838 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



First report on the fruit experiments at Pusa, A. Howard (Ajjr. Research 

 Inst. Piisa [India], Bill. -'/. 19il6, pp. .'/O). — During the past season a series of 

 experiments was begun at the Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa for the 

 purpose of obtaining information with regard to the growth and management 

 of fruit trees. This repox-t deals with the first year's work, including an account 

 of the establishment of the orchard, and an outline of the experiments in 

 progress. 



Lists are given of all the fruit varieties in the experimental orchards, includ- 

 ing citrus fruits, peaches, plums, custard apples, loquats, guavas, mangoes, 

 figs, bananas, ixjmegra nates, and litchis, together with a row of mixed trees of 

 several other varieties of fruits. Plans are given of the different orchard plats, 

 together with brief notes on the experiments to be undertaken, these to consist 

 of variety and cultural tests and experiments in planting, pruning, and 

 weathering. 



In the case of the citrus fruits a series of stock experiments is also lieing 

 conducted to determine the effect of different stocks on the development of the 

 plant and the character of the fruit. 



Marketing Hawaiian fruits, J. E. IIiggins (Han-aii *S"<a. Bill. I'f, pp. ////, pis. 

 8). — The station has undertaken experiments to determine what fruits can be 

 successfully shipped to the mainland, as well as to investigate methods of pack- 

 ing and shipment and to introduce new kinds of fruit into the market. This 

 bulletin contains a report of experimental shipments of pineapples, avocados, and 

 papaias made in August, 1906. 



The pineapples included in these experiments were secured from 2 of the lead- 

 ing growers, part coming from the lower, dark-colored soils and the remainder 

 from the higher red lands. The fruits of one lot were gathered July 29 and 

 allowed to cure for a day before packing. All the other fruits were gathered on 

 July 29, packed the same day, and shipped, the following morning from Honolulu. 

 Nearly half of tlie shipment was subjected to fumigation with formaldehyde 

 gas in order to determine its effect on the arrest of the development of fungi 

 in the fruit. From a portion of the fruit the bracts were removed and the 

 remainder was shipped with long stems. A part of the fruit was wrapped in 

 paper with the ends closed and the rest with the ends open. Various sized 

 crates were used and part of the shipment was placed in transit in the " 'tween 

 decks " and part on the main deck. The shipment started from Honolulu on 

 August 1 and arrived in Poi'tland, Oreg.. on August 9, when the fruit was 

 inspected. 



The results are tabulated and are summarized in substance as follows: With 

 regard to the use of excelsior as compared with hay as a medium of packing, 

 botii the fumigated and unfumigated stock carried much better in the hay. In 

 both the fumigated and unfumigated stock the results are very markedly against 

 the practice of pulling off the bracts. The fi'uit shipped with long stems gave 

 much better results. Fruit wrapped in paper with the ends closed and those 

 with the ends open gave practically the same percentage of loss in tlie case of 

 unfumigated stock and a reduction in loss as compared with the check lot of 16.8 

 per cent. With the fumigated stock the loss was much greater in the case of 

 fruits wrapped with paper in which the ends were closed. This is attributed to 

 the inability of tlie fumes of the formaldehyde to reach the fruit. The fruits 

 which were allowed to cure in the packing house for one day appeared to have 

 shown a very slight disadvantage, although this experiment is not sufficiently 

 complete to warrant a definite conclusion. On the whole, there was a marked 

 diminution in the loss when the pineapples were fumigated with formaldeliyde. 

 In regard to the fruit from dark soils as compared with that from red soils, 

 the results thus far suggest that the fruits from the lower dark fields may be 



