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PURITAN - A imi EARLY RED APPLE 



There has been so much interest among Massachusetts growers in Liassachusetts 

 C-31 seedling that we have decided to name and introduce it in spite of rather 

 limited trial of it in terms of number of trees, Puritan originated from the cross 

 Mcintosh X Red Astrachan made by the late Professor F. C. Sears at the University 

 of Massachusetts about 1929. It is an attractive, well colored red apple of 

 medium size which retains its size well even with a full crop. The quality is good 

 for an early apple although somewhat on the tart side. The flesh is crisp, white 

 and does not discolor readily. Sauce and pies made from it have a distinct pinkish 

 color. Its season of harvest is just ahead of Early Mcintosh and storage life is 

 fully as good as that variety. 



The tree of Puritan is vigorous, with wide crotch angles. Orchard tests 

 indicate that it will pollinate Mcintosh satisfactorily. Its most serious weakness 

 is a tendency tovrard biennial bearing. HowevBr, limited tests suggest that it is 

 rather easily thinned with chemical thinning sprays of naphthalene acetic acid, so 

 it is quite possible that some degree of annual production may be obtained. 



Yfe are not in a position to supply trees of Puritan, but a limited amount of 

 propagating wood is available to interested fruit growers and nurserymen. 



— A. P. French 



TOBY'S TRAVELS 



The Federal Experiment Station at Cheyenne, Wyoming, located at an elevation 

 of 6250 feet I'lhere the average rainfall is 15 inches and consequently, unless 

 irrigation is employed, most of the vegetation is sagebrush. The principal endeavor 

 at this station is to breed horticultural plants which can survive the rigors of the 

 climate. Not only must plants be somewhat' drought resistent, but also they must be 

 able to withstand the terrific winds wliich prevail there as well as lov; i/irinter 

 temperatures and early fall frosts. 



The apple varieties at this station are chiefly hardy crab apples, but trees 

 of ViTealthy and Haralson bearing good crops were seen. Efforts are being made to 

 produce strawberry varieties which viill replace Montana and Gem everbearing 

 varieties which are commonly grown at the present time . 



Our next stop rf horticultural interest was in Idaho t; lAt"one time Twin Falls 

 was noted as a fruit producing area, but fruit growing has been replaced by the 

 production of sugar beets, alfalfa, and notatoes. This has been the fate of fruit 

 growing generally in Idah«» except in the Boise and Payette valleys . The original 

 Idared and Payette apple trees vrere seen at the Idaho Experiemtn Station in Moscow. 

 Idared is now considered to be more desirable than Payette. Both of these varieties 

 are under test at the Massachusetts Experiment Station. 



At the ''Washington Experiment Station, which is only eight miles from the Idaho 

 Station, I saw an entire vineyard completely ruined by tlie 2,I|.-D spray which had 

 been used for weed control by nearby wheat farmers. Efforts are being made to have 

 the Legislature pass a law prohibiting the use of this spray within ten miles of a 

 commercial vineyard. 



Washington peach growers are so much concerned over the possibility of introdu- 

 cing virus infected peach trees into the State that nov: all peach trees entering the 

 State of 'tfashington must be inspected and approved at the Experiment Station at 

 Prosser before they may be distributed. 



