WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6, 1988 Station Notes NEW RASPBERRY COMBINES LARGE SIZE WITH FALL-FRUITING A new raspberry that combines the best attributes of both of its "parents" was introduced last week. RUBY ™, (cultivar "Watson"), is the result of a cross between "Heritage," perhaps the most widely grown raspberry in the world, and "Titan." Both are themselves the product of Station breeding programs. Heritage contributed to the fall-fruiting characteristic, while Titan supplied the attribute of larger size. RUBY is described by Dr. John C. Sanford as averaging "half-again as large as Heritage," a berry introduced in 1969. Titan made its debut only three years ago. "We are pleased that this variety has reached commercial growers as quickly as it has," said Sanford, who was assisted in the breeding effort by research support specialists Kevin Maloney and Jack Reich. "Thanks to vigorous work by the NYS Fruit Testing Cooperative, we were able to multiply RUBY, (originally known as NY114) and distribute it widely for testing in a very short period of time. "The testing was conducted in several geographic areas. This is unquestionably going to be a useful commercial berry, especially in areas such as California," Sanford said. Sanford expects some commercial utilization of the new berry in the Northeast, but doesn't recommend it for backyard gardeners in Pennsylvania, New York and New England. "Considerable grower skill is needed because of the necessary care these plants require in areas with relatively high precipitation," Sanford said. High moisture, for any raspberry variety, leads to fungal disorders that can negatively affect the plant's general health and its yield. This is particularly true o f RUBY which can be damaged severely by Botrytis fruit rot and Phytophthora root rot. "Our tests and observations indicate considerably larger size, a more conical (rather than round) shape, and a good shipping life," Sanford said. "Taste panels say the new raspberry is as good in flavor as its highly popular parent, Heritage." The cultivar designation is in honor of John Watson, a recently retired fruit breeder who for many years bred new varieties of plums and contributed substantially to the Station's raspberry, grape and strawberry breeding programs. CREDIT UNION PLANS RETIREMENT SEMINAR Where will you be in the year 2020? That question is pertinent, whether you are 25, 35, or 50. And, your ability to answer is getting more important each year if your future is going to be something to look forward to. To learn more about retirement planning, for yourself or other members of your family, plan to attend the Cornell Federal Credit Union Workshop "2020 Visions." Jeanne Hogarth, Assoc. Professor, Dept, of Consumer Economics and Housing, NYS College of Human Ecology, will be the main speaker. She is state leader for Cornell Cooperative Extension programs in the area of family resource management, particularly financial management. This seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m in the Jordan Hall auditorium, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, and is open to the general public. For reservations please call Charlene Dunham, Personnel Office, 315-787-2203. STATION PEOPLE 1 n DAYS WITHOUT _H_A_V_E_N_O_W__W_O_R_K_E_D___A__/__A__L_O_S_T-_T_IM__E_A_C_C_I_D_E_NT__ J « rLTUi Numerous Issues Discussed by Safety Committee 129 EMPLOYEES TRAINED TO USE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN '88 Fire safety, transportation of gases, chemical spills, eye washes, and disposal of hazardous wastes were all discussed at the last meeting of the Station’s Safety Committee. There was an excellent turnout of employees for the fire extinguisher course. Gus Curtiss, chief fire warden, reported that 129 employees were trained this year compared to 94 in 1986. It was also noted that fire drills are being held regularly (two or three per year per main building). Cooperation of employees has been excellent except some problems have occurred in Barton Laboratory with getting people to evacuate the building. It was stressed that fire drills are to be taken seriously by all employees. Although Farm Services provides a monthly service of picking up liquid nitrogen and compressed gases in Ithaca, a number of