-8- 



of these prizes were: Ist^ Harvey Peck; 2nd, Eugene vvilliainsj 3rd, Stephen Stone, 

 ICssex Covmty Agricultural School. 



(3) The three individuals who received the awards donated by the .,iFGA were 

 considered the State Junior Fruit Judging Team, and each received an appropriate itedal 

 donated by the Massachusette Departicent of Agriculture. 



(u) To the team having the highest score in the Worcester Contest a rosetts 

 and ribbon was donated by the Haaoachusetts Department of Agriculture. This was won 

 by the team from Arms Academy consisting of the following contestants t Harvey Peck, 

 Barry ./ilea and Paul Lively, ^ar, Nathan Hale was the coach of this team, 



iTti&t is the value of such a contest? First, it is dt signed to assist in the 

 training of boys, Interested in fruit growing, to identify va 'ieties, grades and pesto 

 as well as to stimulate their ability to observe accurately aiid arrive at a conclusion. 

 Second, the spirit of competition is an inducement to a boy to do his best not only 

 for his own benefit but also for the good of the team and the honor of his school. 

 Third, it encourages good sportsmanship. This was distinctly evident in the two conr- 

 teats held this year and all of the contestants merit the highest commendation in this 

 regard. 



O.C.Hoberts 



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Daciage to Peach Buds . Temperatures from II4 to 18° below zero were recently 

 recorded in the University peach orchard in Amherst. Many buds have been ex- 

 aminded by Dr. Vv.D,\i/eeks, He finds that not more than 30^ are alive, v/ith 

 some variation in varieties and on different trees. A more detailed report of 

 the peach bud situation will be prepared for the February issue of FRUIT NOTES, 

 Another severe freeze will tend to kill the remaining live buds in the Univer~ 

 slty orchard* Every peach grower should cut a few buds to determine the local 

 situation* A safety razor blade is a convenient tool for making a cross-wiso 

 cut through the center of the bud. A normal bud will appear green. Darkening 

 of the tiwflues irjdlcatos bud killing. 



Note Of Gjc-ape Pruning. Here is a simple idea concerning grapevines emphasized by Dr. 

 Nelson Shaulis of the Geneva, N.T. Agricultural Experiment Station at a recent MFGA 

 meeting of small fruit growers in Worcester. Instead of leaving about the same number 

 of buda on all giapevines, regardless of their size and vigor, the number of pounds of 

 prunings taken from that vine should be correlated with the number of buds to be left 

 on a vine. By weighing the pruulngo from several vines, this relationship becomes ap- 

 parent. It stands to reason that a large vine with long growths and many growing 

 points is capable of bearing more clusters of grapes than a less vigorous vine. For 

 the Concord and varieties of similar growth habit, 30 buds should be left for each 

 pouixi of prunings, and 10 additional buds for each additional pound of prunings. For 

 the Fredonia variety, kO buds are left for each pound of prunings, and 10 mere for each 

 additional pound. The per acre yieH of grapes may be materially increased if we ba- 

 lance the number of buds and weight of prunings for each vine. 



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Two or thrae qualified workers for part time, non-commercial pruning or grafting jobs 

 are available, Information upon request. 



