10- 



The response also indicated a rapid acceptance of this relatively 

 new growth regulator as a marketing tool for Mcintosh, An average 

 of 81 of the Mcintosh crop is being sprayed with ethephon by 

 the growers . 



9. Have you planted Mcintosh (non-spur) apple trees on M7 or M7a 

 within the last 10 years (yes or no)? What tree spacing or 

 spacings did you use? If you were planting the same trees would 

 you used wider or closer spacings? 



The tree spacing used by growers averaged 18 feet apart in the 

 row with 681 of the answers by the growers falling between 14.4 

 feet and 21.6 feet. Between row spacing averaged 25.1 feet with 

 681 of the answers falling between 20.4 feet and 29.8 feet. The 

 percentage of growers stating that they now would plant the trees 

 closer was about comparable to the percentage favoring wider 

 spacings, and 41''6 were satisfied with present planting distances. 

 Thus, it is obvious that there is no trend for close spacing of 

 trees on M.7 rootstock. 



We have a heavy soil at our Horticultural Research Center and 

 tree spread of our mature non-spur trees averages from 16 to 

 19 feet depending upon the variety and block. 



10. Do you have trees on M26 rootstock (yes or no)? What varieties? 

 Are you sufficiently satisfied with the trees and plan to plant 

 more? 



Forty percent of the growers had trees on M26 rootstock and of 

 those that had trees on this rootstock only 39% were sufficiently 

 satisfied with the trees and plan to plant more. 



There are probably several reasons why so many growers are not 

 satisfied with tree growth and fruitfulness on M26. This rootstock 

 reacts more to unfavorable growing conditions than those on more 

 vigorous clonal rootstocks. Trees within a block may be extremely 

 variable in vigor, with some of them weak and difficult to train. 

 Spur-type trees appear weak when planted on light soils, as do 

 Cortland and Empire on this rootstock. Trees on M26 require good 

 deep soils with good drainage and waterholding capacity and even 

 on these soils they may require temporary support or permanent 

 support on some sites. 



A Comparison Among States 



The questionnaire also was sent to Maine and Connecticut growers 

 by the Extension Fruit Specialists in these states. The comparisons 

 among Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut growers regarding the 

 answers on the questionnaire are of interest, and the differences J 

 regarding the practices are probably due to climatic conditions and " 



