-3- 



A young tree like a child must be given guidance if it is to develop 

 into a respectable adult, physically strong and capable of assuming the burdens 

 of adulthood. This guidance should begin after the first season^s grovrth and 

 every year thereafter until the complete structure of the tree has been estab— 

 lished. 



Too often the older trees v^rhich are of bearing age receive first attention 

 with the result that time runs out before all of the pruning can be done and the 

 youngsters suffer from neglect. The longer they are allowed to shift for them- 

 selves the more difficult it will be to develop them into self respecting members 

 of the orchard family. How about giving these youngsters a break for a change 

 and assure them the attention that they need before starting to prune the bear- 

 ing trees? 



Y/ith a good pair of pruning shears and a knowledge of the basic principles 

 involved, the corrective pruning on a young tree can be accomplished in a 

 couple of minutes or less if it is done every year. 



These basic principles and details of pinining each type of tree fruit are 

 contained in a new bulletin on pruning \fhich is in the process of publication 

 and should be available from County Agents or the Mailing Room at the Univei^ 

 sity of Massachusetts within the near future, 



— 0, C, Roberts 

 //////////////// 



V^HY IS "PREi\CHING" HECESSARY? 



Research and Extension workers are frequently chided about too much 

 "preaching" on certain phases of agricultural production. In the case of 

 Poraologists a grower may wonder why these fellows ai^ always "preaching" about 

 use of magnesium limestone, boron, or how to prune, or any other of the mar^ 

 recommended fruit growing practices? It does seem unnecessary to have to con- 

 tinually remind the commercial grower to do certain recommended practices in 

 his orchard from which he gets his livelihood. However, it also seems foolish 

 to have to continually Trarn the motorist about taking foolish chances when his 

 own life may be at stake, > ". ^ . . '. ' . \ 



The author will admit that for a.'bt of growers the "preaching" is not 

 necessary but there are still too many growers that are apparently failing to 

 use certain practices considered essential for profitable fruit grovdng. The 

 following are examples illustrating the point which the writer is trying to put 

 forth. 



This fall the \irriter saw some beautiful hand picked Mcintosh apples being 

 taken to the cider mill. The reason for these apples being marketed this way 

 was quickly determined by cutting them open. These apples showed symptoms of 

 boron deficiency . It was said that the apples in one block of Mcintosh trees 

 were thus affected. There are enough factors beyond the control of the grower 

 that can cause him to lose money, without losing money by neglecting to apply 

 borax as recommended. 



