9 - 



Several advantages given for fall planting are: (1) weather 

 conditions are more favorable in the fall; (2) frequently the soil 

 is in better condition in the fall than in the spring; and (3) fall- 

 planted trees will start growth as soon as conditions are favorable 

 and this is often before trees can be planted in the spring. 



Although some growers have planted apple trees in the fall 

 with success in Massachusetts, we would caution that fall planting 

 be attempted only when the following conditions prevail: (1) the 

 trees to be planted are fully dormant; (2) the site being planted 

 has a well-drained soil not subject to frost heaving; (3) the trees 

 can be planted before any appreciable frost forms in the ground so 

 that the soil can be worked well around the root system; and (A) 

 the roots of the trees are not exposed to temperatures below 25 F 

 during the planting process. 



We would expect to have less success with fall planting of 

 peach trees than we have had with fall planting of apple trees. 



*************** 



CONTROL THOSE ORCHARD MICE 



John W. Lanier, 

 U.S. Fish and 



Wildlife 

 Wildlife 



Biol ogi s t 

 Service 



To avoid mouse damage to fruit trees during the winter months, 

 it is necessary to engage in a mouse control program. Fall is not 

 too far away, so a mouse survey should be undertaken soon to pin- 

 point the trouble spots and determine the areas which will need ex- 

 tensive treating. 



There are two kinds of mice, mea 

 age to fruit trees in the Northeast, 

 common in all orchards, lives on the 

 pearance, and its tail is longer than 

 back. Meadow mouse runways are on th 

 be found by parting the vegetation, 

 long after the mice are gone, so it i 

 trails are active. Presence of fine 

 spider webs, and green grass shoots i 

 tive runways contain piles of fresh g 

 chewed appl es . 



dow and pine, which cause dam- 



The meadow mouse which is 

 surface. It is chunky in ap- 

 i ts hind foot when stretched 

 e surface of the soil and may 

 The runway systems may remain 

 s necessary to determine which 

 roots, mold or fungus growth, 

 ndicate unused runways. Ac- 

 rass clipplings droppings and 



The pine mouse is an underground type and lives in extensive 

 tunnel systems. The tunnel systems vary from just under the soil's 

 surface to two or more feet deep. The pine mouse, also chunky in 

 appearance, usually is smaller than the meadow mouse when full grown^ 

 Its tail is shorter than the extended hind foot. This animal's 

 runways may be found by probing in the soil between the tree trunk 

 and the drip line. In some cases, hewly-excavated piles of soil 



