Dear Homeowner,
I am writing this letter to follow up on your interest in participating in our apple-bagging project this summer. We are approaching the time when we will need to put the bags on the apples to provide protection from apple maggots.
I am enclosing a postcard to indicate your interest in the project. Please fill it out and return it immediately. When I receive your positive reply, I will send the instruction sheet and materials to you so that the bags can be applied by July 1st.
What’s your commitment? First of all, I need you to follow the directions and steps so that the research is consistent and meaningful. I am asking for 15 apples per tree variety. These will be sent back to me next fall when they are ripe.
The experiment will consist of three trials consisting of five apples each. Sample 01 will be plastic baggies, 02 will be our control and 03 will be a zip lock type bag. Each of the apples should be randomly selected on your tree. Each apple needs to be identified using a code. The code will consist of state, county, your name, variety, trial number, and apple number. During the growing season I need you to record any activities associated with that apple tree. If you are spraying your trees, I need to know when they are sprayed. If a windstorm or hail comes through I need to know the date and the amount of damage. I also need you to record if any of the individual apples fall off the tree during the summer. Next fall the apples will be sent back to our office where we will evaluate the damage done by the apple maggot. From this information I will send you a report on the results of the project.
There will be no cost for you to participate in the project. I will provide the bags and postage for mailers to send the apples back to our office
Thanks for expressing an interest in the project. If you have any further questions give me a call at the above number.
Sincerely,
Extension Educator