V/oll, Aubrey Amidon, Jr., of South Halifax, Vermont j can just about cover 

 any variety you want to bet. He says he has "50 or lOO" different varieties and 

 services a soecial demand trade for the odd ones. 



Deer have alv;ays been one of his biggest pest problems. Until recently, 

 lead applications in the cover sprays, fall and winter dormant, have been used. 

 The lead has been put on'with a ,30-, 30, we understand, h'ow, through the 

 cooperation of the State, Aubrey has erected a v/oven wire fence 3 feet high 

 around the most browsed blocks. 



Part of the Amidon orchard is in Colrain, Massachusetts, the block v;e took 

 the Red Apple Club sample from, Aubrey gets the latest dope from both Vermont 

 and Iviassachusetts, Vlhen Doc Boyd warns of an infection period and Aubrey viants 

 to go trout fishing, he checks the Vermont message, aiid vice versa. Last time 

 we vrere up there. Doc YJheeler couldn't find any red-banded leafroller. Said he 

 doubted if they could find their v/ay up to Amidon 's. 



If there is any fruit grower in the state viho has never heard the ancient 



wheeze about the apple expert who could tell apple varieties by taste while 



blindfolded, come on up to any twilight meeting in Franklin County, Someone is 

 sure to tell it every time. 



Hampden County (Observations reported by J, N, Putnejn) 



HaiApden County orchardists met recently at the Wyben orchards in Yvestfield, 

 This orchard is operated by LIr, E, 3, Plartley and his son, George, One interest- 

 ing feature of this meeting was a visit to a young orchard established by the 

 Hartleys beginning fifteen years back. The land was originally covered v/ith 

 woods, and the Hartleys cut several years' supply of firewood from the lot, and 

 then began setting trees after partial clearing/ of stumps. Continuous work has 

 been done since that time in picking up stones and discouraging sprouts, Ed 

 Hartley states that this is the hardest way to do the job of establishing a new 

 orchard. Most growers in this area v/ho have tried this method now agree that it 

 is better to postpone planting a year or tviro, and in the meantime do a fairly 

 complete job of land clearing, 



A demonstration of the Buffalo turbine sprayer was put on at this meeting, 

 Groi';ers viere very much impressed with- its performance. It looks very promising 

 for future use. 



Frost damage in Hampden County apple orchards was apparently not serious. 

 The crop was threatened several times and tv/o grov;ers burned oil in five gallon 

 cans to heat their orchards. One man started his heating with crankcase oil, 

 refilling with furnace oil. The other used furnace oil entirely. 



