-4- 



followed by lively discussions, A Mew England Section of the A.S.H»3.. 

 was formed with J. K. Shav/, Chairman, and H. A. Rollins, Secretary* 



A. F. Yeager, reporting on conventional vs. "thin wood" pruning 

 Vfith Mcintosh, ghowed little if any advantage of "thin wood" pruning. 

 J. A. Chucka of Maine and L. Southwick agreed very well on inagnesium da** 

 ficienCy. They recommended magnesium limestone, Epsom salts in three or 

 fou/- sprays and^'in some cases, soil applications of magnesium salts. 

 R. M. Borg and L. 'Southwick reported that fumigation with methyl bromide 

 was effective in riddihg apple storages of rats and mice. E. M. Stoddard 

 of Nev/ Haven sent a paper reporting successful use of certain sulfur drugs 

 in controlling the jt^disease of peaches, 



— J. K. Shaw 



COVER CROP POSSIBILITIES 



gomes tic Rye Grass. A recent report from Michigan praises Domestic 

 Rye Grai'ss as a nev; orchard cover ci*op. Also known as Italian Rye Grass, it 

 has shown promise as an over-wintering cover crop for Michigan orchards. 

 Seeded shallow at the rate of 12 to 15 pounds per acre from August 15 to 

 September 15, it makes enough growth to give ample soil cover for soil ero- 

 sion prevention and excessive water "run-off." In the spring it resumes 

 growth more slov;ly than comnion rye, interfering less vrith tree growth and 

 cultivation. (Mich. Agr. Expt. Sta. Quart. Bui. 27, August, 1944). 



Kudzu. There is some interest in the possibilities of Eudzu for 

 Massachusetts orchards. This plant was introduced into this eoiantry from 

 Japan more than 50 years ago. By 1941, 250,000 acres of it -w©te planted 

 on farms in this country. Kudzu is a rapid-growing, long-lived^ leguminous, 

 viny plant having a taproot and long stems or runners. In the more northern 

 part of its range, the runners kill back to the crown each fall and renew 

 growth in the spring from crown buds. Foliage is abundant and the leaves 

 look like grape leaves. Kudzu thrives best in the humid southeastern states. 

 It has survived in somewhat protected situations in the East as far north 

 as New York and Massachusetts but is better" adapted south of Virginia. 

 Planting material usually consists of nursery-grown seedlings or crown 

 plants. Relatively few plants per acre are required to obtain complete 

 coverage. It seems doubtful that Kudzu has a place in most sections of 

 Massachusetts, except in w<5 Unprotected locations. Further information 

 is available in U.S.D..A. FarjnerS"' Bulletin No. 1923. 



— Lawrence Southwick 



VfALNUT TOXIC I'fY 



The question of walnut toxicity dates back to Pliny, the Roman 

 philosopher, v;ho stated that 'H:he shadow of walnut trees is poison to all 

 plants within its compass" and that it kills v^hatever it touches, accord- 

 ing to G. A. Gries, Conn. Agri. Expt. Sta. Today it is widely accepted 

 that the roots of walnut trees are toxic to the roots of certain crop plan.ts 

 in direct contact with them. This toxicity is greatest to plants with tap 

 root systems such as tomato and alfalfa and those with other types of deep 

 root systems such as apple trees, rhododendrons, taid privet.^ 



