-11- 



- « UNUSUAL TYPS OF WINTER INJURY 



An unusual and severe type of winter Injviry to the trunks and lower scaffold 

 limbs of bearing apple trees was recently found in three apple orchards in Middlesex 

 Coiinty. How prevalent the injury is throughout the state is yet to "be determined. 



The "bark on the injured tree trunk is in some instances split but :more gen- 

 erally just pulled away from the wood. Althou^ the injury is more predominant 

 on the south side of the tree, no side ia immune. In addition to the trunk, this 

 injury frequently extends a considerable distance up on the lower side of many of 

 the scaffold branches. 



The result of rather limited observations reveal that the winter injury is 

 mainly confined to bearing Mcintosh trees. Baldwins, Delicious, Cortlands and 

 except for an occassional Northern Spy and Early Mcintosh show no injury. It b^ars 

 repeating, that these statements are based on limited observations. It is of 

 interest to note that two of the orchards have peach trees and that the fruit buds 

 came through with little killing. 



The orchard in which the winter injury was first discovered was one in which 

 a fertilization experiment has been conducted since 19^^91 therefore, the 1955 

 nutritional status and yields for 110 trees in the orchards are known. Although 

 nutritional level of the trees varied considerably and the 1955 crop varied on the 

 trees, there was no correlation between yield or nutrition and winter injury. 



The winter injury was not confined to a particular area in the orchards but 

 appeared to be scattered throughout. However, in the areas having injured trees, 

 practically every tree in that area was inJTired. 



It is known that if the loose bark on winter injured trees is alive and is 

 tacked down it will often re-unlte with the trunk. It was suggested to the grower 

 in the orchard where the winter injury was first discovered, that he try a "gun" 

 stapler instead of using a hammer and tacks. Nine-sixteenth inch staples were 

 tried and apparently does a satisfactory job. This method of tacking the bark is 

 more rapid and less tiring than the usual method of tacking. After tacking the 

 bark, it is suggested that the inj\ired area should be covered with grafting compoujid. 



W. J. Lord 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 

 BIRD DAMAGE TO FRUIT CROPS 



The amount of damage done by birds on certain fruit crops in Massachusetts 

 has apparently been increasing materially in recent years. Grapes, blueberries, 

 and cherries have been particularly hard hit. However, strawberries, raspberries 

 and even peaches and early apples have been damaged more or less severely in many 

 areas. 



At least several species of birds have been observed doing damage. Starlings 

 seem to be the most general offenders, but grackles, robins and catbirds take their 

 toll. Even orioles as well as some of the smaller birds are known or strongly sus- 

 pected of damaging certain crops. Through a research project recently initiated 



