-3- 



by the f reezg of May 19. They should increase in numbers now. It is doubt- 

 ful if spraying to control the green aphis is necessary unless they become 

 so abundant that they make the fruit sticky from honeydew. 



Oriental F ru it Moth ; Although the Oriental fruit moth larvae 

 of the third generation normally feed in peach fruits, they can survive 

 as twig borers in the absence of fruit especially in vigorous trees v^hich 

 continue to produce twig growtli throughout the summer. They also live in 

 the fruit of quince and apple. Observations so far this season indicate 

 that enough Oriental fruit moths survived in 1943 to produce a small or 

 moderate twig infestation by the first generation. The development of 

 the later generations will depend on v/eather conditions. 



— ViT. D. Vilhitcomb 



SEEK Airo H EAKD IF MINE 



During the week of June 5 the v/riter had the privilege of attending 

 four t\'rilight meetings in Maine and visiting about twenty fruit farms. Fol- 

 lowing are a fevx ri:undom obsarvationsj (1) A one-nan spray outfit. In the 

 orchard of V/i]son Llcrse a very thorough spray program is being applied, using 

 & very iriger.ic jc arrr.ngcrner'fc whereby the tractor di iver also operates an ele- 

 vated nultipie v.nz^,^B i'pruy broom. Tlie speed of the tractor is so regulated 

 that even th^ largest trees rocoivo their full quota cf spray material* Mr. 

 Morse lias produced lemarkubly clean crops in years past by applying only 

 three spr.'iy;:^. About 15 years ago a new set of lower limbs was established 

 in a bJ.o?.V of hixh headed apple trees, through the method of inserting scions 

 at car*vfuJ."!y SrOected points on the trunk. By placing the scions upside 

 down, these liinbc deve]0D(id at an ideal angle both from the standpoint of 

 strength and case m harvesting. Capitalizing on our present day knowledge 

 of orchard sn.bsoilsj. Mr, Llorse is making an investigation of subsoil condi- 

 tions in a ncar'->y field where, if conditions warrant, he plans to set a new 

 orchard. S^'^eral holes vrere dug in this field to a depth of 2 feet or more 

 to determine ivhat newly set trees may be up against. 



(2) Scarcity of plum curculio. In at least a dozen orchards care- 

 ful observations were made to discover which pests were present. V/ithout 

 looking at the nap vie were absolutely sure that we were not in Massachusetts, 

 Plum curculio was conspicuous by its absence. Only here and there was a 

 light infestation observed. Even where apple and plum trees were growing 

 in close proximity to stone walls or brush land, plum curculio appeared to 

 be a pest of minor importance. In a Kezar Falls orchard one particular 

 tree (August Sv/oet) showed a rather heavy infestation of apple curculio, 

 but no plum curculio beetles were observed. The orchard owner, Daniel Lord, 

 reported a similar condition in that one tree in years past and occasionally 

 a light infestation in his northern Spies, 



(5) Frost damage. Except in the University orchard at Orono where 

 frost damage was rath3r severe j very little damage to apples or other fruits 

 was observed in any Maine orchard. On the average,, the set of apples is rela- 

 tively heavy and only in an occasional frost pocket is the damage worthy of 



