IIORTICULTUKE. 227 



Dwarf trees 10 to 15 years old avera<2fe 3 to 4 pecks of apples aiiim- 

 ally, or 7") barrels of fruit from an acre of 300 trees. Alter the trees 

 liave passed their twentieth year they will bear from 2 to 4 bu. each. 

 An annual yield of 125 barrels per acre from an orchard of 30-year-old 

 trees is regarded as average. This yield is very favorable as compared 

 with tliat of standard trees, whicli are estimated to give 135 barrels 

 per acre frotn trees of the same age as the dwarfs. Tables are quoted 

 comparing the actual yields from orchards of standard and dwarf 

 apples in Denmark, where dwarf trees are more extensively grown. 

 The ])oucin stock shows a slightly greater fruitfulness than any other. 



A list is included of the varieties considered to be best adapted for 

 dwarfing, and a brief summary of the main points embodied in the 

 bulletin is appended. 



Evaporating apples, W. B. Alwood ( Yirgmia 8ta. Bid. 48, pp. 15, 

 (Igm. 1, figs. 3). — This bulletin advocates the drying of apples by the 

 use of evaporating apparatus in place of the method of snn drying now 

 employed throughout Virginia. It is stated that the apple production 

 of the State is so large that the industry of evaporating apples can 

 easily be made a profitable one. Figures are given comparing the rela- 

 tive results reached by the processes of sun drying and evaporating 

 sliowing that while the cost of manufacturing is practically the same 

 (about 3 cts. per pound of dried fruit) the evaporated fruit brings on 

 an average G cts. per pound, while the sun-dried fruit averages 2^ cts. 

 per pound. It is believed that by obtaining the green fruit at the 

 usual price of from 8 to 10 cts. per bushel, profitable returns can be 

 had. A large percentage of the apples grown in Virginia are unmarket- 

 able, chiefly because of the bad selection of varieties planted by farmers. 

 This inferior fruit can readily be utilized in evaporating establishments. 



Descriptions, diagrams, and directions are given for the construction 

 of evaporating plants, the drying being done either by heat from fur- 

 naces or by coils of steam i)ipes. Evaporators fitted up with steam are 

 considered best, and it is preferred that the fresh fruit be introduced 

 from the top of the evaporator stack rather than from the bottom, so 

 that the vapors may be quickly carried oif. 



Illustrations are given of machines for paring and slicing apples, a 

 hand parer being preferred for small plants. The one figured is capable 

 of paring 50 bu. of apples in a day of 10 hours. Drop[)ing the sliced 

 fruit into salt baths for a few minutes before drying is preferred to 

 bleaching the fruit by means of sulphur fumes. 



The serious consideration of the subject of evaporating fruit is 

 earnestly recommended to the farmers of the State. 



Pear culture, W. B. Alwood ( Virginia Sfo. Bui. 49, pp. l'.)-S2). — 

 This bulletin treats of the cultural methods emjdoyed in the station 

 pear orchard, with notes on the varieties grown. A stiff, calcareous 

 clay soil, well drained, and ])referably not sloping to the south, is con- 

 sidered best. In the opinion of the writer cropping the space between 



