-9- 



3t The varieties Eden, Empire and Gem (=Superfection, Brilliant) are be- 

 ing propagated in virus-free condition by nurseries but are not yet available 

 in sufficient supply to allow sale to growers. 



U, Sometiiaes virus-infected strawberry plants can be freed of virus by a 

 special heat treatment. However, it sometimes takes a year or two to make sure 

 that the heat-treated plant is actually free of virus, and that the virus is not 

 merely latent and will reappear. At the Research Station at Beltsville single 

 plants of seven varieties have been apparently freed of virus by this heat treat- 

 ment. Those most likely to be of interest to wiassachusetts growers are Fairland, 

 Streamliner, Temple and Twentieth Century. 



5o For nurserymen who have space available in their screenhouse and want 

 a fev/ strawberry plants for foundation stock, the following varieties are avail- 

 able: Eden, Empire, Gem and Orland, 



i 



Neither the U.S. Department of Agriculture nor the State Experiment Station 

 has a supply of virus-free plants for sale. A list of nurseries offering virus- 

 free strawberry plants will be supplied on request, 



J. S, Bailey 



/////////////// /^ 



FAroi FAMILIES AND SOCIAL SECURITY 



Basically the Old Age and Survivors Insurance program is a family group 

 insurance plan operated by the Federal Government, Self-employed persons like 

 farm. operators, hired ^Torkers and the'ir employees pay "premiums" for this 

 insurance \uhile they are earning income. Social Security should be considered 

 only as a part of a family's plan for adequate insurance protection and retire- 

 ment ; income. 



K inds and Amounts of Benefits 



Three kinds of benefits are provided under the programj one, monthly retire- 

 ment payments to insured persons and dependents} two, monthly survivor's payments 

 to the families of deceased insured persons and three, lump sum payments of from 

 .li,90 to \i>2SS on the death of an insured person. 



Is Participation In The Program Voluntary? 



No, if you qualify, it is required that all self-employed persons, including 

 farmers and hired farm workers whose earnings are such as to come within the 

 provisions of the law must report earnings and pay Social Security taxes regardless 

 of age» 



Farm Operators as Self -Employed Persons 



Persons farming for themselves as owner-operators, partners participating in 

 a joint venture, or as tenants or share farmers who make a net profit from farming 

 of ''oUOO or more per year, must pay the Social Security tax and are entitled to 

 the benefits. Farmers who operate entirely with hired help are considered self- 

 employed persons. 



