 years of age were severely damaged. 



5. In most orchards, the bearing trees under 15 years of age appear to 

 be in good condition to boar a crop. 



Of 56 questionnaires sent out, 40 have been returned, representing 

 abt)ut 15,000 trees. This is an unusually high proportion of replies. At a 

 time v;hen so many questionnaires are being circulated such a rcsponso is very 

 gratifying. The writer wishes to thank the peach grov/ers for their help, 



— J. S. Bailey 



PEACH THINNI NG 



Although many peach trees appear to have made a good recovery 

 from the cold v/inter of 1942-43, examination will reveal that they have 

 much dead, dark brovm heartwood. In spite of the thrifty outward appear- 

 ance of the trees, their framework has been seriously vreakened. The result 

 is going to be a lot of broken branches and split trunks if the trees are 

 allowed to carry too heavy crops. The ansv/gr, of courso, is thinning. 

 Thinning should pay additional dividends this year in the number of trees 

 saved. 



— J. S. Bailey 



CONTROLLED- ATHO SPHERE STORAG E FOR I;IC IIITOSH 



It is a r.ecognized fact that the practicable limit of the storage 

 life of Mcintosh apples held in refrigerated storage at 52° F. is reached 

 by the first to the middle of March and that Mcintosh held later in the 

 season lose most of tliat quality which has made this variety famous in 

 the Northeast. A contributing factor limiting storage life of Mcintosh 

 in 32° F. storage is the danger of cold temperature troubles such as core 

 flush or internal brov/ning of the flesh near the core. 



