-2- 



suppliers, almost all of the dust used is stockpiled at plane side in a shed at 

 several landing locations and is not handled by the individual grower. The air 

 operator has installed electrically operated mechanical dust loaders which makes 

 it possible for the pilot to easily load the plane even without stopping the 

 engine. Growers simply telephone in their order for an application and at that 

 time state what material is to be flown and from which supplier. A duplicate 

 copy of the issue slip is the basis for billing by the supplier. 



This system has greatly increased the application rate, especially where 

 a number of small orchards are involved. Orchards located near Burlington are 

 30 and 50 miles from the Middlebury Airport and for the last few seasons have 

 never had a pound of dust material stored at the orchard. They happen to be 

 single load size blocks and the material is brought by plane from the central 

 stockpile for each application. 



The number of acres which can be serviced by a single plane will depend on 

 many factors. Under our conditions, I believe a single Stearman can handle 700 

 acres even with many 30-50 acre blocks involved throughout the three northwestern 

 Vermont counties and two northeast New York counties, and our scab control 

 problem is difficult, 



A few additional precautions or suggestions may be of help to newcomers to 

 this modern method to make y<"ur air dusting more effective and easier. First 

 and foremost, be sure to employ only skilled pilots who are backed up by a 

 good concern, always use good materials and do not attempt home mixing. Do your 

 part to prevent drift even if you have to wait another day for poison application 

 to be made. Take care to coordinate with state agencies and do a good job of 

 public relations work. Don't shave the application rate per acre to cheat the 

 operator out of money he needs to be in business or to save dust because you may 

 not get good control. Orchardists who are licensed pilots should never attempt 

 to do their own work. Good flying proficiency is absolutely necessary and can- 

 not be obtained on a part-time basis, especially from the standpoint of avoid- 

 ing accidents. 



The effectiveness of air dust programs have been proven for a number of 

 years for many of Vermont's leading apple growers and 1 am sure it will V7ork 

 just as good for other growers. 



---C. Lyman Calahan 



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



CHEMICAL THINNING OF APPLES 



Following a moderate 1958 crop we anticipate a heavier bloom generally 

 on Mcintosh and some other varieties this spring. It has now been rather 

 definitely proven by Dr. C. P. Harley at Beltsville, Md„ that NAA thinners 

 do have a direct influence on blossom bud formation of some varieties even 

 when no thinning is involved. Many of us in this area hav<^ suspected this 

 for a long time on varieties which are not inherently very biennial, such as 

 Mcintosh. It is certain, however, from many years' records and observations 

 that NAA or NA Amide is not capab;': of inducing annual production in some 

 strongly biennial varieties, such as Baldwin or Early Mcintosh, in some 

 seasons even when heavy thinning is accomplished. 



