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New Bluebe rry Varieties . The introduction of new varieties of blueberries is | 

 being speeded up by the bree ding program of the U. S. Department of Agriculture . The 

 ?^o Loellent new 'varieties, Berkeley and Coville, were introduced in ^IJ^^flf 

 1950-^1. They are both worthy of trial. Berkeley has very large and very attractive 

 silvery blue fruit which ripens with Concord. Both flavor and scar are good. The 

 hish is vigorous and productive. Coville berries are not quite so large as Berkeley 

 and are slightly darker blue. The flavor is more spicy and more tart. Unless they 

 Se Tery ripe they are a bit sour for the average taste. They make excellent pies. 

 The bush is very vigorous and productive. Ivanhoe was introduced last winter, but 

 not enough is known about it under tessachusetts conditions to make recommendations. 

 It is expected that three more varieties will be named and introduced this coming 

 winter. 



The Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station and several Massachusetts 

 growers are cooperating with the U. S. Department of Agriculture in their blueberry 

 breeding program. In addition to testing a number of promising selections, a large 

 number of seedlings are being gro.m in the state for trial. Among these seedlings, 

 t^vo look quite outstanding. It is expected they will be under row test next year and 

 will prove worthy of introduction and naming. These selections and seedlings are 

 under the control of the U. S. Department of Agriculture and neither propagating wood 

 nor plants can be given away or sold without the written permission of the U.b.D.A. 

 official in charge, 



~ J, S. Bailey 

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ORCHARD tlOUSE CONTROL 



The most efficient time to conduct an orchard mouse control program is during 

 October and November. However, there are exceptions to every rule. During this 

 past season, many fruit growers have found it impractical to employ high-priced 

 labor to hand mow or to grub about tree bases; the August rains caused renewed grass 

 vigor. The combination of these tvro factors have created, in many orchards, an ideal 

 condition for mice to multiply and to work in close proximity of the tree base._ 

 Fresh girdling now can be found in some orchards, and it would be advisable, prior 

 to the main apple harvest season, to examine areas where tall, dense grass and -weeds 

 or mulch lay directly against the tree base. If heavy mouse activity is noted, such 

 as trails encircling the tree base, holes extending under the crown, or girdlang,_ 

 then baiting these trouble spots now would undoubtedly pay dividends, especially in 

 young orchards v/hich are more vulnerable. Do not treat the entire orchard until 

 after harvest. 



The number of mice caught in traps during the month of July indicated the 

 beginning of a sharp upward trend in the mouse population— the average litter size 

 being six. This does not include Pine Mice which maintain a more constant trend— 

 their average litter size being two. 



Meadow Mice born in July will be ready to reproduce the latter part of September. 

 It is also possible, and highly probably, that the adults vdll have had two more 

 litters; this should explain why a thorough mouse control program is necessary everj; 

 year. The progressive fruit grovrer examines his trees regularly for prevalence of 

 red-banded leaf roller, mites, flies, codling moth, and other pests; he also looks for 

 orchard mouse activity with equal thoroughness, realizing that a tree lost or damaged 

 due to mouse injury, is most costly. 



Last year many growers stated that due to the unusually large apple crop and the 

 consequently long harvest and packing season, they were unable to conduct a fall 

 mouse baiting program. Apparently, this excuse vrill not be valid this year I 



Carl B, Henry, Ass. District Agent 

 U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 



