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ence between them. One peach tree from the pruned and 

 one from the unpruned lots have died. The pears are a per- 

 fect stand. Certainly so far no increased vigor has been ob- 

 served in the root pruned trees ; but on the other hand no 

 disadvantage can be detected, and the conditions could hardly 

 have been more severe. What the final difference will be, 

 if any, on the health and longevity of the trees, of course, 

 remains to be seen. 



The Blooming Season or Plums. 



The flowers of many varieties of plums are now known to 

 be infertile to their own pollen. In order to produce full cicps 

 it is necessary that the flowers receive pollen from some other 

 variety. To insure this cross pollenation it is necessary to 

 mingle different varieties in the orchard and not plant large 

 blocks of any one kind. Since different varieties of plums 

 have slightly different blooming seasons it becomes necessary 

 to carefully note the blooming habit of each variety, in order 

 to so mate the kinds that those standing near each other in 

 the orchard shall bloom at the same season. 



At the South the difference in the blooming season of dif- 

 ferent kinds is much greater than at the North. The proper 

 mating of varieties is consequently even more important here 

 than there; nor can we be guided by Northern experience, 

 since the sequence of blooming is often quite different here.* 



The following notes on the blooming of plums on the 

 Station grounds are published as a contribution to this im- 

 portant subject. 



In 1896 the blooming season was rather late. On March 2 

 some varieties were almost in bloom, but none were quite 

 open. 



March 9 : 



Abundance — buds separated, not opening. 



Babcock — just opening. 



* For a fall discussion of this subject, with tables giving the bloom- 

 ing season of the different varieties at the North, see Bulletin 53 of the 

 Vermont Experiment Station, by F. A Waugh. 



