-7- 



SSEN Airo HEARD IN MAIIJE 



It was the writer's privilege to spend the week of June 11 attending 

 a series of orchard tours and twilight meetings in Maine. Follopfing are a 

 few random observations j 



Oyster shell scale. In several orchards this insect has assumed the 

 role of a major pest. The eggs were just hatching and the young scale 

 insects were settling down in enormous numbers particularly along the 

 base of the current season's growth. Twig killing was observed in two 

 orchards. A nicotine spray timed sifter the eggs had hatched should prove 

 quite effective this year since the hatching period was shorter than in 

 years past. An experiment with Sumraer DN and other materials is under 

 way. Moose damage. In one young orchard in Monmouth, invaded by a moose 

 last spring, brov;sing vms observed up to a height of about 8 feet. Deer 

 are also causing much damage and growers are seeking relief in the form 

 of hunting permits, 15 of which may be granted for an individual orchard. 

 Crop prospects . Maine growers suffered less damage from frost than was 

 first repoirted. The apple crop promises to be about half normal. Of the 

 orchards visited several showed a 75fo set while others were much lower. 

 The May snowstorm caused much breakage. One grower said he spent two 

 days hauling brush out of the orchard after the storm. Apple scab. Con- 

 ditions are very similar to those in Massachusetts. May and June have 

 been very rainy and some scab is shov/ing up in most orchards. A heavy 

 infection was observed in certain orchards ivhere too few sprays were ap- 

 plied. One grower obtained good scab control with four dusts and one 

 spray. Magnesium defi c iency . Most growers are applying epsom salts as 

 a spray. V/here this material is used in combination v/ith lime sulfur a 

 heavy black sludge is observed. There is a growing tendency' to use wet- 

 table sulfur or sulfur dust instead of lime sulfur. 



CONTROL OF ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH 



Owing to war conditions, it was impossible to carry through the pro- 

 gram of rearing Maorocentrus parasites for Massachusetts growers. Because 

 of labor shortage and the interruption of normal transportation facilities, 

 it is doubtful v^hether the program can be resumed until the termination of 

 the war. 



Recent experiments indicate that the sulfur-oil-talc dust (which is 

 available commercially) or a nicotine-bentonite spray such as Black Lfjaf 155 

 at 3 pounds to 100 gallons of water shows promise indiecking the pest. The 

 recommended schedule calls for four applications at 5-day intervals beginning 

 three weeks before harvest. 



— A. I. Bourne 



Your State College at Amherst is a busy and thriving institution of 

 higher education. It is not only the focal center in Massachusetts 

 for information on fanning but it is an excellent place for your boy 

 or girl to get a good basic education, whether or not he or she is 

 interested in Agriculture or Horticulture. The College Catalog out- 

 lines all of the four-year courses; the catalog of the Stockbridge 

 School of Agriculture explains clearly the curriculum of the two-year 

 course in Agriculture and Horticulture. A note to the College will 

 briner them ooth. 



