-2- 



To remedy this situation, plans are under way to develop several 

 disease-free nurseries within the state, in the handg of interested nursery- 

 men who are willing to take the trouble necessary to insure a continuous 

 supply of high grade plants. 



Strawberry plants, too, will be placed under more rigid inspection, 

 especially for Cyclamen Mite and Red Stele. Both of these pests are poten- 

 tially serious and both are present in the state. 



The program for better planting stock involves the full cooperation 

 of the State College for the information it can supply, the State Department 

 of Agriculture for a well informed and rigid inspection service, and nursery- 

 men themselves for a real desire to improve and expand the industry. 



— R. A. Van Meter 



SOIL TYPE AFFECTS MCINTOSH COLOR 



Most fruit growers in Massachusetts have received the leaflet on 

 the Green Mcintosh Problem published by the Massachusetts Fruit Growers' 

 Association. This was necessarily brief and did not elaborate on many as- 

 pects of the problem. The bad effect of high nitrogen in late summer was 

 emphasized. No mention was made of the relation of soil tj'pe to high ni- 

 trogen. It is easy to over-supply trees growing on the heavier soils which 

 we commonly regard as having rather high fertility while the lighter soils 

 rarely get too much nitrogen. These lighter soils are well drained and well 

 aerated, so they usually lose any excess of nitrogen in the drainage water, 

 and the nitrogen-containing organic matter is so rapidly oxidized that no 

 great reserve of nitrogen accumulates. In late summer the nitrogen supply 

 of the tree is therefore sufficiently depleted to permt earlier maturity 

 and better colored fruit. It is on the more fertile soils, retentive of 

 moisture, that we get most of the green, immature apples, 



— J. K. Shaw 



VfflY SOME APPLES DO NOT SELL 



It must be a painful experience for anybody who loves good apples 

 to visit the chain stores and many other places where fruit and vegetables 

 are exposed for sale. The contrast between apples on one hand and citrus 

 fruits and vegetables on the other is humiliating. Oranges present an at- 

 tractive appearance and in most cases are as good as they look. Most veg- 

 etables are fresh and attractive. Even green tomatoes are artificially 

 ripened eind packed in cartons. They all appeal to the eye and deplete the 

 pocketbook. But most of the apples on display repel possible buyers and 

 properly belong in the cull pile; yet the price is enough to warrant decent 

 quality. Many think that such apples should not be allowed in the market 

 place. Certainly they are not worth the price asked. Unless something is 

 done about this situation, Ihe apple business is on the way to the abode of 

 sinners, V/e have talked about it a lot. liYhy not do something about it? 



— J. K. Shaw 



