-5- 



USE OF CRAG FIERBICIDE #1 FOR COW TOOL OF WEEDS IM STRAY'JBE!LRISS 



It has been reported that Crag Herbicide #1 has been used at rates as high as 

 12 pounds per acre with no apparent injury to strawberries. It is probable that 

 this was done at a time when rainfall was not excessive, 



A case has been observed recently vrtiere a grovier used 6 pounds per acre 

 followed by excessively heavy rain. The strawberries were severely injured. 

 Although they are recovering, it has meant a considerable setback in their growth. 



Growers using Crag Herbicide #1 vjould be ivise not to exceed the recommended 

 maximum of 3 pounds per acre . 



— J. S. Bailey 



•};- -i;- V: -;;• ■>,(• ^^ -.i- « -it -;;- ^ ■),- a ■};- * -s;- 



i'fULCHBIG BLUEBERRIES 



The use of various kinds of mulch around cultivated blueberries has proved to 

 be a very satisfactory method of culture. Mulching has several advantages. It 

 helps to conserve moistiare; if enough is applied, it helps to control weeds; it 

 eliminates the necessity for cultivation j a.3 it breaks down, it adds nutrients to 

 the soil, and it acts as an insulating material to keep the soil temperature more 

 even. The chief disadvantage of mulching is cost. In some areas the mulch itself 

 is expensive ajid labor for hauling and applying it may be high. 



Mulch can be applied almost anytime during the year. It's a job wnich can be 

 used to fill in when the labor demands are light. Hovrever, it is well to be planning 

 ahead and to find out what type of mulch is available, how and when it can be 

 obtained, and Y>rhat facilities are available for hauling and spreading. 



The amount of mulch to be used is quite likely to be determined by the amount 

 available in relation to the size of the planting. If plenty is available and it 

 can be applied at low cost, then it is desirable to put on enough to suppress at 

 least most of the weeds. This vrill probably be in the neighborhood of S or 6 inches 

 vfith such a material as sawdust. However, if witch grass is present, no reasonable 

 amount of mulch can be expected to control this pest. 



A great variety of materials are satisfactory for mulching. Experimental 

 evidence indicates that sawdust is the best mulch that can be used. In some areas 

 sawdust is scarce and highpriced because of its use by dairjrmen as a bedding 

 material. Other materials v/hich have been used satisfactorily are peat, leaf mold, 

 shavings, and waste hay or marsh hay. Near breweries it may be possible to obtain 

 spent hops for merely hauling them away. They are rather messy and smelly for a 

 time but mate an excellent, fire resistant mulch. In the cranberry area of the 

 State cranberry vine refuse and even cranberry pulp from the processing plants is 

 being used. Various kinds of straw have been tried but have not proved as satis- 

 factory as some of the other mulches. Even lawn clippings may be used but they 

 should be allowed to dry out some, else they may heat and cause more hann than good, 



li'Jhere such a woody material as sawdust or shavings is used as a mulch, it may 

 cause a temporary tie-up of nitrogen in the soil v^hich results in a yellowing and 

 reddening of the blueberry leaves due to nitrogen starvation. This can be prevented 

 by doubling the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied for a year or two until these 

 materials start to break dovm. 



— J, S, Bailey 



-«- -:;- •)!■ -»• -;:- 



•Si- -;;- -sf -ji- 



* ■?!• 



