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 SUGGESTIOKS OM THE COI'ITROL OF I.IICE III ORCHARDS 



The apple harvest this year ;^ot under v/ay in nost areas later than 

 usual and, consequently, the hustle to canplcte harvesting will probably be 

 j-rcater than ever. After a busy harvest season it is natural that there be 

 a let-doTfli, It is unfortunate that this usually comes at the tine when the 

 vrork of controlling field mice in orchards occurs, Maiiy vinsuccessful results 

 in controlling this rodent have been caused by failure to i^i'vo proper super- 

 vision to this vfork, 7/orlcnen, v/ho are trust/rorthy and conscientious, nust 

 be selected. 



Control neasures recoimacnded for field nice are based on a knowledge 

 of their habits and characteristics. The nere fact tho.t the mouse does not 

 like to come out in the open makes it necessary to place the bait in its run- 

 ways, if efficient control is to be ejipected. That this increases the labor 

 cost is unquestioned but any job worth doing is v/orth doing well. All gro\'VO. 

 whothor old hands or new at this business of controlling field nice, should 

 have on hand a copy of the leaflet "Mouse Control in Orchards", and should 

 read it carefully. 



On field trips to orchards last fall, it was noted that several 

 orchardists were paring apples before applying rodonticide. This is not 

 necessary. Other growers had become careless and v/crc guessing at the amoimt 

 of poison and bait used. Such methods not only increase the cost but decrease 

 the offectivoness of the control method, /vn effective field mouse control 

 program is less expensive than a haphazard one. Two or throe trees damaged 

 each year in a block of trees can, in a few years, put that orchard in the 

 red. Let's raalce up our minds to do a thorough job of mouse control this 

 year! 



Carl B. Henry 



Shrivelli ng in Storage , Like advancing age, certain 

 things about fruits in storage creep up gradually and 

 linawares. Shrivelling of apples is an example. That 

 nay be prevented almost lOO,'?, even though the ripening 

 process may only be retarded. Shrivelling begins im- 

 mediately o.ftcr harvest if apples are put into dry boxes, 

 It proceeds rapidly if the storage air is also dry. 

 Wetting dorm the floor, v/alls and the boxes themselves, 

 frequently, is good insurance, A simple device for 

 measuring relative hvuaidity, such as a wet and dry 

 bulb thermometer, is quite essential if there is any 

 likelihood of apples giving up moisture to the con- 

 tainers and the surrounding air. 



