'226 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In an experiment in im(>ating- 3 rows of tomatoes, eacli by a diifer- 

 cnt method, the rows so treated gave a larger yield than check rows 

 not snpplied with water, but the best method of irrigation was not 

 decided upon. 



All the named varieties of peas offered by American seedsmen which 

 had not been previously tried and discarded were grown, the objects 

 being to determine the respective values of the varieties under the sta- 

 tion conditions, to determine the duplicate and synonymous varieties, 

 and to ascertain if any of the varieties could be further improved. It 

 >Yas found that the different varieties of peas were very liable to lose 

 their original characteristics, especially in regard to the seed. 



D-warf apples, E. G. Lodeman (Neiv York Cornell Sta Bui. 116, pp. 

 317-315j Ji(j!^. 5). — This bulletin discusses the subject of dwarfing in 

 general, with remarks upon the effect of checking the movement of sap 

 in fruit trees. The circulation of the sap in fruit trees is popularly 

 explained according to the principles of plant physiology, and the 

 method of obtaining greater fruitfulness by means of i)artially girdling' 

 trees or encircling them with tightly constricting bauds is discussed 

 The dwarfing of fruit trees is usually done by grafting a variety 

 upon another of smaller habit and much slower growth. The belief 

 that dwarf trees produce larger and handsomer fruit than standard 

 trees is considered highly probable, although the matter has not been 

 settled l)y experiment. Of all fruit trees, pears are most often dwarfed, 

 followed closely by apples, although cherries and plums are also grown 

 as dwarfs. 



Apples are at present regularly dwarfed by grafting or budding the 

 desired variety upon some suuill form of the common apple species, 

 Pyrus mains. The forms usually employed are the Paradise and Doucin 

 types of apple. These two stocks are described and the history of 

 their use for dwarfing is given, together with a brief note on the lien- 

 nette apple, also used fot this purpose. The Paradise apple is the 

 earliest of these forms, having been known in France at the beginning- 

 of the Fifteenth century, and the Doucin was first brought to notice a 

 century later. Dwarf apple stocks are propagated by means of suckers 

 which are detached the first year and grafted or budded the second 

 year with the desired variety,, The dwarf apple trees should be thor- 

 oughly and persistently pruned from the time they are set, each year's 

 growth being cut back one-half or two-thirds. By this means fruit 

 spurs will be more freely produced and more evenly distributed over 

 the trees and the dwarf habit maintained. The lowest branches should 

 spring from the trunk at a height of from 10 to 18 in. from the ground. 

 The tops should be pruned in the form of a broad vase, and summer 

 pruning may be employed if the amount of fruit buds borne is con- 

 sidered too small. 



Orchards of dwarf apple trees are recommended to be set with the 

 trees 12 to 15 ft. apart where the soil is rich and the varieties vigorous. 



