16 



continue to be directly accessible to growers with telecommunication ability. 

 The BBS number in Amherst is 413-545-4717. For information or a user manual, 

 please call Bill Coli or Kathleen Leahy at 413-545-2283 or Wes Autio at 413- 

 545-2244. 



We propose to continue most 1986 activities, including: monitoring 

 weather, pathogens, arthropods, and tree development in 10 commercial blocks, 

 writing twice-weekly pest messages, presenting 4 grower training sessions in 

 each of the 3 regions, performing adaptive studies and pesticide trials, 

 authoring extension and other publications, and generating outside funding. In 

 addition, we plan to provide continued support of the National Park Service IPM 

 Program at Adams National Historic Site, which will generate $500 to partially 

 support the Apple IPM technician. If 2 grant applications we have submitted 

 are approved, we will also be initiating a large-scale study in commercial 

 orchards on the influence of ground cover on mite predator prey interactions 

 and buildup of scab inoculum and a study aimed at implementing very low spray 

 programs using traps for controlling directly apple maggot flies. 



Calibration will be emphasized, although not as intensively as in 1986. 

 Every attempt will be made to coordinate Entomology and Plant Pathology 

 scouting, with increasing emphasis planned for looking for disease incidence in 

 commercial and abandoned orchards. 



We plan to develop computerized expert systems to diagnose and advise on 

 problems. Initially, these will be for use by regional agents, though it is 

 hoped that growers will have access to them in the near future through INFONET. 

 At present, we have initiated work on root disorder diagnostics, fruit 

 disorders diagnostics, scab fungicide application recommendations, and sprayer 

 calibration. This work is also supported in part by the College of Food and 

 Natural Resources, and in part by a Public Service Endowment from the 

 University . 



POMOLOGICAL PARAGRAPH 



Early, Heavy Cropping of Apples 



William J. Lord 



Department of Plant and Soil Sciences 



University of Massachusetts 



Early, heavy cropping of apple trees is not always desirable when trees 

 are planted at wide spacings. Early, heavy cropping may stunt the trees. This 

 situation has been observed in a row of Cortland on M.26 with the severity of 

 stunting varying considerably within the row. Therefore, we may find that in 

 some instances heading back cuts on the extension growth of the central leader 

 and on shoots of the scaffold (framework) branches is desirable. This 

 procedure will stiffen the central leader and scaffold branches, promote 

 growth, and delay fruiting. An alternative to heading cuts is defruiting. 



