ANNUAL REPORT, 1930 25f.' 



markets for Massachusetts apples led to a study of ditferent control meas- 

 ures and any adaptations necessary for Massachusetts conditions. The 

 work was done in cooperation with the Extension Service and in con- 

 junction with the county agents. 



The twelve orchards chosen for tlie tests represented, in their size, 

 type, location, etc., a very fair cross section of the fruit growing- iudustry 

 of the State, and in e\ery case maggot had caused serious loss to the crop 

 of the previous season. 



The program called for — 



(1) Regidar and thorough collection of jireniature drops during the 

 period of maggot infestation, and prompt disposal of such infested fruit. 



(2) Treatment, either by spraying or removal, of neglected trees or 

 orchards within 200 yards of the test blocks. In many cases this in- 

 volved arrangements with neighi>oring owners, sometimes difficult to ac- 

 complish. 



(3) Thorough spray or dust program to jirotect fruit and foliage dur- 

 ing the period of activity of the adult flies. 



In determining results Mcintosh was the variety checked, since this was 

 common to all the orchards. In the ten orchards where the program was 

 carried out in full, maggot infestation in fruit scored was less than 1 per 

 cent. Records of infestation in some of these orchards in If)2f) showed 

 the following comparison: 



Orchard Percentage of Maggot Infestation 



No. 1929 1930 



1 25 



2 90 .8 



3 26 (Baldwins 40) .3 



4 Destroyed practically entire crop .1 

 because of maggot infestation 



Supplementary observations on other varieties supported the results 

 noted on Mcintosh. The Cortlands in one orchard in 1929 were so badly 

 riddled by maggot that the grower trucked the entire crop to the cider 

 mill. In 1930 this variety showed but 2 per cent infestation. 



Orchard surveys conducted by state and county agencies showed that 

 apple maggot was present in considerable abundance throughout the 

 State in 1930. In one instance an infestation of 78 per cent was noted, 

 and in several orchards fruit showed 30-40 per cent damage. In very 

 many cases an infestation of 10-15 per cent was noted. The results se- 

 cured in the test orchards, therefore, would not appear to be attributable 

 to any scarcity of the pest this past season. 



In addition to checking ajiple maggot, the spray ]irogram in the test 

 orchards enabled the growers to control many other pests and made It 

 possible for them to harvest better quality fruit. Five of the ten growers 

 produced Mcintosh, 90-95 per cent of which was free from insect or 

 disease blemishes. In three other orchards the fruit scored 80-85 per cent 

 clean. The improvement made by these growers in the (|uality of the 

 fruit produced is indicated by the following examples: 



