HORTTCl'LTURE. 1087 



HORTICULTURE. 



Report of the horticulturist, M. A. Blake and Jennie A. Vooriiees {New 

 Jersey Stas. lipt. 1907, pp. 93-133, 136-13S, pis. 10). —At the college farm the 

 lonj; contiiUK'il investipitions with orchard, small fruits, and asparaj;us, which 

 have be(Mi reported on froui year to year (E. S. R., 19, p. 044), were droi)i)ed, 

 as the work was jiractically completed. Some new lines of work, including 

 further experiments with apples and several strawberry tests, were taken up, as 

 well as an experiment with sterilized manure to control the mushroom majigot 

 which is elsewhere noteii (see p. 1055). The fertilizer experiments with apples, 

 asparagus breeding, and peach experiments at High Bridge have been con- 

 tinued. Another experimental peach orchard of 675 trees was set out at 

 Vineland last spriug. 



The experiments inaugurated in the new peach orchards at High Bridge in 

 lOtHi and at Vineland in l!t07 deal largely with the determination of expense 

 and returns under iip-to-date cultural methods, and the investigation and demon- 

 stration of the best methods of fertilization, pruning, sftraying, and general 

 management, as well as the picking, shipping, and marketing of the fruit. A 

 detailed account is given of the work under way at both orchards. The High 

 Bridge orchard, consisting of 1,032 trees, was set out in the spring of 1906. The 

 total cost of trees, fertilizer, labor, and setting, etc., was $185.09. The expenses 

 of the orchard for the first season after setting, including care and the market- 

 ing of a corn crop, was $50.29, but $69.86 was received from the sale of corn 

 and stalks, leaving a balance over cost of cultivation of $19.57. The cost per 

 tree at the end of the first year was 16 cts., and the net cost of the orchard 

 f.t the end of the first season $.33.10 per acre. Considerable tabular data are 

 given showing the amount of annual growth made on the various plats in the 

 summer of 1906. The Vineland orchard, consisting of 675 trees, was set out 

 last spring, truck crops being grown between the trees. The total cost for 

 planting and management for the first season was $202.55, but $93.69 was re- 

 ceived for the vegetables, leaving a balance of $108.86 as the cost of the orchard 

 for the first season. 



A study was made of the brown rot of peaches, which caused much injury in 

 the State during the past season, and suggestions are given for its control. The 

 sand cherry and Americana plum are being tried as peach stocks to control the 

 peach borer. No borers appeared in any of the trees prop.-igated upon the sand 

 cherry during the sjiring, although they were present in the young trees propa- 

 gated ui»on peach roots nearby. With the view of determining their commercial 

 value, records of the yields of the trees upon these stocks are to be kept and a 

 study is to be made with reference to growing the trees so that they will not 

 overgrow the stock at the union and become liable to breakage. 



Some further data are given relative to the trial of various preservatives on 

 greenhouse benches (E. S. K., 19, p. 644). Of the better preservatives, the 

 bench treated with carbolineum is now showing some decay. An application of 

 copper sulphate followed by cement gave better results than copper sulphate 

 alone. Coal tar preserved the wood e<iually as well as copper sulphate fol- 

 lowetl by cement. A solution of copiier sulphate followed by whitewash ap- 

 pears to be the best preservative tested. Benches receiving one spraying of 

 copper sulphate and three of plain whitewash appeared to be as well preserved 

 as those receiving two sprayings of copiier sulphate and three of whitewash. 

 One pound of copjier sulphate is sufticient for 40 ft. of board surface. 



The new experiments with strawberries consist of an extensive variety test 

 and the comparison of muriate and sulphate as sources of potash for straw- 

 berries. A similar fertilizer exi)eriment is being conducted with ai)pU's. The 



