64 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 293 



281 Experiments with Permaticnt Pastures. A. R. Reauniont. .^6 pp. illus. 

 April, 1032. 



A large proportion of the farm laud of Massachusetts consists of stony uplands more suitable 

 for permanent pastures than for tilled crops. The improvement of pastures by top-dressing 

 with fertilizers offers attractive possibilities; and the fact that large areas have already re- 

 verted to forest shows what must happen to existing pastures if fertilizer is not applied, or 

 if the price of milk is too low to make such application profitable. A pasture which is weedy 

 or run-down because of a lack of plant food can be brought back to productive condition 

 only by the use of plant food. On the basis of the experiments reported, it is recommended 

 that 1 ton of ground limestone (or its equivalent in hydrated lime) be applied every 6 years; 

 480 pounds of 16 per cent superphosphate and 160 pounds of muriate of potash, every 3 

 years; and 160 pounds of nitrate of soda, annually. At prices prevailing early in 1932, this 

 treatment can be made by an annual investment of S5 to $10 an acre and it is believed will 

 yield a fair return under Massachusetts conditions. 



282 Relation Between Egg Quality and Price. Adrian H. Lindsey and Hubert 

 \Y. Yount. 22 pp. May, 1932. 



In order that the poultryman may feel justified in placing special emphasis on the quality 

 of eggs and secure in making the extra expenditure involved in producing a higher grade 

 product, he should have some assurance that quality values are recognized by the consumer. 

 The most definite and significant relationship discovered from this analysis is that prices 

 are directly related to weight under all conditions. That weight is a significant factor is not 

 new, but it has not been known that weight is more important at one season of the year than 

 another and that the premiums which are paid for weight are fairly definite. If premiums 

 are known, it will be possible to determine by further research whether the production of 

 large eggs is profitable. 



283 Downy Mildew of Cucumbers. William L. Doran. 22 pp. May, 1932. 



Downy mildew is a common and important disea.se of cucumbers in Massachusetts as well 

 as in most of the eastern and southern states. The investigation included the source of pri- 

 mary infection, the effect of climatic factors, and the prevention of infection by the use of 

 fungicides. All available evidence indicates that the fungus probably reaches Massachusetts 

 from states farther south after a gradual northern movement by the aid of wind. Two to three 

 hours on a leaf wet with rain or dew is enough for the germination of most of the conidia of 

 this fungus, and five hours is sufficient to produce infection of leaves. In both field and 

 greenhouse, copper fungicides are to be preferred to sulfur for the control of downy mildew. 

 In Massachusetts the first application of a copper fungicide should be made, in the field, 

 about July 2.5, and later applications should be made at weekly intervals. Bordeaux mixture 

 3:3:50 is a sufficient concentration for use in the field. Bordeaux 1 :1 :50 prevented infection 

 of greenhouse cucumbers, and this is the concentration recommended for use in greenhouses. 



284 Questions and Answers Concerning Pullorum Disease. H. Van Roekel. 

 23 pp. illus. May, 1932. 



The purpose of this bulletin is to make available for the Massachusetts poultry industry 

 information which will aid the poultrymen to improve their methods of establishing and 

 maintaining pullorum disease-free flocks. The subjects covered are history and distribu- 

 tion of the disease, its nature and dissemination, control and eradication, including .sanitary 

 measures recommended. 



285 The Relation of Temperature to the Activity and Control of the Plum 

 Curculio in Apples. W. D. Whitcomb. 16 pp. illus. June, 1932. 



The plum curculio frequently does more damage to apples in Massachusetts than all other 

 insects together. As a result of the heavy lo.ss to fruit growers, studies of the factors which 

 influence the activity of this insect were conducted at Waltham. Early in the work temper- 

 ature was found to play an important part in the problem of control, and the more recent 

 studies have centered around this factor. Recommendations for Massachusetts, based 

 on these studies, are: .^fter the blossom petals have fallen, apply a special spray or dust in 

 the first period of warm weather when the maximum temperature reaches 75 F. or higher 

 and such temperatures promise to continue for 2 or more successive' days. Use 4 or 5 

 pounds of lead arsenate in 100 gallons of spray, preferably with the addition of 1 pint of fish 

 oil or linseed oil as a spreader or sticker. Except in severe infestations, 85-15 sulfur-lead ar- 

 senate dust can be substituted for the spray. When there are two distinct periods of high 

 temperature within 15 days after the proper time for the calyx spray, apply a spray or dust 

 in each period, using the same materials, and determining the time of application by the 

 same temperature retiuirements as before. On scab susceptible varieties, or where the addi- 

 tion of a fungicide is desirable for any reason, liquid lime-sulfur or a similar material can 



