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CROP PROSPECTS 



Maine 



All varieties of apples appear to have a good blow of blossoms this year. 

 Good pollination weather for most varieties. Trees appear vigorous except where 

 early frosts injured a few leaves but trees are recovering rapidly. Scab is 

 general but most growers are clean so far. Crop prospects in general look good. 



Rudolph A. Poray 



Massachusetts 



At this time (June 2) , it appears as though most growers have sufficient set 

 for a moderate crop of Mcintosh and Cortland. The Red Delicious crop in most 

 orchards will be light. This year's crop should be about the average for 1945-1954 

 which is 2,276,000 bushels. 



In spite of the cool, wet weather during the latter part of April and in May, 

 Mcintosh bloom date was about normal for Amherst which was between May 14 - 16. 



Bee activity was frequently held up by cool or rainy weather but most orchards 

 had enough warm, sunny hours between May 12 - 18 to insure pollination. 



Frost was no problem for the most part. Frosts during the last weekend in 

 April caused some bud killing to Red Delicious and Gravensteins in Middlesex 

 County. For the most part, however, the damage was not sufficient to reduce 

 crop prospects. On May 14, frosts caused slight damage to orchards located on 

 low sites in Hampshire County. 



Peach flower buds came through the winter with little killing and in spite 

 of cool weather during bloom a large crop is in prospect. 



William J. Lord 



Connecticut Orchard Conditions as of May 29th 



Peak of apple full-bloom was in mid-May about ten days later than '57. 

 Pollination weather although not perfect was satisfactory. Not as much spread 

 in bloom dates between early and late sections of State as is generally expected. 

 Set on apples less than last year -- Mac's lighter than '57 -- Red and Golden 

 Delicious very light -- Pears generally heavy set. Peaches very heavy following 

 general freeze-out in '57. Blossom brown-rot infection in some blocks severe. 

 Thinning will be necessary. Some growers like the "rubber-hosed-stick" method. 



Some blossom and twig botrytis infection in some blueberry plantings. 

 Elgetol ground treatment for mummy-berry appeared to reduce botrytis. 



Strawberries good — limited frost damage to earlier blossoms in lower fields. 

 First berries should appear late in first week of June. Cutworms prevalent. 



Average for State indicates most growers applied first cover on apples 

 last week in May. 



