-8- 



Sevin is not the complete ansv/er for thinning all varieties, however. It's 

 a very mild thinner and for this reason will not reduce the set of heavy setting 

 Early Jlclntosh and IJealthy trees sufficiently by itself. For such varieties it 

 may be necessarj-^ to use Sevin once or twice during the period from petal fall to 

 7 to 10 days later and then follow up with an NAD or NAA application after another 

 7 to 10 days elapse. Also, Sevin may not thin Golden Delicious appreciably or 

 Bald^i?in as well as MAD or NM. 



Our 1963 revision, of Special Circular 189, Chemical Thinning of Apples is 

 now available through your County Extension Service or by writing to the Mailing 

 Room, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts. This circular contains 

 our suggestions for the use of NAD, NAA and Sevin as thinning agents on most of our 

 commercial apple varieties. 



F. W. Southwick 



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



WINTER LOSSES 0. ? HONEY BEES 



The winter of 1962-63 is considered to be the most severe in many year. 

 Some concern has been expressed relative to the effects of the V7inter on honey 

 beec . 



Actual data at this time are fragmentary and somewhat variable. In Vermont, 

 heavy winter Tcss is anticipated. Pennsylvania reports that colony losses in the 

 central part of the state will be rather hi£;h. In New York, apparently colonies 

 are wintering well in spite of the fact that they have not been able to have good 

 cleanr3ing flights. 



Data from Massachusetts indicate that losses will be above average. One 

 beekeeper in Worcester Coun:y reports a 5 per cent loss of his own bees but a 25 

 per cent loss in the apiary of a friend. From personal observations and 

 conversations with beekeepers in various parts of the state, I would anticipate 

 from 10 to 30 per cent winter loss, in other words above average losses are 

 anticipated. 



The problem is intensified by the lateness of spring. As of March 27 in 

 Amherst, I have observed no bees bringing in pollen even though colonies have 

 had good flight on several days. This v/ould lead me to suspect that colony build' 

 up may be slower than normal and that colonies may dwindle in strength if they 

 cannot replace the old bees that have over^-rintered. 



It \70uld seen advisable for fruit grovrers, v/ho depend on rented bees for 

 pollination, to contact in the near future the beekeepers who provide colonies in 

 order to make certain that sufficient bees for pollination will be available. 



Those who ovm their own colonies would do v7oll to check colony condition 

 to make sure the colonies are alive and vzell provided with honey anil pollen. If 



