246 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In the experiment in thinning Kieffer pears, the fruit was removed when the pears 

 were about the size of a robin's egg. The trees were 8 years of age, aVjout 20 ft. 

 high, and loaded with fruit. The pears were thinned so that no two were closer 

 than 6 in. It required about 20 minutes to thin each tree and the cost was about 5 

 cts. per tree. The number of pears per f bu. basket averaged 80 on the thinned 

 trees, and on 6 check trees it averaged 92. On the thinned trees 83 per cent of the 

 fruit was No. 1 grade, while on the unthinned trees but 61 per cent was of No. 1 

 grade. A wind storm interfered with the experiment so that no conclusions regard- 

 ing the profit of thinning could be drawn. 



Some observations were made on the number of blossoms that appear on pear 

 trees and the fruits that set. One 6-year-old Kieffer tree produced 3,910 blossoms, 

 11 per cent of which set fruit, and 7 per cent matured fruit. The tree was overloaded. 

 A 5-year-old Bartlett tree produced 2,151 blossoms, but 3 per cent of which matured 

 fruit and the tree was not well filled. A 5-year-old Howell tree produced 1,258 

 blossoms, 5 per cent of which matured fruit. 



The cross-polHnating experiments with apples were made with Stayman pollenized 

 by itself, and by P^^ragon, York Imperial, and Missouri Pippin; Paragon pollenized 

 by itself and by Stayman; York Imperial pollenized by itself and by Missouri Pip- 

 pin, and Missouri Pippin pollenized by itself and ])y York Imperial. The results 

 obtained show that for practical orchard purposes all these varieties may be consid- 

 ered self-sterile. York Imperial is weakly self-fertile. There was a complete lack 

 of affinity between the pistils and pollen of Stayman and Paragon, no fruit develop- 

 ing whatever when these varieties were intercrossed. 



Commercial pear culture, M. B. Waite ( U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1900, pp. 369- 

 396, pis. 3). — A popular discussion of the subject, including detailed directions for 

 locating, planting, cultivating, fertilizing, and pruning commercial pear orchards in 

 different sections of the country; picking, packing, and marketing of fruit; and spray- 

 ing the trees for protection from insects and diseases. 



Some notes on pears for export, G. Quinn {Jour. Agr. and Ind. Sordh Australia, 

 4 [1901), No. 9, pp. 703-709, figs. 6). — The author believes that pears for shipping 

 should be carefully padded from each other by means of wood wool. Brief descrip- 

 tions are given of the following pears considered of importance in the Australian 

 shipping trade: Josephine de Malines, Winter Nelis, Glou Morceau, A^icar of Wink- 

 field, Beurre Clairgeau, and L'Inconnue. 



Native plums, E. S. Goff ( Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 87, pp. 31, figs. 12) . — This bulletin 

 considers the following topics: Methods of plum culture, the culinary uses of native 

 plums, varieties, blooming period of plums, thickness of the skins, and the longevity 

 of Americana plums. Some data are also presented on the self-fertility or sterility of 

 native plums. 



A mulch of marsh hay 6 in. deep was applied to an orchard in grass. The mulch 

 ■was put on in the winter after the ground had been packed by rain. The sod was 

 completely killed by the mulch except where there was quack grass. The benefits 

 from the nuilch were shown in a more healthy foliage and an increase in the size 

 and (juantity of the fruit produced. Some advantages claimed for this sort of mulch 

 are that it saves the labor of cultivation ; prevents the damage that cultivation causes 

 to the trees; makes a clean cover for the ground, which is so desirable at jmcking 

 time; and adds fertilizing materials to the soil as it decays. If kept 4 in. deep it 

 prevents the growth of weeds. Its chief advantage, however, is in the superior 

 quality and size of the fruit grown. The strongest objection to its use seems to be 

 its tendency to induce the roots to grow almost on top of the ground, which makes 

 them much more easily affected by cold in severe winters. The mulch also increases . 

 the danger from fire. 



The author states that in order to secure the finest fruit and to prevent deteriora- 

 tion in the size from year to year, thinning is necessary with most of the Americana 



