New Britain herald., 1916-02-01
FRUIT GROWERS OF
 STATE IN SESSION
TWenty-dfth Annual Meeting Held
 at Hartford

Hartford, Feb. l-HundredS of fruit growers from all over the state gathered in Foot Guard hall today for the twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Connecticut Pomological so- ciety. There were many women in the audience. The convention wilt continue three days and the annual meeting of the Connecticut Vegetable Growers will be held in connection with it. At the opening of the Pom ological meeting today President Stan cliff Hale of Glastonbury briefly re- viewed the work of the year. Secre- tary H. c. c. Miles of Milford report ed a membership of 9O9 and receipts of $1,101.25.
 Other Reports Read.
 Other reports were from the cont mittees on membership, legislation, exhibits, markets and transportation, publicity and new fruits and vege- tables.
 Reports from the state entomolo- gist, Dr. Britton. and the state botan- ist, Dr. Clinton, were made at the afternoon session.
 Tent CaterpiIIars Abundant.
 pr. w. E. Britton in his report on injurious insects said tent caterpillars were even more abundant in 1915 than in previous seasons. There were altogether too many neglected wild apple and wild cherry trees in. the hedge rows and along the roadside which served as breeding places for the pest Such trees should be removed or given care. The best way would be to brush off the nests as soon as they are large enough in May to be seen. The apple magot was unusually abundant and attacked both the early and the late apples. pr. Britton said the fruit tree leaf roller should be held in check by a lime sulphur spray thor oughly applied just before the leaf buds open, as for san jose scale. The report said that red bugs seemed to be on the increase. Dr. Britton men toned an unusual form. of injury to peach trees, a small brown beetle, i which ate the new leaves and entirely stripped 1000 trees in Wallingford
 In some portions of the state both apple and peach borers did more dam age than usual. The san jose scale, he said is seemingly on the decline, chiefly on account of being parasitized by the small Chalcir fly.
 For the strawberry flea beetles 1 Dr. Britton advised thorough poison 1 ing Of the leaves as soon as the beet | les began to feed.
 New Britain Infested.
 There was but little further spread ] of the brown tail moth in 1914-only 1 Wethersfield, Newington and New l Britain being found infested outside i of the quarantined area. The scout ing for the spread of the insect in 1 1915 had not be completed.
 Suppression work for the gypsy m oth was carried on during the past ] summer, the state and federal forces A force of men worked until after the caterpillar season was over. In twenty towns 305 infestations were found
 Peculiar Conditions.
 Dr. George P. Clinton in his report on fungous diseases said the growing season of 1915 had peculiar condi- tions which affected growing crops fla vorably or unfavorably and likewise the enemies that attacked them. The past season, with it's cool dry spring and it's cool wet summer, , until the middle of August, seemed | to be rather unfavorable for normal or luxuriant plant growth. The drier and warmer late summer and fall, with the absence of frost until very late, offset to a greater or less de-