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Disease problems in the Pacific Northwest are less than in 

 Massachusetts, because of the arid climate. Nevertheless, 

 apple powdery mildew is much more troublesome than in Massa- 

 chusetts. On Golden Delicious this disease causes fruit russet- 

 ing. Powdery mildew damages leaves and russets fruit on Newtown 

 and Rome Beauty trees and the Granny Smith trees are highly 

 susceptible to leaf damage. 



Mites, San Jose scale, and codling moth are perennial pests 

 of apples. The apple maggot now poses a threat to the fruit 

 industry in the Pacific Northwest and Spotted Tentiform Leaf- 

 miner can be found in isolated areas with the potential to 

 spread. 



Bulk bins are constructed from plywood with no air spaces 

 in the sides of the bins. I question whether similarly con- 

 structed bins would permit adequate cooling in many of our older 

 storages which frequently have less refrigeration and insulation 

 than newer storages . 



High light intensity and long days during the growing season 

 enable growers with well-managed orchards and with newer varieties 

 and strains to obtain higher yields of Extra Fancy apples than 

 in Massachusetts. It was suggested that New England growers can 

 survive on lower fruit quality because of their nearness to 

 market and more profitable market outlets for lower quality fruit. 

 This may be partly true but no apple grower can do well financially 

 without a high pack-out of Extra Fancy apples. 



Pruning was a popular topic of discussion among the growers, 

 fruit specialists and the author. The central leader tree has 

 been the basic tree form in Massachusetts for many years and is 

 now common in the Pacific Northwest. There were few points of 

 disagreement among us concerning the training of central leader 

 trees, however, heading cuts on 1-year-old wood to contain growth 

 and induce lateral branching were common. Under Massachusetts 

 conditions, I believe that the main value of heading cuts is for 

 stiffening the scaffold limbs or the central leader. Heading 

 cuts under our conditions are relatively ineffective for inducing 

 lateral branching and delay production on young trees. 



We certainly are indebted on Don Heinicke, now a grower in 

 Orondo, WA, for making growers conscious of the benefits of limb 

 spreading. It was interesting to note that "tie downs" are 

 gaining favor among growers in the Pacific Northwest for limb 

 spreading (polypropyene twine attached to the limb and a "w" 

 clip fhop clip)) pressed into the soil. Also, some growers delay 

 spreading limbs on spur Delicious until the trees are 3 or 4 

 years old. Early spreading reduces growth which frequently is 



