19171 EXPERIMENT STATION BECORD. 837 



HORTICULTURE. 



[Report of horticultiiral investigations], M. A. Blake and O. H. Connobs 

 {New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1915, pp. 81-1,1, 5S-€4, pls. 6). — A progress report on 

 horticultural investivations in 1915 (E. S. R., 34, p. 143), including also notes 

 on the general condition of the fruit and vegetable crops in the State, records 

 of blooming dates of various fruits, ornamental trees and shrubs at the college 

 farm, and a list of peach types and varieties added to the plantings at the 

 farm. 



A survey of the peach trees in commercial orchards within a radius of six 

 miles of Hammonton was made by W. N. Ck)wgill, in cooperation with E. 

 Douglas, and a total of 106,025 trees were noted. Tabular data are given 

 showing the varieties of peaches, with age and number of trees of each, to- 

 gether with the five most popular varieties as represented by annual plantings 

 from 1909 to 1915. A bud sport of the Elberta peach discovered near Vine- 

 land a few years ago is here described. The tree is semidwarf and compact 

 in its habit of growth and the foliage a much darker green in color than is 

 the case with any other variety in the orchard. The fruit resembles Elberta 

 in form and color, though the specimens are commonly somewhat longer and 

 more flattened than normal Elbertas. A record is given of seedling peaches 

 growing in the nursery as a result of crosses made in 1914. The peach trees 

 included In this breeding work were covered with tents of cheesecloth in order 

 to better control the process of pollinating. A brief statement is given of 

 progress in the Vineland peach experiments. Data on this work are to be 

 published elsewhere. 



Some abnormal forms of plant growth observed during the year are here 

 described. These include the development of adventitious buds in the base 

 of a bloom of Calendula officinalis, a carnation plant bearing flowers of two 

 colors, fasciation in the apple, superficial injury to peaches, and peculiar 

 markings upon peaches. 



During the past year or two several investigations with vegetables have 

 been started at the station, with L. G. Schermerhorn in charge. A study of 

 garden beet varieties conducted by W. C. Pelton is here reported. Beet seeds 

 of various varieties were secured from several different dealers and grown 

 with the view of comparing their various characters to determine, if possible, 

 a basis for standardizing varieties. The study thus far made indicates that 

 there is no uniform standard for selection among beet-seed growers, there 

 being a notable lack of uniformity in the varietal characters of the stocks. 

 Germination tests of 100 samples of beet seed are here tabulated. 



A study of color zones in beets was made by A. Kuntz. Variation in color 

 of the zones was observed even in the same variety (Crosby Egyptian). Gen- 

 erally speaking, beets with light-green foliage commonly have a large propor- 

 tion of white in the root and beets vdth dark-red foliage a large proportion 

 of red in the root. At least one exception to this rule was noted. Size and 

 vigor of foliage does not appear to affect the width of the zone formation in 

 the root and variation in the number of zones of beets of the same age seems 

 to follow no definite rule. Beets of different ages but having the same number 

 of leaves formed have the same number of zones, providing that number is 

 below five. With the development of more than five zones there appears to 

 be no regular and uniform relation between number of zones and number of 

 leaves. Development of new zones is concentric to a central zone, the new 

 leaves as they appear indicating the development of a new zone farther from 

 the center. 



