146 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Plymouth Rock. — A new variety that as yet does not excel other older 

 Tarieties. Trees vigorous and productive. Fruit of medium size and 

 good (juality. 



Kockport. — Of large size, attractive in appearance and very good qual- 

 ity. Moderately vigorous and productive. 



Yellow Spanish. — An old, well-known variety that is still a valuable 

 sort for home use or market. 



Windsor. — Tree vigorous and productive. Fruit large, heart shaped; 

 color dark red; quality very good. One of the most valuable varieties 

 for home or market. 



Wood. — A very good early variety. Fruit of medium size; color light 

 yellow,, shaded with red; tender for distant market, but valuable for 

 home planting. 



PEACHES. 



There was a heavy crop of peaches. The fruit was large but not sa 

 good in quality, and somewhat lacking in color, especially the late-ripen- 

 ing varieties, which was due no doubt to excessive rains and lack of sun- 

 shine. 



SPRAYING. 



A comparative test was again made to determine how late in the 

 spring the spraying can be done lor "leaf-curl," and satisfactory results 

 secured. One-half of the trees of each variety were sprjayed April 1, 

 with two pounds of copper sulphate to fifty gallons of water, and the 

 remainder were sprayed, April 15, with the same solution (except one 

 tree in each block left unsprayed). The following results were noted: 

 All trnes sprayed April 1 were free from "leaf -curl." Of the trees spray- 

 ed Ai)ril 15, a large number were quite badly affected, and all trees left 

 unsprayed were so badly injured that they lost nearly all of their foli- 

 age. 



For the control of brown rot, after the fruit had set, all trees were 

 sprayed with a weak solution (three-fifths strength) of Bordeaux mix- 

 ture and arsenite of lime. Later, trees of the earlier ripening varieties 

 were sprayed with a solution of three ounces of copper sulphate to fifty 

 gallons of water at intervals of ten to fifteen days, until the fruit rip- 

 ened. The result was that very little rot made its appearance. Amsden^ 

 Triumph and Barnard being slightly affected, and the later peaches not 

 at all. It is very necessary to do the spraying thoroughly to obtain the 

 best results. 



PRUNING. 



Late in the fall of season of 1000, a number of trees were pruned to 

 determine whether there would be any injurious effects on fall-pruned 

 trees. There was no difference noticeable the following season, but 

 when the trees were pruned this year it was noticed that the wounds, 

 from heading back and thinning out branches, had dried out, and in 

 some instances killed back instead of healing over, as they do if pruned 

 in the sjtring, when the sap is flowing. 



In view of this fact, it would seem that the best time to prune is early 

 in the spring, before or at the time the sap begins to circulate. 