project leaders still find it necessary to make interim trips for additional supplies. Cornell Life Safety states that sedans, station wagons, minivans, etc. are not to be used for transporting these gases. Our own Food Science and Technology Department has a pickup that can be used to transport gases. Roger Cullen (x256) should be contacted for use of this vehicle. Another alternative, if a department has a lot of gases to bring from Ithaca, is to rig one of its own fleet vehicles for this use. Placarding is CALENDAR OF EVENTS Tuesday, November 8, 10:30 a.m., 348 Morrison Hall, Ithaca: CALS department chairs meeting Wednesday, November 9, 10:00 a.m., 401 Warren Hall, Ithaca: CALS administrative managers meeting required if the total weight of the cylinders and gases exceeds 1,000 pounds. Also, cylinders must be properly secured when being transported. If individuals need liquid nitrogen or compressed gases from Ithaca, they should contact Glenn McGuigan (x296) who will be glad to pick them up when going for college stores once a month. In other business, the matter of chemical spills was discussed. At Geneva, minor spills are routinely cleaned up by those spilling the item. However, if the spill is more than minor, Buildings and Properties should be notified immediately by calling the Emergency Number (x499). B&P has equipment to handle such spills in cooperation with individuals in the laboratory who are knowledgeable about the chemicals involved. B&P personnel will also notify Cornell Life Safety or the Office of Environmental Health if necessary. Spills of radioactive materials are handled by a specific set of procedures clearly identified in laboratories where these materials are used. Should such a spill occur, these prescribed procedures are to be followed explicitly. A meeting will be convened soon of users of animal facilities on campus to determine what or whether certain rooms should be posted and who should be assigned responsibility for cleaning rooms used for animals. Finally, discussions were held relative to disposal of laboratory materials. The procedure for disposing of organisms is autoclaving. Waste hazardous chemicals can be best handled by contacting A1 Meaden in the Food Research Laboratory (x287). If individuals have major questions about disposal, they should contact Environmental Health at 8-5-4862. Good contacts there are either Robin Goodloe or Judy Crawford. W ednesday, November 9, 4:00 p.m., director's office: Geneva department chairs meeting W ednesday, November 9, 6:30 p.m., Belhurst Castle: Retirement dinnerfor Dr. Lamb Wednesday, November 9, 7:00 p.m., staff room, Jordan Hall: Finger Lakes Stamp Club Thursday, November 10, 1:00 p.m., staff room, Jordan Hall: Geneva administrative managers meeting Saturday, November 12, 10:00 a.m., Jordan Hall: Station Craft Show and Book Sale HEALTH INSURANCE TO BE DISCUSSED NOV. 15 November is the open transfer period in which to change health insurance and/or select benefits. Representatives from the NYS Finance & Business Office, Ithaca, will be in the Jordan Hall Auditorium Tuesday, November 15 between 1 and 2 p.m. to explain changes in coverage. Watch your home mail for further information. GUESS WHO'S BEHIND THESE CREATIVE HALLOWEEN GET-UPS 'itoijvjjswiuipy ‘vsoyoQ oj sS u o p q qounq difl ui advuS jsaSuijiws oqj ‘3<\oqy -uoipi{^ s^Sojo uio iug si ( j p J puv duiM. u^ojoiqo Jo jno dpvm 3i{ qoiqM) munisoo llsndQll uojovuznp uoouvo oip pmqaq .‘£8oiow ojug a v ‘d vup) v u u o q puv jp u v jg s i o j ‘udjjy a jw v f sapnpui S9jj3]Mog £pi l J ° o u j 31{1 ‘ifsj w ou j THREE SURPLUS STATION VEHICLES OFFERED FOR SALE The following Station vehicles are being offered for sale to the highest bidders. Bids will be accepted in the Station’s Business Office until 1:59 p.m. on Friday, November 18, 1988. If you are a successful bidder, a check for the entire amount of the bid payable to the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station must be submitted within three working days. Bids should NOTE UPCOMING HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Those wishing to plan ahead for vacation or family tiips, meetings, etc. during the remainder of 1988 may wish to make a note of the following holiday schedule: Thanksgiving- Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25 