-9- 



That the total holdings of apples in cold storage in the U. S. on 

 November 1 were about 60^^ of the holdings one year ago? In spite of this 

 fact the State of Washington actually had more apples in storage Nov. 1 of 

 this year than it had a year ago (10,958,000 bu. as compared with 8,910,000 

 bu.) The totals in the U. S. were 30,858,000 ('44) and 18,515,000 ('45). 



That about 19,000 farmer ovv-ned and farmer controlled cooperative 

 associations and mutual companies nov/ operate in the U.S.? More than 10,000 

 are engaged in marketing farm products and purchasing farm supplies. An es- 

 timated 3 million farmers hold membership in these organizations. 



That agriculture in the U. S., as measured by the value of its goods, 

 grev/ from a 49 billion dollar industry to a 70 billion dollar industry during 

 the four years ending January 1, 1944? During these four years the equities 

 of all owners of farm land and of tenant farmers appear to have increased 

 nearly 7 billion dollars. 



That German Prisoners of TiTar were an important factor in harvesting 

 the scattered apple crop in the Nashoba area this season? The total number 

 of man-houis amounted to 54,691, and the net bill paid by 37 growers v;as 

 $31,297.10. The largest number of man-hours in any one orchard was 6,624, 

 vihile in four other orchards the total was in excess of 3,000 men-hours. 



That a red Bartlett pear has appeared as a bud sport on a tree in 

 Washington? Because of its bright red color it is believed to have market 

 possibilities. A second generation tree bore a crop of these unusual pears 

 this season. 



That nearly 90^ of the available nectar produced by flowers in the 

 U. S., goes to v;aste? It is estimated that there are only about 5,219,000 

 colonies of bees in this country. 



FROST PREVEIJ_TI0N IN THE ORCHAED . A bulletin on frost prevention 

 in the orchard is in the initial stages of development. To make 

 this bulletin of more value to Massachusetts growers, vre should 

 like to have information on experiences of growers, successful or 

 otherv;ise. Some points v/hich would be of value include (1) the 

 type of heating equipment used, (2) number of heating units used 

 per acre, (3) niomber of degrees temperature was raised, (4) at 

 what temperature were fires started, (5) did the heating pay, and 

 (6) approximate cost per acre. Any experience which you may have 

 had in protecting your orchard from frost v/ill be greatly appre- 

 ciated. Just drop a card to If, D. ViTeeks, Pomology Department, 

 Massachusetts State College, Amherst, Mass. 



Exp eriments with Fruit in R. I. In a recent Experiment Station report we 

 find the following Interesting conclusions* (1) Solid boxes restricting ven- 

 tilation shovr promise as a means of reducing water loss of apples during stor- 

 age. (2) Pre-storage treatments of R.I. Greening apples with high concentra- 

 tions of carbon dioxide give promise of controlling storage scald. 



