1918] HORTICULTURE. 245 



The results secured from tests of cultural luetliods and cover crops in apple 

 orchards during the last uine years indicate that in the absence of fertilization 

 the nmlch method generally gives the largest growth and the most fruit in 

 young orchards, while the tillage and cover crop method has done slightly 

 better in mature orchards. The greater efficiency of the mulch on the young 

 trees is apparently connected with its greater moisture-conserving effects. In 

 many cases the mulch can be readly grown between the tree rows in young 

 orchards by the use of alfalfa and possibly also by the use of other plants. By 

 this method many of the sloping foothill lands of the State which are not well 

 adapted for tillage may be satisfactorily utilized in the production of fruit. 



In the presence of proper fertilization there has been comparatively little 

 difference in efficiency in tillage, tillage and cover crops, and proper sod mulch 

 in their effects on the yield and growth of apples. Even the sod treatment when 

 accompanied by fertilization of the right kind has been very satisfactory in 

 many cases. Among the annual cover crops hairy vetch, soy beans, oats and 

 Canada peas, buckwheat, and millet are now showing the best results in the 

 order named. As compared with tillage alone, the addition of annual cover 

 crops does not reveal much benefit, except possibly in seasons of abundant 

 rainfall. The use of tilled interci-ops with the appropriate fertilization followed 

 by a winter cover crop of rye or rye and vetch has proved very satisfactory 

 in the development of young orchards and has resulted in no apparent injury 

 to the trees during the first nine years. Potatoes have done especially well in 

 this coimection and field beans, buckwheat, early cabbage, tomatoes, and other 

 vegetables are believed to be worthy of special consideration in localities 

 suited to their profitable production. 



The planting' and care of the young apple orchard, H. .1. Rked {Indiana 

 Sta. Circ. 67 {1911), pp. 20, figs. i//). — This circular contains practical sugges- 

 tions relative to the cost of establishing an orchard, selection of varieties 

 adapted for the home orchard and the connnercial orchard, selection of nursery 

 stock, preparation of the soil, planting operations, methods of pruning the 

 young tree, and care of the young orchard. 



Seed production in apples, C. S. Crandall (Illinois Sta. Bui. 203 {1917), 

 pp. 1S5-213, figs. 8). — As a first step in a study of seed production in apples, 

 this bulletin records the number of seeds produced in 31,972 individual fruits 

 comprising the following four groups of apples, namely, large apples of orchard 

 varieties, small apples of orchard varieties, crabs, and hand-pollinated fruits. 

 Thirty-two orchard varieties and 25 species and varieties of the genus Malus 

 are repre.sented. 



A study of the data as a whole shows that the average number of seeds in 

 large apples of orchard varieties was 8.27 ; for small apples, 7.21 ; and for crab- 

 like forms of Malus, 4.22. " The range in average seed production as exhibited 

 by different varieties is wide with both orchard varieties and crab-like forms. 

 Departures from the normal of five carpels to each fruit occur with both 

 orchard varieties and crab-like forms, but are much more frequent with crabs 

 than with orchard fruits. There are wide differences among individual varie- 

 ties and species in seed-producing capacity, and the range in numbers of seeds 

 in individual fruits is also wide. The assvnned normal of 10 seeds to each fruit 

 is likely to occur in a small percentage of orchard fruits, but rarely occurs in 

 crab-like forms. Capacity to produce seeds appears as a varietal characteristic. 



" Parthenocarpic fruits occur in orchard varieties and in species of Malus 

 but not in very great numbers. There is great regularity in the appearance of 

 ovules in normal numbers, that is, two in each carpel. Few cases of suppres- 

 sion of ovules occur ; numbers in excess of normal are more common among 

 orchard varieties than among crabs. 



