-7- 



imum unit is 15 workers under one anued guard, although the unit is sone- 

 times reduced to 14 on account of illness. Thus far there have been no 

 more than half a dozen cases of illness or accident in the field requiring 

 a trip by a staff car to transport a P0V7 back to camp. 



Many grav;ers have expressed their satisfaction witli the work done 

 by the PQT's this season. Here are quotations from two letters: "They vrere 

 in every way cooperative, willing, able and intelligent, far more so than 

 any group we had last season." "I am writing to commend the work of the 

 prisoners of war v;ho picked apples in my orchard Sept. 5 to 10. These men, 

 whose names I list below, started off slowly but once acquainted with the 

 work, they became steady, industrious, and cooperative workers. The fore- 

 man and I have felt ourselves most fortunate in having this particular crew 

 and are sorry to have run out of apples just when these men were reaching 

 top notch ability. Y/hatevor their political views may be, I take my hat 

 off to them as workers." 



In one orchard where one or two units worked nine days and picked 

 a total of 3,972 bushels of apples, the numbers of bushels picked per man 

 per day v;ere as follows; 21-, 24-*, 26, 23-, 25, 25*, 18-, 10-, and 22* 

 (average, 21*5). The apple picking project will continue until about Oct- 

 ober 20. 



LOOKING AHEAD 



ViTith the end of the war and the "reconversion" to peace, conditions 

 are changing rapidly. How will this affect the fruit grov/er and what should 

 he do about it? This question was the basis for a series of discussions by 

 professional horticulturists at Nev;- Brunswick, Nev/ Jersey, on August 27 and 

 28. Representatives were present from most of the northeastern states and 

 from the United States Department of Agriculture. 



As a result of the discussions, the follovdng recommendations and 

 suggestions regarding the future of the fruit industry vrere dravm up; 



1. Remove orchards v/hich are unprofitable either because of age, un- 

 favorable soil or climatic conditions, or undesirable varieties, 



2. No increase in the present total commercial production of tree fruits 

 seems desirable under the apparent marketing conditions. New plant- 

 ings should be made only to maintain present production and to secure 

 a proper succession of plantings. 



3. More thought and study should be given by many fruit growers to the / 

 possibilities of some diversification in their source of revenue aside 

 from one kind of fruit. 



4. Groirers are advised to give more attention than previously to the 

 selection of the site and soil for any new tree fruit planting ta\d 

 to the best land use on their own farm. 



