-7- 



A must question always in the talk when apple men get together is "How 

 many apples do the 'chains' handle?" Forty-two growers ventured an estimate 

 on this question. These producers were rep :'rting on a totul production of 

 570,000 bu. of which 65,000 went to "direct" sale outlets. Of the other 

 505,000 the estimate was &9% to chain outlets and 51^i to independent outlets, 



To sumr.iarize: 



1, Total production 6Z% Mcintosh, Zd% all other varieties* 



2. Twenty-five per cent sold direct to consumer or retailer. 



3, Fifty per cent sold through jobber-handler; twenty-five per cent 

 through coironissiun outlets. 



4. Fifty-one per cent handled by independent stores; forty-nine per 

 cent by "chains," 



V;. R. cole 



BLOSSOM THIimiNG SPRAYS . . 



Some further experiments with blossom thinning sprays were made in 1946 

 and some suggestive results were obtained despite the frosts, YiTiile the 

 tiiinning by frost probably does nut invalidate :ur measure of the effect 

 of the sprays, the cool weather folliTwing bloom may malce the materials less 

 effective than they would be in a normal season. 



Three materials were used, Dovifoc seemed to have little or no effect in 

 most cases. Two DN pov;ders were used at -g- and 1 lb. per 100 gallons. They 

 burned the leaves much less than Elge't-^d used two years ago cjid thirjied most 

 varieties quite effectively, Thoy were not effective on Mcintosh and s>.rae 

 similar varieties. 



A napthalene acetic acid preparation thinned some varieties but caused 

 some distortion of the leaves. Whether this will be injurious remains to be 

 seen, A biennial bearing V/ealthy sprayed last year has a fair crop in this, 

 the normally non-bearing year. 



These sprays are still in the experiiiiental stage. The effect differs 

 with variety, sorao requiring a stronger c one ont rati -n thfui vthors. It is a 

 promising method of helping out with the laborious job 3f thinning. Any 

 grov/er desiring to gain experience may write us rjid wo will be glad to make 

 suggestions and help him learn how to use these sprays effectively, 



J. K. Shaw 



