-10- 



<  



strawberries ; A fevj varieties of strawberries v;ith "imperfect" flowers 

 require cross pollination. Examples are Hov/ard Supreme, Sample, and 

 Warfield. Imperfect varieties are rarely planted. All common varieties 

 are self-fruitful. 



Raspberries , Blackberries , Dewberries ; Varieties of bramble fruits grovoi 

 in Massachusetts are all self- fruitful. 



Blueberries ; Blueberries require cross-pollination for maximum crops. As 

 far as is known, any two varieties are cross-fruitful. 



R. A. Van Meter 



LET'S PLAY- SAFE Farming is a dangerous occupation. The orchard business 

 is no exception. YvTiether we drive a tractor or climb a ladder, danger is 

 always present. A recent tragic txccidont in which a life vifas lost in the 

 Nashoba area v^hile using an airplane in spraying an orchard emphasizes once 

 more the hazards, in agriculture. Several yoars ago a gr'3v/er v/as practically 

 blinded for v/eeks after getting a shot of caustic spray material in his 

 eyes. Vi'e can't bo on guard continually against such unusual mishaps. 

 But we must take every precaution to safeguard ourselves, our vjorkmon and 

 our property against ordinary dangers. To mention just a fov/; Tipping 

 of tractor or spray rig by d riving on steep slopes or over obstructions.  

 Cranking a tractor vi/hile in gear. Leaving poisonous materials v.'hore they, 

 may be picked up by children or livestock. Careless use of fire around . 

 inflronmable materials. Let's take time to check on the danger spots in. 

 our fruit farm setup, even though we arc a little later getting on the job. 



REPORT .ON TirJO SOIL S AlvIFLES VJhile making a trip with a class recently 

 the question of the soil tmd the plf.-Jiits which grow On it v;as brought up. 

 On one small area wo found a scanty assortment of plants including- sorrel, 

 dewberries, etc. A sample of the soil was takon (iTo, 1) and tlie group 

 guessed that it would be fairly acid. On another area there was a 

 luxuriant gr'^wth of grasses amounting t.) at least 2-^ tons of- hay: per _. 

 acre. Here a second sample (No, 2) v/as taken. Holes 3 feet deep, were also 

 dug at the points of sampling. No, 1 was vory gravelly, shov;ing a thin 

 layer of surface soil and very little clay or silt. No. 2 sho'.ved a dark 

 colored surface layer at least 10 inches thick an almost uniformly brov.n 

 color from top to bottom and considerable clay and silt. The analyses 

 given below, show a wide difference in acidity and", with the exception of 

 Phosphoirus which is seldom a limiting factor. No. 2 shows an int^'irosting 

 relation between available mineral elements end plajit gr'-wrth. 



(H-Hi.gh; M-Mediumj L-LiW; VL-Vcry L.w) 



