252 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. * 



account of t lie uses of those products as beverajjies and medicines. A biblio^rapliy 

 of about 200 references is included in the work. 



Report of th.e horticulturist, (i. H. Powell { IMaware Sta. Ept. 1901, pp. 83-126, 

 figs. l.i). — This report ])resents the results (if the season's investigations with the 

 Chinese Cling group of peaches (published as a bulletin, E. S. R., 13, p. 1049) and 

 with the pollination of apples and pears. The studies with the latter fruits are in 

 continuation of those reported last year (E. B. R., 13, y>- 245). The work with api)le3 

 during the season indicates that practically all the more important varieties grown 

 on the Chesapeake Peninsula are probably self-sterile. July and Bough, both of 

 little commercial importance, were the only varieties that set any considerable amount 

 of fruit when self-pollinated. Astrachan, Early Harvest, and Yellow Transparent 

 were more or less self-fertile and under favorable conditions might produce crops. 

 The varieties that were found self-sterile, or nearly so, were Early Ripe, English 

 Russett, Fanny, Gilpin, (rravenstein. Grimes, Lilly of Kent, Missouri Pippin, Nero, 

 Paragon, Red Streak, Stark, Stayman, StrawVjerry, William Favorite, and Winesap. 

 The self-fertile kinds were confined almost exclusively to summer sorts. Gilpin, a 

 winter sort, set a few fruits, but they dropped as the season advanced. The season's 

 work with apples strongly indicates the ailvisability ( >f mixing varieties in connnercial 

 orchards. 



Experiments in intercrossing varieties of apples indicate that Paragon, Stayman, 

 Winesap, and Lilly of Kent, all weak jwllen bearers excejit the latter, are intersterile 

 and should not l)e planted together in cominercial orchards for the purpose of cross- 

 pollination. 



In a study of the blooming period of V8.rieties of apples it was found that good 

 tillage, spraying, fertilizing, etc., extended the period of flower-bud formation in the 

 fall and seemed to prolong the blossoming period in sj^ring, while on poor, unculti- 

 vated soils the blooming period was shortened. Diagrams are given showing the 

 blossoming period in 1901 of 9 varieties of apples grown at Denton, Md., 16 varieties 

 at the station, and 32 varieties in Kent County, Del. Lists are also given of the 

 varieties of apples introduced into Delaware by the station since 1897. 



Further experiments with the Keiffer pear indicate that it is practically self-sterile 

 in Delaware and that varieties used for ])()llination exert little if any influence on 

 the size or appearance of the fruit. 



The experiments of two years have shown "that the Keiffer is not more fertile with 

 pollen from a distant orchard than with pollen from the tree on which the crosses 

 were made; that the Keiffer may be somewhat naore self-fertile in one orchard than 

 in another; that a cross-fertilized pear starts into growth with more vigor and develops 

 more rapidly than a self-fertilized one; that the crosses with different varieties do 

 not show differences that can be attributed to the pollenizer. . . . Garber and Le 

 Conte are the most satisfactory pollenizers [for Keiffer], though the characteristics 

 of either one leave much to he desired. A pollenizer is needed with the quality of 

 the Seckel and the vigor and i)rolificacy of the Keiffer." 



The record of 1901 showed that if 2 blossoms of Keiffer out of 100 set fruit the 

 resulting crop was a heavy one. 



Experiments with deciduous fruits at and near the Southern Coast Range 

 Substation, C. II. Shinn {< '(difoniia Sta. Bid. I4I, pp. 4S, Ji ;/.■<. IS). — An account 

 is given of the results secured in 13 years' experimental work with deciduous fruits 

 at the Southern C(jast Range Substation. The results secured are supplemented by 

 concise accounts of the results secured by a large number of the most successful 

 deciduous fruit growers in the vicinity of the station. The data obtained cover a 

 territory of about 40 miles long by 20 wide. The substation work shows that in that 

 climate successful culture of most deciduous fruits is impossible. It is practically 

 useless to j)lant almonds, cherries, prunes, and a})ricots, excejit in a few sheltered 

 spots on good, well-watered soil. The most successful fruits throughout tlie district 



