152 STATE HOKTICULTrKAI. .SOCIETY. 



irrigation, along the same genei-al lines as those outlined for grapes, to 

 be done in Berrien and Van Bnren counties. 



The committee approved of the Department's plans for further com- 

 parative testing of dusting and spraying od all kinds of fruits and pota- 

 toes; the development of contact dusfs and cheaper and more efficient 

 dust mixtures: the developiu(Mi( of copix-i- (hists foi- grapes, cliorries and 

 potatoes; the development of satisfactory spr(^ad(>rs for insect icid(>s and 

 fungicides, and experiments for the control of pear psylla. pear ami 

 apple seal), peach leaf cuil, l)roAvii lot. grajie leaf hopjier and giai)e 

 berry moth. 



The committee visited the (iraham l^xperimental Farm near Grand 

 Rapids where the following experiments arc being carried on. 



A test to detei'nu"ne the comparative effects of grass sod luulch, alfalfa 

 sod mulch, and clean cultivation with cover crop upon yield and growth 

 of Duchess apple trees and their relative needs of nitrogenous fertilizers. 



An experiment to determine the relative effects of such cover crops 

 as Tvc, millet, vetch, oats, and clover, upon growth and yield of apple 

 trees and to find out which cover crop returns the greatest amount of 

 humus to the soil. 



An experiment with a young orchard to determine the comparative 

 values, costs and effects of glowing apple orchards with sucdi treatments 

 as alfalfa so'd mulch, with and without applications of nitrogen; alfalfa 

 sod with a straw mulch substituted for the hay mulch; and a clover sod 

 with straw substituted for the hay mulch to be compared with a plot in 

 cultivation and cover-crops. 



An experiment to deteimine the time at which nitrogen should be 

 applied to peach orchards and to note the results associated with api)li- 

 cations made at different times. 



A comparative test of sod mulch supplemented with fertilizers and 

 cultivation with cover cropping for sour and sweet cherry orchards. 



A pruning experiment, involving six standard varieties, to determine 

 whether young apple trees should receive no pruning, light pruning or 

 severe pruning during the first eight to twelve years of the orchard's 

 life and to determine if non-pruned trees should be more heavily ferti- 

 lized than pruned trees. 



Because of the disagreement among apple growers as to the amount 

 of pruning young trees should receive, an experiment similar to the 

 above was planned, at the request of the committee, in an orchard of 

 five-year-old Jonathans near Grand Rapids. 



Plans foi' an experiment to determine to what extent biennially bearing 

 varieties of apples can be made to bear in off years or annually through 

 pruning, heavy fertilization oi- a combination of both were discussed and 

 perfected. 



Tentative plans of the department for apple pollination work to 

 determine the degree to which Northern Spy, Duchess and Hyslop Crab 

 are self-sterile and if so what varieties should be interplanted with them, 

 were endorsed by the committee. 



Outlines of plum pollination (experiments to determiiu^ wh(>ther varie- 

 ties of the several groups of plums would serve as efficient pollenizers for 

 othe gioup^ were presented and additional crosses suggested by the 

 committee. The need for cheii\' and jiear ])ollination tests was empiia- 

 sized and |)lans made wlierel)y jjiactical tests will be made Ijy se\-eial 

 growers. 



