42 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. [Vol.36 



were used in the experiments, and comparisons were made between trees dug in 

 the fall and stored over winter in a nursery storehouse, trees dug in the spring 

 and allowed to dry out through improper handling, and freshly dug trees. 

 The following pruning treatments were used : Not pruned and cut back to 36, 

 30, 24, 18, 12, and 6 in. trunks, respectively. Observations were made at the 

 close of the growing season and are here presented in tabular form and fully 

 discussed. 



The work as a whole is summarized as follows : " One-year-old peach trees 

 of a f or i in. grade made the largest average total growth. The larger the 

 trees the poorer is the growth when unpruned at planting time. The smaller 

 the trees, the greater is the damage if the trees are allowed to become dry before 

 planting. 



" The largest average total growth regardless of the grade was made by trees 

 cut to a 36 in. trunk when set except in the case of dried-out trees. Trees cut 

 to 12 in. trunks when set made the next largest average total growth.. The 

 smallest average total growth occurred when trees were cut to 18 in. trunks 

 when set. 



" Trees of a t in. grade made the largest amount of growth when cut back 

 to 6 in. trunks when set. Trees as large as f in. or larger were depressed in 

 growth when cut back to 6 in. trunks. 



" Trees in general failed to develop branches well upon the 12 to 24 in. section 

 of the trunk. It was later observed that very few well-developed buds occur 

 upon this section of the tree under average conditions. The largest total 

 number of branches was found to occur in the lengths from 7 to 12 in. The 

 largest average total number of branches of all lengths occurred in the 36 in. 

 treatment, with the 12 in. treatment second. The number of branches of all 

 lengths is, therefore, apparently correlated with the amount of growth. 



" The unpi'uiied trees developed the smallest number of branches that were 

 more than 24 in. in length. The 36 in. trees developed the largest number of 

 branches that were more than 24 in. in length. The 6 in. treatment resulted 

 in the formation of the largest number of branches 40 to 50 in. in length. The 

 12 in. treatment gave the largest number of branches 37 to 40 in. in length. The 

 18 in. treatment gave the largest number of branches 30 to 36 in. in length. 

 The 24 in. treatment gave the largest number of branches 25 to 30 in. in length. 



" We may, then, conclude that the more severe the pruning the greater the 

 tendency to produce long brandies. It should be noted, further, however, that 

 so-called main branches are reduced in number when the trees are cut to 6 in. 



" One-year peach trees from the nursery start into growth best when planted 

 in the orchard if there are well-formed buds just below the point where the tree 

 is cut back. The number of such buds varies at different points along the 

 trunk of a nursery tree. Buds are found to be most numerous at the 36 to 42 

 in. space followed in order by the 42 to 48 and the to 6 in. spaces. Buds are 

 found to be least numerous at the 6 to 12 in. space followed in order by the 

 12 to 18 and the 24 to 30 in. spaces. 



" Peach trees at the time of planting should be pruned somewhat according 

 to grade and the character of the stock, and not according to some definite 

 height regardless of all other factors." 



A financial statement of the experiment station peach orcliard, C. A. Mc- 

 CuE (Dclatvare Sta. Bui. US {1916), pp. 3-21). — This comprises a detailed sur- 

 vey of the cost of growing peaches in the station orchard of some 1,000 trees 

 during the period 1908 to 3915, inclusive. 



Starting out with an original investment for land of .$100 an acre the orchard 

 was .still in debt ifjOO.G") at the end of the sixth year. The combined profits 



1 



