-5- 



fruit trees, so much in fact, that it is a ccmmon practice to wrap the trunks of young 

 trees v/ith straw or cornstalks each fall. The largest young orchard in the country 

 includes about 100,000 trees, each of which had been wrapped with straw before my 

 visit to that area in late October. Plenty of farm labor may be obtained at 10 cents 

 per hour. A few of the experiment station orchards arc protected by means of a woven 

 wire fence, virith posts set in concrete. 



In conclusion, one more "pest" should be mentioned, namely "chiggers". The 

 writer was annoyed from time to time by itchy swellings on his skin, mt it was not 

 until his return to the U.S. that the "critter" was identified. In fact, he never 

 got a glimpse of this extremely small mite at the time. Fortunately, an ointment 

 which came in the medical kit from FAO gave some relief. After about a week the 

 swellings disappeared, just in time to acquire a new assortment. Hopefully, none 

 of the"chiggers" were brought back to Liassachusetts* If they were, recent chilly 

 weather has undoubtedly finished them. 



vV,H,Thies 



■)(--«-*-«--«--5t-«-^-K-^'--i^** 



Black Knot of Plums. This common fungus disease is no 

 problem in an orchard where Bj-own Rot is well control- 

 led. But the experience of the writer in a home orchard 

 consisting of two plum trees shows how quickly Black Knot 

 will spread in the absence of fungicidal applications o 

 Before leaving for Europe in August 19^2, these trees 

 showed no more than half a dozen small "Knots". But no 

 fungicidal applications, whatever, were made in 1953. As 

 a result, at least 100 small "Knots" are now in evidence. 

 Control of this disease may be accomplished by prompt re- 

 moval and destruction of any "Knots" v^hich appear, plus 

 the kind of spray program needed to control Brown Rot, 



Si- * -x- -;<■ ^'- -«■■«•■«•■«•■«• ^ * ■* 



195U APPLE Spray Charts Ready for Distribution. The new Apple Spray Charts are now 

 being distributed through tiie County Extension Offices. If you are on the County 

 Fruit Mailing List your copy should arrive soon. This newly revised publication con- 

 tains much useful information. It deserves careful study. The Notes are especially 

 Important. The comtients on each pest and each material will be found, m general, 

 itmediately following the particular spray application with y/hich they are most con- 

 cerned. Other Notes on Dusting and Dust Mixtures, Fungicides and Insecticides follow 

 the spray schedules, on pages 11 to ill, 



•«■ s(- s(- •)!■ -Ji- •«■■«• ■«■ -;!• ■«■ •«■ ^<- •«• 



Those Back Issues. The first request for back issues of FRUIT NOTES came 

 from a reader in Quebec. Requests are still coming in and the assortment has 

 shrunk considerably. As a final reminder we repeat the invitation, Any 

 reader mshing a miscellaneous collection may have it for the asking. First 

 come, first served." The balance will be discarded soon. 



