2'^ EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



meats have been conducted, the author is convinced that the dropping is caused 

 by the rapid growth of the shoots and roots, as well as by the want of some 

 nutriment. The use of the salt packages, it is suggested, serves to furnish a 

 supply of magnesia, which has been found to be low in persimmon trees in the 

 off year The mixture of sodium and magnesium salts thus applied also tends 

 to retard the absorption of water by the roots, thus preventing rapid growth of 

 the roots and shoots with the consequent dropping of fruit. 



Fall versus spring planting of fruit trees, J. C. Whitten (Nat. Nursery- 

 man 19 (1911), No. 11. pp. .n2-/,i-}).— Data showing the actual growth made 

 by apple trees planted at the Missouri Station in the fall as compared with 

 those planted in the spring were recorded for the seasons 1909 and 1910. 



The results, which are here summarized and discussed, show a considerable 

 increase in the growth development of the autumn-planted over the spring- 

 planted trees. It was also noted that new root growth began to form very 

 quickly on the trees planted in autumn, whereas roots did not begin to form 

 abundantly on the spring-transplanted trees until about 2 months after the trees 

 had been transplanted. Wounds caused by root and by branch pruning started 

 to callous quickly in the fail, indicating that the plant food materials were in 

 a condition to be transported and utilized for this puriwse even though there 

 was no visible pushing of the buds or growing tips. Root growth on autumn- 

 transplanted trees appears to continue until the frost reaches the growing 

 root in question. 



Observations on other trees than those included in the present experiment 

 led the author to believe that apples, pears, hardy plums, and cherries gen- 

 erally do better in Missouri if transplanted in autumn than they do when 

 transplanted in the spring. Peach trees and some tender or half-hardy orna- 

 mentals should be transplanted in spring. 



Do orchards need fertilizer? J. P. Stewart (Amer. Agr., 88 (1911), No. 22, 

 pp 522 527).— In answer to this question the author cites evidence ^rom 

 experiments conducted by the Pennsylvania Station during the past 5 years to 

 show that many orchards growing on different types of soil are as much in 

 need of fertilizers as other agricultural crops, although in certain cases no im- 

 portant results from the use of fertilizers have been observed as yet. In short, 

 the fertilizer requirements of a specific orchard can only be accurately deter- 

 mined by experimenting in that orchard. 



Pruning fruit trees, U. P. Hedrick (Neiv York State Sta. Circ. 13, pp. S).— 

 A popular discussion of the principles and operation of pruning with reference 

 to transplanted and newly planted trees and to the subsequent treatment of the 

 orchard for the development of wood and fruit. 



The cost of growing apples, M. C. Burritt (N. Y. Tribune Farmer, 11 

 (1911), No. 523, pp. 1, 2, 18, figs, ^a).— A discussion of the factors which enter 

 into the the cost of producing apples, with tabular records prepared by E. H. 

 Thomson of the V. S. Department of Agriculture showing the cost of develop- 

 ing 3 small orchards in New York State. 



By growing crops between the tree rows and by filling the orchard with 

 earlier bearing fruits, the cost of growing a 6.6-acre apple orchard for an 8-year 

 period was reduced from $124.27 an acre to $44.55 an acre. The cost of a 5-acre 

 apple and peach orchard was likewise reduced from $72.10 an acre to $9.47 

 an acre for the first 4-year period. The cost of a 14-acre apple orchard for the 

 first year was entirely met from intercrops of com, potatoes, and beans. 



An index to illustrations of apples, E. A. Bun yard (Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc. 

 [London], 37 (1911), No. 1, pp. 152-17-',).— ^This index, which has been com- 

 piled to assist those engaged in pomological research, comprises an alphabetical 