Winter Holiday- Monday through Friday, December 26 through December 30, and the day following New Years Day, Monday, January 2. Wherever possible, Station operations will be suspended on the dates listed above. And, as usual, there will be no Station Notes during these two holiday weeks. be in sealed envelopes. Be sure your name, department, and telephone number are included with the bid. 1970 Chevrolet Van, license B68146, 6 cylinder, standard transmission, 37,867 miles, condition is fair. 1974 Ford Pickup, license B73613, 6 cylinder, standard transmission, has cap, 58,810 miles, condition is fair. 1980 Ford Station Wagon, license B74964, 8 cylinder, automatic transmission, 97,907 miles, condition is fair. Vehicles may be inspected at the Station’s garage. Gerry Henderson will be glad to answer any questions that you might have about condition of the vehicles. FIRE-WISE ADVICE Do you periodically check the appliances in your home for frayed or worn cords, loose plugs or even damaged cases? Does the appliance emit unfamiliar buzzes, hums, or an objectionable odor? Discontinue using the appliance at once and have it inspected. Be a fire-wise homeowner today. A safety message from Cornell Life Safety Services. PRESERVE DEMOCRACY! 50TH ANNUAL NY STATE PEST MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE SET More than two dozen Station scientists will play prominent roles in the Fiftieth Annual NYS Pest Management Conference scheduled for this week at Ithaca's Holiday Inn. The Conference, which runs Nov. 7 through 10, is dedicated to a review of the highlights of the past year's research efforts and a discussion of insect, weed and plant-disease control strategies for 1989 and beyond. Die 5th Annual IPM Workshop will be held in conjunction with the Conference. VOTE ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 8 Jim Tette, IPM, will represent the NYS IPM Program. Tom Burr and George Schaefers will chair the Tuesday morning and afternoon sessions respectively. In addition, more than 20 faculty members and support specialists will make presentations, together with speakers from the Station's satellite facilities and from Comell-Ithaca. OVER 200 VINTAGE BOOKS DONATED FOR NOV. 12 SALE A highlight of the Wednesday banquet will be a talk by American Agriculturalist editor Gordon Conklin who will speak on "Beyond Live Fences." Collectors and book lovers will have a golden opportunity to add vintage books, some a hundred years old, to their home libraries during the 11th annual Craft Fair and Book Sale scheduled for Jordan Hall November 12. The opportunity is the result of a donation of more than 200 books from the estate of Frank Hall. Hall was editor/librarian at the Station in the early 1900s. These publications will be among hundreds of others ranging from mysteries and romantic novels to children’s books and records offered for sale to benefit the NYSAES Library. Sharing the auditorium will be more than 30 tables of one-of-a-kind items made by area craftspeople. These will include Christmas items, wood carvings, ceramics, tinware, baked goods, needlework and more. Throughout the day, refreshments in the form of homemade chili, soups, hot spiced cider and coffee will be served. The sale begins at 10 a.m. and runs until three in the afternoon. Mary-Howell Martens, HS, is coordinator of the event. She is assisted by Mary Lou Dumbleton, Admin., Paul and Mary Robbins, Ent., and Rose McMillen-Sticht, Plant Pathology. Station Librarian Mary Van Buren is in charge of the Book Sale. RACQUETBALL LADDER R. Petzoldt def. Lewis; Harman def. Simon, Woodams def. Kovach. 225 Rixana Petzoldt 251 Matt Lewis 203 Jason Boyd 390 Jim McFerson 390 Phil Forsline 315 Tom Bun206 Curt Petzoldt 335 Wayne Wilcox 265 Ed Woodams 209 Joe Kovach 246 Gary Harman 239 Bruce Reisch 245 Chuck Simon CLASSIFIEDS WANTED: Occasional ride from Penn Yan area to Station. Call Jack at ext. 229. FOR SALE: Infant car seat. Call 789-7286. WANTED: Floor lamp, child backpack carrier. Call 789-7286. FOR RENT: One-bedroom basement apartment. $285 per month plus deposit. Call Joyce at 781-0438. FOR RENT: Two, lovely, spacious rooms with kitchen and laundry privileges, semi-private bath on South Main St. May be rented by the day, week, or month. Call Joyce at 781-0438.