1949 Apple , Peach and Pear Spray Charts . Earring an 

 unexpected delay, the nev/ spray cliarts should be 

 ready for distribution around the middle of February. 

 Instead of submitting the copy to the State Printer, 

 printing will be accomplished by means of the Veri- 

 type aiad liultilith machines in the Mailing Room, 



An Echo of 1912 . In an old file we discover how Massachusetts farmers 

 v/ere advised to spray in'1912, "Facts for Farraers", Vol. 11. No, 8, 

 covers "Spraying, — Vihy/'hen, Hov;, Vjith '.iTiat", by F, 0, Sears, And 

 believe it or not, only four applications are mentioned as follows: 

 (l) autuiiin, after leaves are off the trees, — oil for scale; (2) early 

 spring, — lime sulfur for Scale and fundus diseases, (o) within a week 

 after petals fall, — line sulfur and lead arsenate, for scab, codling 

 moth and curculio, and (4) three or four weeks later, same materials ais 

 third spray, for codling moth, sooty fungus, etc. The advice offered 

 along v/ith the spray recommendations is as good today as it v/as then — 

 (l) get ready in aiiple time, (2) have a repair kit along, (3) know ivhat 

 you &re sprajdng for, (4) spray in tine, (5) !:pray thoroughly and {&) 

 have every convenience for the preparation and ni::ing of the 'spray 

 materials. If pests were more easily controlled 26 years ago, v/e have 

 reason to envy the grow'3rs of that era. 



Are Some of Your " Field s "Flat T j res" ? Qvioting from a prominent 

 goils specialist. Just as i.i.any motorists noglect checking tire 

 pressure, so have v/e neglected checking the feii;ility status of 

 the soil. An autanobile tire built to run v/ith 32 pounds pres- 

 sure should be inflated to that level, Compr.ring that idea to 

 the soil, we should chock our soils to determine the fertility 

 pressure level. If the level is too low for optimum yields, 

 sufficient nutrif^nts should be added to bring the soil up to 

 the proper level, V.'e should test our soils frequently, like 

 checking our automobile tires and add nutrients to the soil as 

 we do air to tires. Flat soils like flat tiros do not carry 

 us very far," 



Along the same lino, another soils man in spealcing of 

 unproductive orchards sa.ys, "First tost for acidity, and add 

 lime, if needed, to improve tho sod, Yniatovor fertilizers arc 

 needed for tlie saiic purpose should also be added. This may 

 mean a higher grade of fci-tilizcr or more of it. The impor- 

 tant thing is to gro\-j- a heavy grass covor so that large 

 amounts of organic matter may bo added to b}ic soil," 



Our Cover Illustration , The winter scene on 

 our FRUIT FOTES cover is the viorlc of a fonraor 

 Amherst boy, Roger "Tolcott, nT.v living in 

 Agawam, Mr, V.'olcott is spending part of his 

 time in preparing illur.trations for the 

 Extension Service, 



