REPORT OF ASSOCIATE HORTICULTURIST. 



J. C. C. Phice. 



Professor J. F. Duggar, Director, 

 Experiment Station, 

 Auburn, Alabama. 

 Sir: 



I hereby submit report of tlie work under way in the 

 Department of Horticulture for the year 191G. Professor 

 Ernest Walker was head of the Department until September 

 first, at which time he resigned, and I have had charge of the 

 work only from that date until the present time. 



The experimental work being conducted by this department 

 is as follows: 



Apples: Bloom notes and notes on yields of apples were 

 continued, but since there are but few trees in the orchard, 

 and only six of any one variety, the yield notes do not possess 

 much of value. 



Peaches: We continued our bloom notes, yield notes and 

 notes on disease resistance for about twenty varieties for home 

 aud commercial use. Some excellent data have been secured. 

 We have under way some pruning experiments to determine 

 the relative effect of winter and summer pruning. 



Pecans: Twelve varieties are now growing on the Station 

 grounds that promise good results. We are comparing differ- 

 ent methods of grafting and budding of the pecan, with indica- 

 tions that valuable results will be secured. 



Pears: An experiment which has tieen running for a number 

 of years to note the result of the use of potash as a preventive 

 of "fire blight" is still being carried on, but owing to the 

 scarcity of potash it seems that we may have to abandon this 

 for the incoming year. We have planted a variety pear orchard 

 consisting of eighteen of the leading varieties. A part of these 

 trees should yield their first crop in 1917. 



Grapes: Our variety vineyard was planted to test variety 

 adaptability and disease resistance of this fruit. It gives 

 promise of excellent results. The early freeze of the present 



