1080 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



It is believed that the effect of annual winter pruning is to give the tree a tendency 

 to produce wood rather than fruit, while the effect of summer pruning is to produce 

 fruit. Summer pruning, however, is seldom practiced because of the rush of other 

 work at that time. It is believed to be out of the question for large orchards. 

 Pruning to an open-centered vase or goblet form is recommended. Illustrations are 

 given showing the effect of pruning shoots back to stubs on the inside of the tree at 

 different times during the year. When the shoots were pruned back in winter to 

 2 or 3 buds, these buds the following spring developed into other shoots, makingthe 

 trees more dense than ever. 



The results were about the same when the trees were pruned in May. When the 

 trees were pruned in August, however, there was a tendency on the part of the stubs 

 left to form fruit buds instead of developing into shoots. The author states in this 

 connection that " if the tree is shy in bearing and makes a rank growth of wood, it 

 should be pruned heavily in midsummer." 



Top grafting nursery apple trees, C. P. Close ( Delaware Sta. Bui. 69, pp. 7, 8, 

 figs. ..'). — An account is given of top grafting nursery trees. 



It was desired to start an apple orchard of summer varieties. As a fine lot of 

 Northwestern Greening trees could be obtained at a reasonable price it was decided 

 to top graft these with summer varieties before planting. In this work from 3 to 6 

 of the strongest best arranged limbs were pruned back to stubs 2 to 3 in. long and 

 these stubs whip grafted with scions of July and Williams. All other branches on 

 the trees were removed. The grafts were wound with waxed cord and painted over 

 with liquid grafting wax, including the end of the scions so that all cut surfaces were 

 covered. The loots of the trees were pruned back to .'! or 4 in. in length just before 

 the grafting was done and set in the orchard as soon as grafted. 



About 90 per cent of the grafts made good unions and grew well throughout the 

 season. Where a scion failed to live, a shoot was usually pushed out on the spur and 

 this was budded to the desired variety. The author believes that this method of top 

 grafting. nursery stock may be of special value when trees of the desired varieties can 

 not be obtained or are weak growers with tender trunks. 



It is suggested, also, that the surplus of strong healthy trees which nurserymen 

 sometimes accumulate might profitably be handled in this way instead of being 

 burned. These trees could be sold at a moderate price and a fruitgrower could graft 

 them to any variety he desired. 



The composition of cider as determined by dominant fermentation with 

 pure yeasts, W. B. Alwood, R. J. Davidson, and W. A. P. Moncure ( Virginia Sta. 

 Bui. 150, pp. S3). — The experiments recorded in this bulletin were carried out in 

 cooperation with the Bureau of Chemistry of this Department and have been 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 16, p. 668). 



The peach industry in south Missouri, P. Evans (Missouri Fruit Sta. Huh 12, 

 pp. 14, pis. S). — An account is given of the development and present status of the 

 peach industry in south .Missouri, with suggestions on (he location of orchards in 

 those regions, the varieties to plant, and the planting, care, and cultivation of the 

 peach orchard. 



The localities which at present appeal' to be particularly adapted to peach growing 

 lie, one in the southeastern part of the State, comprising limited areas in Howell, 

 Oregon, Shannon, Carter, and Ripley counties, and another in the extreme south- 

 western part, including small portions of Newton, McDonald, Lawrence, and Barry 

 minifies. Southern Missouri seems to be well adapted to peach growing, since 

 gn iwers are able to market their fruit just after the southern crop matu res and 1 >efore 

 the northern crop comes on the market, the only rivals at this time being the peaches 

 from Delaware and Oklahoma. Most of the fruit in southern Missouri is sent to 

 eastern and northern markets. 



