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KOUSE CONTROL IM ORCHARDS 



The season of the year is here when all hands turn to Orchard House Control. 

 As yet, no new satisfactory method has been found for controlling this rodent so our 

 usual method is still recommended. 



The most satisfactory method of controlling orchard mice is by the use of 

 poisoned baits. The recommended poison is Zinc Phosphide Rodenticide dusted on cut- 

 up apples. This rodenticide may be procured from the County Agricultural Agents, 

 Firm, ripe apples which do not bruise easily should be used. Apples should be cut 

 into one-half inch cubes (1000 cubes to 1 quart, approximately). Place a definite 

 number of quarts of apple cubes in a large enameled pan or pail and gradually sift 

 the correct amount of rodenticide (1 level teaspoonful of rodenticide to 1 quart of 

 apples). Place a cover over the pan and shake with a rolling motion until all 

 pieces of apple are evenly coated. One man can usually expose 5 quarts of poisoned 

 bait in a half day. The bait must be prepared fresh daily. 



The middle of October is the preferred time for bait placement, Yften possible, 

 select warm, clear, quiet days, as the mice are most active under these conditions. 

 The period of greatest mouse activity is from 2 to U o'clock in the afternoon, so 

 expose the bait in the morning or early afternoon. Baits should be placed in at 

 least 3 active runways around each tree. 



Indications of active runways are piles of fresh grass cuttings, excrement 

 piles, freshly nibbled drops, and burrows or holes in the ground. 



In young orchards, or in areas of dense cover, bait should be placed between 

 tree rovis and also along drainage ditches, rock walls, rock out-crops, fence rows, 

 and low spots in the orchard. The bait is more readily accepted by the mice if it 

 is covered. Treatment of marginal lands will prevent movement of mice into the 

 orchard , 



If Pine Mice are present, use both poisoned apple and Zinc Phosphide-treated 

 Steam Crushed Oats, Vifork from the drip line, being careful not to trample the 

 burrow system. Start baiting the areas of the orchard where the crews first picked 

 the fruit. This allows time for the Pine Mice to reestablish their burrow systems. 



— C, E. Faulkner, Mammal Control Supervisor 

 Vifestern Mass, U, S, Fish and Wildlife 

 Service 



yiASS. C-31, AN EARLY APPLE OF THE FUTURE 



Mass, C-31 is a seedling from a Mcintosh x Red Astrachan cross which the late 

 Professor Sears made about 1929. The tree has fruited for several years and shows 

 much promise as an early red apple, C-31 is an attractive, well colored red apple 

 of medium size which ripens just ahead of Early Mcintosh, It has good quality for an 

 early apple although it is somewhat on the tart side. It has a crisp white flesh 

 which does not discolor readily. C-31 has a short storage life as all early apples, 

 but it holds up fully as well as Early Mcintosh. 



The tree of C-31 is vigorous and produces branches with viide crotch angles. Its 

 most serious weakness is its tendency toward biennial bearing, but it appears to be 

 easily thinned by chemical thinning sprays of naphthalene acetic acid, so it is quite 

 possible that some degree of annual production may be obtained from chemical thinning. 



We are not in a position to supply trees of C-31 at the present time, but xvill 

 be glad to supply scions to anyone interested in giving C-31 a trial. 



— W, D, Vifeeks 



