EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



459 



TABLE 10. HOLDING TEST ON SALWAY PEACHES^ 1921. 



The results were very good, especially when it is considered that the last 

 application was made a full month before the fruit was picked. 



EXPERIMENTS AT HART. 



A series of experiments was conducted at Hart in the orchards of Geo. A. 

 Hawley and Son and included peaches and plums. The varieties of plums 

 were Lombard, Monarch and Grand Duke. The peaches were Wark, Hill's 

 Chili and Gold Drop. This work was planned for the one purpose of deter- 

 mining if sulphur dust would improve the holding and shipping quality of 

 the fruit by retarding the development of brown rot after harvest. The 

 plots used for this work were distinct from the ones mentioned elsewhere in 

 connection with experiments for the control of leaf-spot. All trees had had 

 uniform treatment up to the time these experiments were begun. The 

 previous treatment will be mentioned in connection with each experiment or 

 group of experiments. 



Monarch and Grand Duke Plums. Plots in orchards of each of these 

 varieties were dusted on August 17 wdth a dusting mixture containing: 90 

 per cent dusting sulphur, 10 per cent hydrated lime. 



This dusting was done under favorable conditions using about three- 

 fourths of a pound of material per tree. Similar plots of each variety were 

 left untreated at this time. All of the trees in both plots of the two varieties 

 had been treated the same until this time. Two applications of dilute lime- 

 sulphur spray had been made; the first just as the shucks were falling, about 

 May 15, and the second the last week of June. There was no evidence of rot 

 on any of these trees at harvest and, in fact, rot has not been noticeable in 

 these orchards in recent years. There was considerable rainfall after August 

 17, when the dust was applied, which of course made conditions more favorable 

 for rot development and tested the sticking quality of sulphur dust upon the 

 waxy surface of the nearly mature plums. This particular point was given a 

 more severe test on the Monarchs as there was a heavy rain after the Grand 

 Dukes had been picked and before the Monarchs were ready. The treatment 

 was given a severe test in another way on the Grand Dukes. The fruit was 

 picked on August 22 and packed in baskets in the orchard, and paper pads 

 were used under the covers. Before they were placed under shelter the 

 baskets were thoroughly soaked by a sudden shower. The paper pads of 

 course became wet and were still wet on August 30 when the fruit was 

 examined. The results are shown in tables 11 and 12. 



