142 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



station, together with notes on u hirge nunihor of vegetal>les. and small and tree 

 fruits grown. 



The parthenocarpie or virgin fruitfulness of fruit trees, K. Ewert (Die 

 Parthcnocarpie odcr Jiiiifffenifriichtigkrit dcr Ohsthiiiniir. Berlin: Paul Parey, 

 1907, pp. 57, fig-s. IS). — The author's experiments in the determination of the 

 relation of the productiveness of apples to the hiology of the flowers were con- 

 tinued during the season of 19(tr.. Previous results (E. S. R., 17, p. 1150) were 

 corroborated, in addition to which a new phase in orchard culture is advanced, 

 viz, the development of fruit without fertilization or " parthenocarpie." 



In the present work the author describes his method of procedure together 

 with the experiments conducted in the artificial production of seedless fruit. 

 both in the greenhouse and on trees growing out of doors. Although he has 

 .succeeded in producing seedless apples and pears of the size and quality of 

 normal fruit, the hard cores are still present. 



The planting of varieties showing a tendency to produce seedless fruit is 

 believed to be advisable so that the supply of fruit may be maintained even 

 when, for some reason or other, cross-fertilization has not taken place. 



Report on the results obtained from the summer pruning of fruit trees 

 {Ganl. Chron., 3. ser.. ',1 (l!l<i7), So. 1069, pp. J,(i(>-',OS : J,06, Ji07). — In order to 

 obtain a large number of opinions with regard to the practice of summer prun- 

 ing, the Gardners' Chronicle recently sent out a list of questions on the subject 

 to correspondents Interested in fruit culture in different parts of Gi'eat Britain 

 and Ireland. The information thus secured is presented in tabular form. 



With respect to the date of pruning, it appears. that some operators commence 

 in June and others as late as August, but the great majority in July. Plums 

 are generally treated before apples and pears. More than 150 report satisfac- 

 tory results from summer pruning, while only 85 express doubts as to the value 

 of the practice. The results as tabulated are discussed editorially, and refer- 

 ence is made to the experiments conducted on the Duke of Bedford's experi- 

 mental fruit farm, as noted below, which have not been favorable to summer 

 pruning. 



Seventh report of the Woburn Experimental Fruit Farm, Duke of Bedford 

 and S. r. Pickering {Wtihiini Erpt. Fruit Farm Rpt.. 7 {1907) . pp. .76. pis. 

 /,).^This report deals with the results of pruning experiments, chiefly on apple 

 trees, of which records have been kept for the last 12 years. The problems 

 considered include the effect of branch pruning on growth and crop, summer 

 pruning, cutting back transplanted, injured, or ailing trees, and the pruning of 

 older trees. The results secured prior to 1!M)5, based on the measurements of 

 tree height, spread of the branches, and diameter of the stems, have been 

 reported and noted (E. S. K., 17, p. 559). 



In 1905 more than half the trees were dug up and weighed, and the tree- 

 weights appear to more than substantiate the previous tree measurements in 

 proving that the less a tree is pruned the hirger and heavier it becomes. The 

 details of the investigations are explained and 'discussed at length, and the 

 results, together with the authors' conclusions, are summarized. 



The main series of experiments were conducted chiefly on dN^arf apple trees 

 on ]);!radise stock, with three varieties possessing very different hai)its of 

 growth. At the end of 12 years those not pruned at all were 20 per cent heavier 

 than those which were moderately pruned, whereas the hard-pruned trees were 

 16 per cent lighter. Since the difference in weight between the unpruned and 

 moderately pruned trees is greatly in excess of the wood removed by pruning, 

 it is concluded that pruning does not increase the actual size of the tree, but 

 even results in less new wood being formed. When similar l)ranches on the 

 same tree were pruned to different extents it was found that the less the 



