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ing on lowland where grass is likely to be heavy. The trail builder promises to take 

 much of the hard work cut of the rodent control program, 



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Repeat Customers , Rsadside stands, alrng with retail fruit and vegetable coun- 

 ters, have done a thriving business this fall. More good quality apples have been 

 offered than in some seasons past. This kind of fruit not only attracts customers 

 but brings them back. Successful fruit salesmen are firmly convinced that repeat 

 sales, instead of one to a customer, are the secret of a profitable enterprise, 



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Size of Apples in 19^3 « In spite of a severe drought during. the past sununex-, 

 the average size of apples was surprisingly large. This was unexpected since apples 

 contain about Q7% water. The explanation may be scmething like this: fruit develop- 

 ment is closely associated with healthy, undamaged leaves. Good nutrition of the 

 trees plus a good spray program helps to maintain good leasres. On the average soil 

 fruit trees develop roots at a sufficient depth to provide a supply of water even in 

 a fairly dry season. Thus, the well cared for tree was able to carry on in develop- 

 ing apples of large size even though shallow rooted crops suffered from the drought, 



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Report on Captan , One Worcester County grower has this to say about Captan, 

 "It has a tendency to promote betterfruit finish and color. It appears to stop scab 

 from spreading better than sulphur. It is easy on the operator, the tree and the 

 soil". This is one man's opinion and may not reflect the experience of others. 

 However, this new material looks promising and in spite of its relatively high cost 

 will be used to a considerable extent in 19^14 • 



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Wasted Fertilizer , There is every reason to believe that a considerable pro- 

 portion of the mineral elements in a complete fertilizer is yrasted on some soil types 

 when used year after year as a ring application around the trees. The same ferti- 

 lizer applied over the orchard floor would undoubtedly bring a better return. In- 

 stead of growing a ton of mulch material per acre, we should be growing 2 tons or 

 more. The additional mulch material will benefit the tree more than the fertilizer 

 itself, 



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A Worthy Cause. The Hampden County Fruit Growers' Association has taken on 

 a very worthy project. It involves supplying good 2-lA i^^ch apples throughout the 

 winter for the Shriners' Hospital, where many crippled childi'en will enjoy this gift 

 from the commercial fruitgrowers, A wholesaler in Springfield has agreed to store 

 the apples and deliver them to the hospital, as needed, 



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Lowering Tall Trees , ViTell spaced apple trees bearing consistantly heavy crops 

 assume an umbrella shape. The downward pull cf 25 bushels ef apples will do mere to 

 hold a tree down than an improperly used pruning saw. One vrell spaced orchard was 

 observed this fall in which the owner is removing ithe tops unnecessarily. In other 

 orchards half the txces -should be removed. There is need for studying each block be# 

 fore making large pruning cuts. 



