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 REPORT ON 1947 LTURSSRY INSPECTION TRIP 



The nursery inspection job in 1947 was the largest and most extensive under- 

 taken so far. It included the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Nev/ York, 

 Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Alabajiia, Tennessee, Virginia, 

 Maryland, and Delaware, In all, 32 nurseries were exaiiiined including most of 

 the larger nurseries in these states. Six inspectors participated in the work 

 v/hich extended over 3 weeks and covered 6500 miles of travel. It took 981 man- 

 hours of actual v;orking time at a total cost, including travel, of almost $i5,000 

 to do the job. As nearly as we can estimate, we have examined between 3 1/2 and 

 4 million apple trees as v;ell as perhaps a million pear, plum and cherry this 

 past summer. Of this number about 75,000 were misnaraed trees. 



Ko inspection work was done on peaches in 1947 due mostly to lack of time. 

 Each year brings in some new requests from nurseryiaen for this service. Y»g are 

 trying to find and train a sufficiently large crew of inspectors to handle all 

 requests. In the meantime, v/e are doing the best we can and giving service where 

 the most can be accomplished, 



— A. P. French 



FURTHER SUGGESTIONS ON MOUSE COHTROL 



The following questions may be of some help in reviev/ing the mouse control 

 program. If a grower can truthfully say "Yes" to each question, then at least 

 one of his fruit growing worries is lessened, 



1, Have the dropped apples been picked up throughout the entire orchard? 



If they have, is it knovm in v.'hat sections the most nibbled apples 



were found? 

 2* Has every block in the orchard been carefully checked to deteririino the 



degree of mouse infestation and have the most heavily infested areas 



been noted? 



3, Were active mouse signs, such as fresh grass clippings, smoothly worn 

 runways, and nibbled apples, looked for or v;as the mouse infestation 

 determined from casual ooservations while v;orking at some other job? 



4, T/ill it be safe to leave the tall grass or v;oeds that are growing close 

 to the tree trunks? 



5, Is there a supply of rodenticide or zinc phosphide treated steam crushed 

 oats bait on hand? 



6, Was rodenticide used at the rate of one level teaspoonful to one quart 

 of cut apple bait? Was it accurately measured? 



7, Vifere all areas in and around the orchard, where mice have protective cover, 

 baited, as well as the area within the drip line? 



8, Are the wire tree-guards in good order, set v/ell in the groun and no 

 openings virhere v;ire is joined together? 



9, Have the hired hands, doing this work, been properly supervised and 

 thoroughly instructed? (a) Can they distinguish an active mouse runway 

 from an inactive one? (b) Do they knov; the most likely places to look 

 for mouse activity? (c) Have they been impressed with the importance of 

 this annual orchard problem? 



Any grower can check the results of his efforts by spending a little time 

 trapping, particularly in areas v/here there is some doubt as to how v/ell the viork 

 v/as done, 



— Carl B. Henry 



