Milford chronicle., 1957-12-20
Proudce Future Is
Predicted At Meet


Future developments in the pack
aged fresh produce business were
unveiled on Monday by the exec
utive secretary of the Produce
Packaging Association, New York
City, as the two-day list annual
meeting of the Peninsula Horticul-
tura1 Society began at Elks Hall in
Salisbury. Md.
Robert A. Cooper said shelf-life,
the time produce can be expected
10 remain in good condition in
stores, will be extended with anti
biotics. The principle obstacle to
using the preservatives now, he
said. is improving antibiotics to
gain approval OF them from the
Food and Drug Administration.
Reason for this is what antibio-
tics would be used on produce that
is eaten raw.
Specialists from Delaware round
ed out the first days sessions with
talks on new research findings in
vegetable production. Fruit took
the spotlight on Tuesday with
strawberries. peaches, apples, in
sect and disease control the topics
OF experts from Indiana, Delaware,
Virginia. and Maryland A busi-
ness meeting, including election of
society officers, was slated for
Tuesday.
A second development Cooper
mentioned was an experiment on
the use OF radiation pasteurization
OF produce. This is a method of
bacteria control or preservation by
nuclear bombardment He cited
considerable work on the process
by the Army's Quartermaster
Corps. by private organizations and
educational institutions. Using the
process. Cooper said, is again
matter Of securing clearance from
Food and Drug authorities, and in
acquiring commercial experience
owith the technique.
Another development explained
by the speaker concerned increased
use OF automatic vending equip
ment for packaged produce. The
equipment would not only be used
for individual items, Cooper con-
tinued. but also for more extern
siye lines Of fruits and vegetables
In packaged form. He said a re-
tail chain firm in the midwest is
attempting to use such equipment
in stores where the volume of fresh
produce sold is small, and when
stores are closed.
Irrigation of vegetable crops was
the subject of c. w. Reynolds, Uni
versity OF Maryland, and DR.. ID. ].
Fieldhouse, University of Della
ware. One point mentioned by the
Maryland researcher was that irri-
gated snap beans are likely to re-
spond TO a side-dressing of about
20 pounds of nitrogen per acre,
In addition TO a standard applica-
ton of mixed fertilizer at planting.
This is especially so on sendy
soils, Reynolds said. Irrigated
beans should have a plant popula-
ton of at least Is plants per lin
ear yard of row, he added. DIR.
F1eldhouse said tomato irrigations
early in the fruit enlargement per-
iod have given complete control
OF blossom-end rot. The research
er said a result of irrigations just
prior TO and during the harvest
season was an increase in fruit
size. Yields were increased $50
per cent by irrigation in 1857, pri-
marily from increased fruit size,
he pointed out.
Possible use of a nematocide to
control nematodes on vegetable |
crops was covered by j. G.. Kant |
yes. University of Maryland The |
speaker stated that the nematocide, |
manufactured as Nemagon and as
Fumazone. has given promising
results in nematode control or |
various crops on the Eastern |
Shore" IL has controlled nema-
todes in Strawberries for several |
years. he said. The fumigant can |
be applied as liquid or in granu-
lar form pre-mixed with fertilizer,
Kantzes suggested.
Weed control recommendation
for 1858 vegetables cited by E. NJ.
Rain, University of Delaware hor-
ticulturist, were: Asparagus-mon-l
uron. amino triazole for perennial
broad-leaved weeds, and dalapon
for perennial grasses. Lima and
snap beans-dinitro weed killers;
CDAA for annual grasses. Peas
dinitros. Sweet corn-2,4-D post
emergency for broad-leaved weeds.
For grasses and broad-leaved
weeds. dinitros. Cucumbers, can
taloupes. and watermelons- alan
ap-3. dinitros. Squash and pump
kin-dinitros. Potatoes - dinitros
or diuron., Spinach-CDEC. Seed
beds of cabbage. caulifiower, and
broccoli-CDEC. Seed beds of pep
pers-Stoddard solvent. Tomatoes
No completely satisfactory meth
cd yet Natrin may be used.
Strawberries-Crag sesone. also
try some neburon. For detailed in
structions on chemical weed con-
troll. Rain urged obtaining Della
ware Agricultural Extension Ser
vice Mimeo Circular No. 81. Write
TO Mailing Room. School of Agri-
culture. University of Delaware.
Newark
r. NJ. Dunton. Jr.. Virginia Truck
Experiment Station. said a green
er foliage color was maintained
throughout the growing season
where 10 per cent nitrogen was us
ed in fertilizer treatments i'm a trel-
lis tomato study. In view of this,
he said. the suggestion for fertiliz-
ing trellis tomatoes is 500 pounds
per acre of 1O-10-10 mixed in the
row before planting. and 500
pounds sidedressed and covered