COUNTY AGENT'S CORI'IER 



Franklin County (Observations reported by D, T, Thayer) 



Nomaii EllauG of Dry Hill Orchard in luillers Falls mdertook something new 



and different at- pollination ti'ie. As far as vre Imov/, for the first time in the 



gast, a shotgim v/as used in pollinating. As one grov/er remarked, "The sliotgun 

 is generally employed following pollination," 



ElLns fired Golden Delicious pollen into the tops of a virtually solid block 

 of liacs in -an attempt to set a crop, Cortland grafts were introduced into the 

 block last yearj but were not cross pollinating this season. 



The pollen, loaded in regular sporting cartridges (v/ith reduced propellant 

 charge and special wads) were flovm from Wenatchee, "lYashington, in refrigerated 

 containers to reach here in highly viable condition. 



Three rovinds v;ere fired into each tree at different angles and raxiges. 

 Cloth "spotters" were rigged in the tree to act as aiming points, and as 

 reference to check fruit setting in relation to pattern of pollen dispersion. 

 The gun was a 12 gauge sporting arm of ancient vintage. 



One tree in the block ivas comnletely enclosed with tobacco cloth v/hile in 

 the pink stage as a check. This tree was shot under the cloth at bloom and no 

 bees were observed inside. Slims has reported apples set on the bagged check 

 tree, but no coimt was m.ade» 



There seems to be little research available on shotgun pollination, '»/e have 

 shot into many conifers and several deciduous species at the elusive partridge 

 and never found it too effective. It v/ould be quite embarrassing if our Dinah 

 dog began to point Mac trees. 



Preston Tovmsley and his father, Fred Townsley, orchardists up in Ashfield's 

 Apple Valley, spend considerable time during the v;inter months getting out logs 

 from their managed timber lots. As soon as spray time comes, they lay by their 

 caw and reach for the spray gun. Preston says there are times v/hen they feel 

 like sawing right through the spring. 



Folks travelling the Mohawk Trail claim to hearing cries of "Timber" from 

 Roger Peck's Valley View orchard in Slielburne, Roger claims to be the 

 "logginest" fruit grower in this county. He's pruned severely.. i,e, one foot 

 from the ground, a good many tliousand feet of fillers, crovYded trees during 

 recent years. Seems a lot more of our orchards could stand a selective cutting. 



Over recent months a columnist iii the Boston Sunday Herald has been bemoan- 

 ing the gradual passing of some of the oldtime varieties. This is quite a 

 popular sport with some of our more earthy v;riters and some other rank senti- 

 i.ientalists who don't icnov; a Hubbardston from a door knob. 



