-7- 



OBSSRVATIGNS IN TV/O ORCHARDS (Tv;o successful growers, both former presidents of 

 the IvIFGA, were asked this nonth to present their observations on anything of 

 interest in their individual orchards. Their comments are well v/orth reading,) 



Artificial pollination . 'In 1947 we planned to dust a large block v/ith pollen from 

 an airplane. For various reasons we did not do it, but had a bumper crop on ;vhat 

 has alv/ays been a shy bearing orchard. Had we dusted with pollen v;q v;ould have 

 given the credit to that. 



"This year v;e tried bee inserts on the hives in several blocks. The patented 

 insert vre used induced most of the bees to vv-alk through a tray of pollen on their 

 way out of the hive. It- looked as if tho bees could not help but carry a load of 

 good pollen on every trip, Vfe used some pollen (VTealthy) that wo gathered our- 

 selves and some that we purchased. Germination tests on both were nado in Amherst 

 and pronounced o.k, 



"Vn'e vrere also careful to replace tho pollen about every two hours as v;e loiev/ 

 it vrauld deteriorate from the light and heat of the hive. In tho blocks where the 

 inserts were used, v/e had slightly more than a colony of bees to the acre. One was 

 a Mcintosh block and the otiaer Delicious both of v/hich vjqto short of pollenizing 

 varieties. Both have grafts that are not yet in bearing, 



"As to the results: B'":th blocks have practically no apples at all, Tlie 

 Delicious block has four trees adjacent to a Jonathan tree that are loaded. No 

 other pollinating varieties seemed to affect the Delicious, The llclntosh block 

 has a good crop adjacent to Astrachan, an.d some apples near Ya'calthy and Cortland, 

 Delicious pollenizors appeared to be '«;'orthloss for llclntosh this year,. As to 

 conclusions: I will let you draxv your oim. 'iVo are not convinced that the method 

 is worthless. However, our faith is badly shaken." 



(Jonathan Davis, Sterling Junction) 

 Chemical Thinning and Other Observation s, 



"A hormone natorial applied "as a thirjiing spray at double the strength 

 normally used to prevent drop, did a fine job on '.Jealthies, and little hand thin- 

 ning was needed. A fe\: weaker troes were thinned too much. Early Mcintosh were 

 also thinned too heavily. Next time I v/ill use 6 oz, instead of 8 oz, per 100 

 gallons. Foliage on both varieties still shows the effects of the thinning spray. 

 During the first few days tho trees lookod as if something had shut off the water 

 supply. Another test I have made is Eastern vs, '(Ve stern lead arsenate, tT./o rov;s 

 of each all season, (So far no difference has been noted.) More Russet on all 

 varieties this season. Rosy Aphis plentiful on Cortlrxid, IJo Leafhoppers this 

 year in spite of a straight load arsenate progrtuu, DDT last year must havo 

 finished them, 



(Travel Note) - Leaf Curling Midge has arrived in Brimfield. 



Phygon has apparently done a good job in controlling Scab v/ith fev/er appli- 

 cations and longer intervals bet^.voen sprays. Very little effect on the foliage 

 has been observed, Grov;ers in this section are v/ondering if a slight yellowing 

 near the edge of Mcintosh foliage is due to frequent, heavy applications of 

 finely divided sulphur," 



(V/aikor Cheney, Brimfield) 



