-il- 



Any future, you ask? I believe we have to grow bigger, combine small units, 

 and all face this common enemy: disorderly niarketing. It's a long subject, market- 

 ing, and a distressing one. It is the fruit and produce grovrers' v/eakest point 

 today. You have an instrument in your N,Y, & N.E, Apple Institute that can be of 

 tremendous aid to you. Support it and nourish it, and tie it to some sort of 

 controlled marketing and v/e will have arrived. 



The population of this co\mtry is growing. It is inconceivable to me that 

 people will give up eating apples. 



— ¥. H, Darrow, Jr., Putney, Vermont 



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WIITTER INJURY TO INSECTS 



Insects are cold blooded animals and as such are much more tolerant than warm 

 blooded animals to below normal temperatures, Fxirthermore, it has been reported 

 that when insects go into hibernation (winter dormancy) a part of the moisture 

 in the body fluid is evaporated so that the remainder is concentrated into an 

 antifreeze liquid vjhich resists the formation of ice crystals at below freezing 

 temperatures. However, there is a limit to such phenomena, and temperatures of 

 -IS'^ F« or below kill many unprotected insects. 



Observations this winter indicate a high mortality of San Jose scale, codling 

 mcth, bud moth and several minor fruit pests which hibernate on the exposed parts 

 nf the trees. However, in each case observed, a few live insects have been found. 

 Eggs of European red mite and the apple infesting aphids appear to have suffered 

 little injury and a normal percentage of them look natural. 



Of course, some of the more destructive pests such as plum curculio, apple 

 maggot and red banded leaf roller vrere under 15 inches or more snow and well 

 insulated from severe cold, Likev/ise, the snow protected any of the scales, aphids 

 and worms -which were on Io^y hanging branches or the lower part of the tree trunk. 



From the control standpoint, this means that growers cannot relax from their 

 regular spray or dust program, but should expect better results following reduced 

 numbers of some pests. 



Where there is any evidence of v/inter injury to the buds or bark, especially 

 the bark, it is ura'dse in most cases to apply dormant oil this year. Otherwise, 

 the regular program as outlined in the Pest Control Schedule should be follov/ed, 



\'I. D. Vlhitcomb 



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TREATTIENT OF GIRDLED TREES 



I 

 Fruit growers should be continually on watch for girdling or partial girdling 



of their fruit trees by mice so that they can make plans for Repair of this damage. 

 It is difficult to find desirable scions for bridge grafting and trees for in-arch- 

 ing in late Hay and Juna as some fruit growers found out last year. 



