-3- 



aoreages of Mcintosh. Growers are beginning to see the folly of a one 

 variety orchard. 



There were too few returns of the peach and strawberry question- 

 naires to give any detailed report, but they did indicate some interest- 

 ing trends. The peach survey shows that Elberta is still the leading 

 peach variety v/ith Golden Jubilee a close second. Halehaven ranks a good 

 third with J. H. Hale a poor fourth. Of the newer varieties, Summercrest 

 and Triogem appear to have made a hit with some growers. Strawberries 

 show a reversal of form with the old standby Howard 17 losing first place 

 to Catskill, although it is still a strong second. There are not any other 

 varieties which show much strength, except Sparkle, a new variety, v/hich 

 looks as if it may find a place in the variety picture. 



~ W. D. V^'eeks 



BLOSSOM THIOT IING SPRAYS 



The prospect of a heavy apple crop in 1946 and a light crop in 

 1947 has focused attention on the possibility of using blossom thinning 

 sprays to reduce the 1946 crop and possibly increase the 1947 crop. Un- 

 fortunately, we know too little about these sprays to warrant recommenda- 

 tion for general use. Some growers have used them with good success. 

 The on-year crop of biennial bearin-; trees has been reduced and at the 

 same time fruit buds for the succeeding year's crop have been fonned. 

 Others have had less success. Elgetol has been the most used. \'Je were 

 able to reduce set by spraying at full bloom with the usual harvest sprays 

 last year, but the season was abnormal and we do not yet knov/ what the 

 effects will be. Suggestions and directions for grovrers desiring to ex- 

 periment with blossom thinning sprays are being prepared and will be sent 



on request. ^ ,^ _, 



~ J. K. Shaw 



COATING BEES WITH POLLEN 



From time to time the question is raised concerning a device for 

 coating bees with pollen as they leave the hive to fly to the trees. Such 

 a device was made in the early 1930 's by Burrell and King. They reported 

 that the method held promise. 



Later workers have abandoned the idea, feeling that greater return 

 would result from more emphasis on the use of strong colonies of bees. 

 Present knowledge would seem to support this view. VJhether anything of a 

 practical nature could be v/orked out in conjunction with the pollen traps 

 now available is problematical. Until v/e have definite information, it 

 would not seem advisable from a practical standpoint to shift from the 

 present suggestion that strong colonies be used for orchard pollination, 



— F. R. Shaw 



WALT DISNEY'S next movie will be "JOHNNY APPIESEED," it is reported. 



