426 REPORT OF OFFlCi; OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



insects, or of proper fertilization and cultivation, it will not be prac- 

 ticable. If there is a marked lack of vigor in the tree cutting off one 

 or two of the main branches a year will be a safer method, thus reju- 

 venating the tree gradually. 



At the New Mexico Station'^ three methods of cutting back old 

 peach trees were tried. In the first place branches 5 or 6 years old 

 were cut back to stubs 4 or 5 feet high, in the second only wood 3 to 

 4 years old was taken off, and in the third only 2-year old wood 

 removed. A good growth was secured in all cases, but on the trees 

 which were pruned back most severely the bearing wood was brought 

 nearer to the ground, which, of course, was an advantage in harvest- 

 ing. It is urged that this vigorous pruning be not put off until the 

 tree is in a rapid decline. 



HARVESTING AND SHIPPING PEACHES. 



RIPENING. 



The chemical changes which occur in the ripening of peaches were 

 studied by W. D. Bigelow and H. C. Gore, of this Department.^ The 

 work of analysis began immediately after the June drop. The fruit 

 was examined again when the stone began to ripen, when the fruit 

 was market ri])e, and when fully ripe. The data secured showed that 

 the peach contained no starch at any stage of its growth. Between 

 the time of the June drop and market ripeness the peach increased 

 in size about eight times. The weight of the sugar in the pulp 

 increased nearly eight times, and the sucrose and acids increased con- 

 siderably more than this. The various forms of nitrogenous sub- 

 stances all increased in weight from the beginning to the end of the 

 period of observation. Between market ripeness and full ripeness 

 considerable growth took ])lacc, there being an increase in both water 

 and solid content and in reducing sugars and sucrose. 



SHIPPING PEACHES. 



As a result of experiuients in ship])ing fruits to Winnipeg, J. B. 

 Re5Tiolds states " that the best possible results were secured when the 

 fruit for shipping had been left on the tree until it had attained its full 

 size. It was jMcked while still firm, but before the yellow tints, sig- 

 nificant of ri])eness, l)egan to ap])ear. 



IT. M. Striugfellow calls attention'' to the sj^ecially good keeping 

 ((uality of peaches grown in sod orchards. He sent peaches from 

 Texas to Richmond, Va., Rochester, N. Y., and Harrisburg, Pa., 



«Ne\v Mexico Sta. Bui. 39. 



t>\J. S. Dt'pt. -Vgr., Hurt'im oi (.'iK-iuistry Hiil. !t7. 



'•Ontario Agr. Rov., 17 il904), No. 3. 



d Texas Farm and Kaiidi, 24 (1905), No. 38. 



