- 3 



ents and moisture. Most blueberry varieties are shallow rooted, at least most 

 of their feeding roots are near the surface. This poses a double barreled 

 problem. Deep cultivation to kill weeds can destroy many feeding roots. If 

 the weeds are not eliminated, they compete with the blueberries and may reduce 

 growth. Several years ago, I saw a row of blueberries part of which had been 

 treated with a weed killer. The weed population was very small compared with 

 that in the untreated part of the row. The leaves of the treated part were 

 darker green, and chemical analysis proved they contained more nitrogen than 

 the leaves on bushes in the untreated part. 



Raspberries also have many of their feeding roots near the surface where 

 weed competition can become a serious problem. This is particularly true if 

 the rows are not kept narrow. A wide row with many plants is very difficult 

 to keep free of weeds by mechanical means. The really good grower doesn't allow 

 the rows to get more than a foot wide at the base. Even in a narrow row, weed- 

 ing by cultivation is laborious and costly. 



Chemical weeding has not entirely eliminated the need for cultivation and 

 probably never will, but properly used, it can be a big help. Special Circu- 

 lar 215, "Controlling Weeds in Small Fruit Plantings with Chemicals" has recent- 

 ly been revised. Anyone wishing detailed directions for chemical weed control 

 in small fruit plantings should send to the office of his county Agricultural 

 Extension Service or to the Hailing Room, Massachusetts Agricultural Extension 

 Service, Amherst, Massachusetts. 



* 



ECONOMICS OF PEST CONTROL 



Max G. Fultz 



Middlesex County Extension Service 



Concord, Mass. 



The item of pest control in the apple operation is an expensive one. 

 Compared with that of a decade ago, it actually has not increased in proportion 

 to many other expenses of the operation. Compared with some txjenty years ago, 

 there is, hov;ever, some substantial difference. In spite of all the yearning 

 for the good old days, however, the modern way has much in its favor. 



A factor that has been injected with more emphasis over the years as an 

 expense deterrent has been the sensational production increases. This has the 

 same effect on the basic cost per unit of production as a reduction in expenses. 

 What is even more important from the marketing standpoint is a parallel in- 

 crease in percentage of well-colored, sound, generally high grade fruit. Des- 

 pite the hazards of a complex and formidable line-up of chemicals, the percentage 

 of russeted, rough- finished or netted fruit is less than it once was. This is 

 in comparison with the old days, first of lime sulfur and then the milder sul- 

 furs. Despite the great step forward taken with the advent of mild wettable 

 sulfur fungicides, the further improvement has been marked with the introduction 

 of organic fungicides with "kick-back" and arresting properties for better scab 

 control and improved finish, if properly used. 



