550 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the statistics of imports of fruits and fruit products by decades from 

 1830 to 181)0 aud by years from 1891 to 1807. Imports of many classes 

 of fruits have decreased noticeably in the last few years, owing to the 

 increased home production of these fruits and of others which have 

 been substituted for them. Exports of such fruits as are exported, 

 notably the apple, has steadily increased. Exports of canned and 

 dried fruits of various kinds are becoming very important. In 1807 

 the total exports of fruits, fruit products, and nuts were valued at 

 $7,828,572, as against similar imports to the value of $20,062,782. 



A report on damage to fruit trees caused by the severe freeze 

 of November 26-28, 1896, J. A. Balmer ( Washington Sta. Bui. 30, 

 2jp. 20). — In a preliminary note the use of the nomenclature recom- 

 mended and adopted by the American Pomological Society is urged. 

 During the summer of 1807 the author visited the fruit-growing regions 

 in the Wallawalla, Yakima, and Snake River valleys, and a large 

 number of orchards in the Palouse country and in western Washing- 

 ton, aud has reported in this bulletin the information gathered here 

 concerning the damage done to fruit trees by the unusual cold period 

 of the previous November. Several peculiar effects of the cold were 

 brought out by the study. Of trees under apparently the same condi- 

 tions one may have been severely affected while another of the same 

 variety 25 ft. distant escaped uninjured. The trunks of some Agen 

 prune trees were burst wide open, while others near by were left appar- 

 ently in good order. Certain branches of a tree would be entirely 

 killed while others were scarcely damaged. Detailed reports of 13 

 orchards in the Wallawalla Valley, 13 in the Yakima Valley, and 3 in 

 the Palouse country including that of the station are given, also tables 

 showing the percentage of dead and damaged trees in the Wallawalla 

 and Yakima valleys. The conclusions reached are summarized in sub- 

 stance as follows : 



" On low damp ground the damage to trees was very great, while trees of the same 

 age and variety on drier grounds came through uninjured. Trees with high exposed 

 trunks, especially those leaning from the afternoon sun or from the southwest, were 

 greatly damaged in trunk, while in many cases the limbs and young growth were 

 not affected. Agen prune is tenderer than Italian, Golden Drop, or Pond. Napo- 

 leon cherry is one of the tenderest varieties grown in the State. It suffered every- 

 where in the eastern part of the State, except possibly in the Snake River Valley, 

 Of the popular varieties of apples, Yellow Newtown, Esopus, Yellow Bellflower, and 

 Fall Pippin proved most tender. The hardier varieties are Ben Davis, Blue Pear- 

 main, Jefferis, Fameuse, Twenty Ounce, Red June, Red Astrachan, Gloria Mundi, 

 Missouri, Yellow Transparent, Limber Twig, and Waxen. Seedling peaches proved 

 much hardier than budded trees. Amsden, Elberta, and Foster proved as hardy as 

 any in their class. Alexander proved very tender. The damage was greatest where 

 the land was lowest and where the cold air was held in pockets. In most instances 

 late summer irrigation proved injurious, causing the trees to grow too late in the fall, 

 leaving them in a very tender condition to go into winter quarters. Late cultivation 

 has a similar effect on fruit trees as has late irrigation. It is not safe to cultivate 

 much later than the middle of July. Where orchards were weedy and little cared 

 for, the damage by frost was light; this, however, is no plea for weeds, but goes to 

 show that if trees are encouraged to mature their wood early in the fall they will be 



