32 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 430 



Nor has there been sufficient planting of new trees to replace those passing out of 

 profitable production. 



While wartime conditions have been accompanied by more satisfactory prices, 

 the shortage of skilled labor and the tight supply of some important materials 

 have made it difficult for many producers to give the best care to their orchards. 



In the last ten years, research work in the field of fruit growing in this State 

 has made considerable progress in many important aspects of the industry. This 

 is especially true in the matter of pest and disease control, and in the classification 

 of soils most suitable for growing particular species, as well as in supplying de- 

 ficient elements. The methods and technique of spraying and dusting fruit trees 

 have been improved and are brought to the attention of growers by the agricul- 

 tural extension service. Likewise to secure the development of strong and effi- 

 cient orchards a campaign has been in progress for better pruning of young trees 

 as a basis for a stronger framework. 



With the establishment of normal conditions in the supply of labor and materi- 

 als, Massachusetts producers are warranted in proceeding with the improve- 

 ment of their orchards on a more intensive scale. The replanting program on 

 soils suitable for fruit growing should be speeded up without further delay, and 

 more attention paid to the remo\-al of trees that are not profitable. Together 

 with the development of strong and efficient apple orchards, further progress 

 could be made in the matter of diversification, especially by raising more pears, 

 peaches, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and grapes. 



With the general trend toward mechanization in the whole field of agriculture, 

 it is essential that fruit growers take advantage of the new types of machinery, 

 such as light tractors, trucks, and electric motors. This should provide for greater 

 efficiency iii the use of labor and the possibility of taking care of larger producing 

 units with the same amount of labor. 



The most pressing problems in the local fruit industry remain probably in the 

 field of handling and marketing. This involves a wide acceptance of more de- 

 sirable systems of grading and packing, particularly as they affect such an im- 

 portant variety as the Mcintosh apple. Also more effort should be made to sell 

 apples in the nearby markets. As one means of disposing of low grades of apples, 

 the possibility of using them in manufactured products, especially in apple juices, 

 should be explored to a greater extent. 



In the new developments of orchard practices should be included better 

 practices in fertilization, spraying or dusting to control pre-harvest drop, con- 

 trolled atmosphere storage, control of rodents in storage through the use of 

 methyl bromide, and such labor-saving equipment as the brush pusher, the bull- 

 dozer for removing trees and stones and for clearing land, and the one-man power 

 spraying outfit. As in other lines of agricultural production, the future well-being 

 of the fruit industry in this State will depend on the readiness of producers to 

 adopt the most modern desirable practices which lead to greater efficiency and 

 reduction of costs. 



Among the small fruits, the most important in this State are cranberries and 

 strawberries. While strawberry cultivation has experienced some decline during 

 the war, there has been little change in recent years in the total acreage in cran- 

 berries. The yields of both, however, have fluctuated widely, not only because of 

 weather conditions but also because of wartime difficulties in production. The 

 most limiting factor has been the shortage of labor, the demand for which is on a 

 highly seasonal basis in small-fruit production. Relief in the labor situation 

 under normal conditions would contribute greatly to the amount of the products 

 harvested under average conditions in the growing season. 



