-8- 



From Urbana we proceeded to Iowa State College at Ames vfhere for many years 

 workers have been studying the effect of Clark's Dvrarf, used as an interstsck, on 

 the behavior of apple trees. 



A planting of the June Rockhill strawberry was observed in the home garden 

 of Professor Cott, Extension Horticulturist. Tliis variety is being recommended 

 for commercial planting because of its high yield and general desirability of the 

 fruit, 



A brief stop was made at the Iowa Horticultural Farm at Council Bluffs. The 

 vTork here consists chiefly of a study of apple and peach varieties and a comparison 

 of apple trees propagated on Virginia and Hibernal crab stock with Clark's Dwarf 

 as in interstock. Also, extensive fertilizer studies on Concord grape are being 

 made since some 700 acres of this variety are being groTm in the Council Bluffs 

 area, IJany of the vine's had been seriously injured by the 2-Ii-D spray which had 

 been used for weed control in com fields .three-fourths of a mile from the vineyard, 



— 0, C. (Toby) Roberts 



"■'INTER LULCH FOR STRAVJBERRIES 



The use of a mnter mulch on the strawberry bed is recognized as good 

 insurance "for a better crop next June. If applied at the proper time it v/ill v 

 not only help prevent heaving caused by alternate freezing and thawing but Tirill 

 also materially reduce injury to the crown and killing of the overv'/intering fruit 

 buds , 



These fruit buds are relatively tender to cold in the late fall, A sudden 

 drop to a temperature of 15° F. at this time of year can do a great deal of 

 damage to them. Therefore, it is inadvisable to wait until the ground is frozen 

 hard before applying the mulch. 



For maximum protection the winter mulch should be applied before the first 

 cold snap whi.ch takes the temperature lower than 20°F, In most parts of the state 

 the first half of November is usually the period during which mulch should be 

 applied. By tbl? time the plants will have matured so that there is little, if any 

 danger of growth taking place under the mulch, 



— A, P. French 



^IRGPilA REPORTS ON APPLE SELLING 



The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Virginia Polytechnic Institute 

 combine an Extension Bulletin 199 entitled, "Sell Your Apples," 



Their Ik point summary is as follows : 



1. First requirements in economical apple marketing are a quality product, 

 high labor efficiency and high yields. 



2, Moderate plantings of preferred varieties of apples on good fruit soils 

 are justified. 



