Continued from last^ week

Continued from last^ week

HORTICULTURE

Getting figures to measure results is a job. Our committee said we should destroy old and off variety trees, continue to combat scab, rusts, bitter pit, blight, brown rot, leaf roller, aphids, mites, miners, etc. Maintain quality, etc.

Results: We know the following trees and varieties were done away with: Yorks 700; Stayman[ 200; Grimes 25-30; Blacktwig 60:/ Pippin 25-30; Rome- 10-15 and Bonum 200. In addition 23 acre orchard was bulldozed, and three others partially deplaced.

Where sites were good, new and replantings were recommended with new popular varieties. One tree salesman reported selling: 2350 Bisby; 330 Winesap; 325 other Red Sports of Delicious and 250 Golden Delicious.

Five orchardists were assisted in reworking trees. Hort School was arranged, full day's program, with 24 Rappahannock orchardists attending. Spray service cards were sent to'81 apple growers and 38 peach growers. Pruning demonstrations- held... .14 present. Two apple picking schools held 20 local pickers present and 15 transient laborers attended the school. Our two packing houses gave following report on quality maintenance as compared to 1958. Cause of damage: from bruises and breaks, Sperryville less, all but Stayman; ^Vashington, no worse. Insect injjury, Sperryville and Washington both reported less. Disease Sperryville reported Jess, and Washinton'much less. The sales manager at one co-op reported on September, October and November sales as folows:

1958 1959 - 20,136 bu. 'Extra Fancy 20,409

7,27£bu. Fancy 12,057

NcT'cotnparative figures are available on total pack of packing varieties produced in 1959. as compared to a year earlier; however, the concensus is that the ’59 crop .was 90-95% of that in ’58; if so, then the above could represent an increase in the over-all quality of fruit.

4-H projects in the area of tree fruits were outlined by your coun