FRUIT NOTES - November 1-952 



THE MCINTOSH FROBLEIi. IN 19g3 and 195U 



liVith a light crop in most orchards this year and the present evidence of a 

 heavy bud set on well managed trees, the stage is set for another heavy crop in 

 1953 which is likely to be followed by a light crop in 19$h, Every effoi-t should 

 'oe made therefore to handle our orchards in such manner that some of the antici- 

 pated surplus crop of 1953 mil not materilize and that the bloom for 195^ ^^iH ^^ 

 increased thereby. To that end FRUIT NOTES as v.'ell as our Fruit Extension Pro.f^r'iiu 

 for the next several months irlll emphasize "The Mcintosh Problem in 1953 and 195U." 



Some of the specific parts of this overall problem of attempting to more nearly 

 equalize 1953 and 1951; crops include: pruning practices, tree removal, fertilizers, 

 pollination, chemical thinning. The first of our series of articles dealing with 

 '.his problem appear below, 



— A, P. French 

 P.ELATION OF PRUNING TO THE "fiCINTOSH PROBLEId 



Vfhy a Mcintosh Problem ? As you all knov^, a short crop of apples v;as the 

 general situation in a great many of our orchards in 1952. The primary reason for 

 ;ur short crop was due to the failure of many Mcintosh blocks to bear. Failure of 

 ;IcIntosh to bear in many cases was due to lack of bloom. Failure to bloom vie 

 believe was due primarily to the fact that many Mcintosh trees carried excessive 

 3rops in 1951 and the weather in June and July, 1951 vriien flower differentiation 

 commences, was poor. At Amherst, in Jiane through July, 1951 there were only iil5.3 

 nours of bright sunshine, as compared to a normal of 525*0 hours. In those orchards 

 •vhere Mcintosh bloomed in 1952 to a slight or adequate degree the crop in 1951 was 

 probably not excessive, F-,ilure of Mcintosh to set in 1952 where the bloom 

 appeared sufficient for a commercial crop may have been due to the fact that the 

 pollinating weather V'fas poor, there were insect or scab blemishes on the fruit or 

 Suems, or some caustic spray materials which caused considerable foliage injury 

 rere used at or near blossom time for scab control. 



As a result of a Mcintosh crop failure in cared for orchards, it is logical 



:o expect a heavy bloom and set if the pollinating v^eather is good in 1953* We 



nad above normal sunshine in June and July this year. Obviously, many Mcintosh 



are in an alternate bearing cycle and it is desirable that it be broken so that a 



good crop of Mcintosh can be prodviced .not only in 1953 but also in 195U, 



Yfhy is it important that growers get their pruning done prior to the 1953 

 ^eason? ViTith the prospect of a large crop of apples in 1953 it seems desirable 

 -jO emphasize the importance of thorough pruning of trees which are going to 

 blossom heavily, The primary reasons for advocating that more pruning be done in 

 '■jhe situation we now face are: (l) \iith a large crop only those fruits which are 

 Df good size and color are apt to be worth raising - pruning out the shaded, 

 inside wood vjIII tend to remove a lot of potential culls; (2) Pruning out of thick 

 wees should help materially in improving the extent of insect and disease control 

 obtained. With the common use of concentrate rigs, one almost has to have a ti^ee 

 pruned to fit the sprayer. Pruning , as generally practiced ^ cannot be expected to 

 influence biennial bearing to any mar ked""de gree , howe ve r . 



