-7- 



A VISIT T_0 BELTSVILLE 



During the past summer the writer spent a very interesting day and a half at 

 the U,S,D,A, Experimental Farm at Beltsville, Maryland, ,. Much of the time v/as 

 spent with Dr. Ci, H. Darroiv looking over the strawberry and blueberry test plots 

 although Home time was also spent with four other workers along fruit lines. The 

 more important observations are noted belov/. They suggest not only a wide range of 

 experimental \;ork but real progress in v;orking out certain fundamental problems, 



^ 31iishex'ries , One of the handicaps in most varieties is an imperfect scar. 

 This refers to the point of attachment of the berry, where damage frequently occurs 

 in picking. Varieties v.'ith perfect scars are being sou;;ht. In scoring varieties 

 ao regayds scar, Burlington is best with a rating of lOj Rubel, 8; Stanley, 4 to 6; 

 Katherine, 1, In ilev; Jersey a planting of about five acres lias been established 

 for the testing of varieties vifith reference to this important feature. 



The present acreage of cultivated blueberries in tlie U, S, is about 10,000, 

 Varieties in sight may increase the acreage to 50,000, But \7hen varieties v/ith 

 perfect soar are developed, the acreage may increase to 100,000, 



lisjiy hybrid varieties are being tested including crosses between high and lavr 

 bush species and the rabbit eye blueberry of the South, In North Carolina about 

 .10 acres are under test raid in Georgia about 20 acres. Of interest in Iilassachu setts 

 are certain Ixardy highbush varieties, hardy half high and hardy lowbush, pa.rti» 

 cularly thos.e 7dth large berries and a stiff stciu. 



Certain bluebcrr;,' aihnents, including "stunt", are found to be transmissible 

 by budding, (Observations on stra\/bcrries, peaches, and apples v:ill bo included 

 in the next issue of FRUIT IIOTES.) 



"The Farrier ' s 1948 Inccme Ta^" , This is the name of a new 

 publication (Special Circular ilo, 123) which came off the 

 press in October, 1948, It was prepared jointly by the 

 Extension Services of the six H, E, states, Delav;are, 

 How Jersey, and several federal agencies, A copy may be 

 obtained from your county extension office or from the 

 Uni vers ity. 



:t::^!(c!)e^******:|c*j(: + ****!(c 



A Suggestion on Pruning , In pruning a bearing apple tree, it is helpful 

 to visualize the tree v;ith a full load of fruit and a branch arrangement 

 which allov/s each spur a partial exposure to sunlight. This means that 

 each major branch has a definite space v/hich it occupies v/ithout much 

 competition. The dormward' grovdng parts of each branch are more poorly 

 located from the standpoint of sunlight than the outv;ard and upward 

 gro\-;ing parts. But frequently a towering upright branch is mmecded either 

 because it is encroaching on a vjcll located branch or is, itself, out of 

 reach, V/lien the pruning job is completed, the branches will be reasonably 

 well spaced, and the troo v;ill be thin enough to allow svjilight to filter 

 through. Spraying, thinning and harvesting will be easier bc«o.use a 

 dense tangle has been transformed into an orderly arrangement of 

 efficiently located fruiting wood. 



**:(;*!)c:4:*-:i:*:(;***;i<*:(c**>t:j(c 



