46 Experiment Station Bulletin 345 



methods have been recorded and compared. There is little difference in 

 size and color of fruit, but a slightly larger yield from the thinwood 

 pruned trees. (Horticulture Department) 



Spray Management 



The total amount and volume of the spray material applied by 32 

 orchardists was computed and analyzed for a series of five years. It is 

 difficult to make comparison between orchards because of differences 

 in yield, age of trees, and other variables. The best comparison seemed 

 to be on the basis of the normal expected yield from trees of the given 

 age. On this basis the cost of spray material varied from 1.4 to 15 cents 

 per box. Some of the difference in material cost can be accounted for 

 by the number of sprays applied, but some operators apply more material 

 on each spray than others. On 23 of the 32 farms, the cost of material 

 was less than 5 cents per box of apples. 



Since all operators applied the calyx spray, using approximately the 

 same materials with the same objectives in view, a comparison of the 

 cost of materials for this particular spray should indicate the differences 

 in procedure in the various orchards. The cost varied from 0.5 cent to 

 2.7 cents. An important point is that the material cost for the calyx 

 spray on 17 of the farms amounted to one cent or less. 



Under the usual organization of a specialized apple orchard, spraying 

 is an important operation and the cost of the spray material is the chief 

 variable cost factor. The available help and the equipment tend to be 

 fixed cost factors, especially on family-sized specialized fruit farms. Thus 

 on farms that have the equipment to apply spray efficiently, the additional 

 cost of a marginal spray is very small. The decision as to the application 

 of a spray should be based on a comparison of marginal returns expected 

 in better quality of the fruit and the marginal costs which in this case 

 are largely spray materials. 



On this basis, the orchardist with available labor and equipment 

 could afford to put on the additional spray if he estimated it would tend 

 to raise the value of his crop a few cents per box. If he had other high 

 value uses for his available help and for a portion of his equipment, the 

 cost of the "marginal" spray would be higher. The returns expected 

 from the spray would have to be more substantial to make its application 

 economic. 



Some of the producers are omitting one or more of the generally 

 accepted sprays. Since the application of the one spray reduces the actual 

 cash cost on specialized farms only about one cent per box of apples, 

 its elimination is not advisable if there is substantial risk in loss of quality. 

 (Harry C. Woodworth, Mary Geraghty, Byron Peterson) 



Blueberry Improvement in New Hampshire 



Seedlings are being grown from crosses made of selected lowbush 

 blueberries having light blue color and the improved highbush variety. 

 About 50 seedlings were obtained of these crosses and carried over the 

 winter in flats in the greenhouse. These were planted outdoors this 

 spring, but as yet are very small plants. Observations and search for out- 

 standing wild blueberry plants are being continued. 



