-5- 



FRUIT CRACKING 



Numerous reports have beon received concerning the splitting or 

 cracking of npplos, particularly Early Mcintosh, this season. Other fruits, 

 and even certain kinds of squash show a similar tendency, "^ilfhy is cracking 

 m'lre prevalent this season thpji normally?" The conditi.'in sesras to be assoc- 

 iated vv'ith rainfall. We had plenty of rainfall during May and June, but the 

 first three weeks of July wero very dry. Frriits v/hich had been (-expanding 

 rapidly experienced a slower rate ;^f grovrth in July, until the vory heavy 

 rain which came in the Connecticut Valley on July 23, and was follov/ed by 

 additional rains during late July and August. 



Yflien the grcvrth of an apple or other fruit is checked, there is a 

 tendency for the cells in the skin to become more or less fixed. They lose 

 their ability to subdivide and thus provide for further expansion. This lack 

 of flexibility means that something must give 7\ray when swelling is resumed 

 in response -tosja additional intaice of v:ater. It's a little like a balloon. 

 Everything is 0. K. so long as tho protective membrane can adjust itself to 

 pressure from within. Arid when the ..lerabraiie gives v/ay, something happens. 

 The splitting of an apple is less violent for obvious reasons, A mere rupture 

 here and there pennits an increase in diameter even though it is literally 

 "hidebound". 



HIGH HONOR FOR MASSACHUSETTS FRUIT GROYJER 



A fevY weeks ago John Chandler of Sterling Junction, received the 

 first of what is to be annual awards by the Nati .mal Apple Institute for 

 meritorious service to the industry. At a meeting of the Institute in 

 Washington, Mr, Chandler was presented with a gold watch and a scroll inscribed 

 as follows; "In esteem and appreciati on for distinctive service to the j^ple 

 Industry of America, and to the discharge of his responsibilities in v/artime, 

 John Chandler is presented the National Apple Institute av/ard for 1946," 

 This selection of Mr. Chandler f jr such disti;iguishod honors in in recognition 

 of the fine work v,fhich he did during practically the entire period of v;ar 

 emergencies. During that tine he has been in close touch with affairs in the 

 Nation's Capitol and has travelled extensively thrjughout the country as a 

 representative of the commercial apple industry. 



Dwarfs and Giants, The necessity for planting dwarf fruit trees in such a 

 way that tho graft or bud union is slightly above the ground level is well 

 illustrated in the garden of an observing grower in Amherst* The base of 

 the trunk on one of his trees was buried with soil dui-ing a.particular 

 season, from May until October, at which time the soil was removed. During 

 those five months a new root 18 inches in length had developed from a point 

 above the union. It is no v/onder that dwarf trees, if planted too deeply, 

 suddenly take on the characteristics of a standard tree. 



