ANNUAL REPORT, 1947-48 69 



low, but Mg was not dangerously low. From July to September Ca increased, 

 K increased in some cases and remained about constant in others, Mg changed 

 little, if at all, and P decreased in some cases and remained about constant in 

 others. 



Blueberry Culture. (J. S. Bailey.) The spraying experiments for the control 

 of mummy berry were continued through 1947. Bordeaux mixture was not 

 effective in controlling this disease. Fermate alone gave some control, but best 

 results were obtained when Goodrite p.e.p.s., a spreader and sticker, was added 

 to the Fermate. P.e.p.s. alone appeared to have a little fungicidal value. A 

 report of these results will appear in the Proceedings of the American Society for 

 Horticultural Science. In the spring of 1948 diligent search for mummies pro- 

 ducing apothecia was made on numerous occasions. Only one such mummy was 

 found although numerous mummies in apparently good condition were present. 

 In spite of the apparent absence of apothecia, a considerable number of infected 

 berries appeared in early summer. Because of severe winter injury and the pros- 

 pect of an extremely small crop, plans for continuing the spraying experiments 

 in 1948 were abandoned. 



In the spring of 1948 a commercial test of a dormant application of D-542 

 was tried for the control of a Lecanium scale. It appears to be effective and safe. 

 A dormant application of D-289 was effective in controlling the scale but was 

 very toxic to the blueberry bushes. 



In July, 1947, several bushes of the varieties Cabot and Pioneer which were 

 covered with bindweed were sprayed with the sodium salt of 2,4-D at 1,000 ppm. 

 This one application killed the tops of the bindweed but some regrowth oc- 

 curred late in the season. In the summer of 1947 there was no evidence of in- 

 jury to the blueberry bushes except a slight twisting of some of the new shoots. 

 However, in the spring of 1948 there was slight evidence that the sprayed bushes 

 were winter injured more than adjoining unsprayed bushes. 



Although the blueberry stunt disease has been present in Massachusetts for a 

 number of years, no indication of its spreading was found until the summer of 

 1947. At that time evidence was found that it was spreading slowly in Plymouth 

 County. In the early summer of 1948 a Grover bush definitely infected and a 

 June bush which looks suspicious were found in the University planting at Am- 

 herst. These are definitely new cases and show that the disease is spreading 

 here, too. 



There are 20 U.S.D.A. selections in the University planting. Ten of these 

 were set in the spring of 1948. Of the other ten, five, which were budded on 

 Rubel stocks several years ago, have fruited. Of these five V-20 looks the most 

 promising. GN-87 looks good enough to warrant further trial. F-72, R-86 

 and U-85 are of doubtful value. 



Studies of Varieties of Fruits. (W. D. Weeks and Staff.) 



Apples. — Galbraith Baldwin, a red sport of Baldwin, which originated in one 

 of the experimental blocks, was introduced to growers and 16 eastern nurseries 

 for their consideration. This strain shows considerable promise and both grow- 

 ers and nurserymen are anxious to obtain propagating wood of it. 



A bud sport of Mcintosh, obtained from Roger Kimball of Littleton, has been 

 found by federal workers to be a tetraploid and offers promise as a parent for 

 breeding. 



Peaches. — The following varieties have been dropped from the trial list: 

 Hardee is not outstandingly hardy under Massachusetts conditions, and the 

 fruit is unattractive in shape, color, and general appearance, and is poor in tex- 

 ture and flavor. 



