950 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of 1 in. or less and on spurs which made a terminal growth of more than 1 in. The 

 percentage of flowers that failed to set fruit in each case is also noted. The figures 

 indicate that a vigorous terminal shoot is not detrimental to the setting of fruit. A 

 study of the causes for the failure of the pistil in native American plums tends to the 

 conclusion that this is due to cold after the buds have become excited by warm 

 weather. 



The experimental apple orchard, A. Dkkens and G. O. Greene {Kansas Sta. 

 Bui. 106, ])p. 29-56, ph. 7).— An account is given of the growth of the station apple 

 orchard planted in 1891 with whole root and piece root grafts and budded trees. 

 The varieties which have been found most desirable are noted and briefly described. 

 An earlier account has been given of the growth of the trees grafted upon whole roots 

 and ordinary piece roots (E. S. R., 9, p. 750). The average height of the trees 

 projjagated l)y the different methods, maxinuim diameter, and average diameter 18 in. 

 above the ground are shown in the following table: 



Groivth of apple trees on whole roots, piece roots, and budded apple stock. 



Kind of stock. 



Number I Average 

 of trees, height. 



Feet. 



Whole root. 

 Piece root . . 

 Budded 



Maxi- 

 mum 



diameter 

 18 in. 

 from 



ground. 



Average 

 diameter 



18 in. 



from 

 ground. 



Inches. 

 4.9 

 4.6 



4.8 



These trees were all 1 year old when set in 1891 and have been cared for in exactly 

 the same manner. "The conclusion is inevitable that the manner of propagation 

 seems to count for little after growth commences." As great variation has occurred 

 between trees of the same variety propagated in the same way as between those 

 propagated in different ways. In working the station orchard clean cultivation has 

 been practiced. This has been greatly facilitated by the use of reversible cutaway 

 harrows having extension heads. As cover crops cowpeas and oats have been satis- 

 factorily used. Rye and wheat also made heavy growths, but were somewhat diflS- 

 cult to kill by cultivation in the spring, and are therefore considered of less value 

 than either oats or cowpeas. At the end of a protracted drought the college orchard, 

 which had been cultivated throughout the season, contained 16 per cent of moisture 

 in the upper 15 in. of soil, while with most cultivated field crops there was but 8 to 

 11 per cent of moisture, and in grass land the amount in the upper 15 in. of soil was 

 but 6 per cent. 



The station orchard was planted primarily to test the value of different varieties. 

 The varieties generally regarded in Kansas as standards have succeeded best at the 

 station. Of these the best early varieties are as follows: Early Harvest, Benoni, Late 

 Strawberry, Cooper, and Maiden Blush; fall varieties, Fameuse, Grimes Golden, 

 and Jonathan; winter varieties, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Gano, and Ben Davis. 

 Fifty-nine varieties of apples grown in the station orchard are described in brief 

 paragraphs. 



A study of the growth of apple trees, C. A. Keffer {Tennessee Sta. Bid., Vol. 

 Xiy, No. 4, pp. 16, fig^- 15). — A study is here i-eijorted of the growth of Jonathan and 

 York Imperial apple trees. The purpose of the study was to secure a better under- 

 standing of the training of apple trees. The trees were planted in April, 1900, and 

 data as to the buds that grew, growth of terminal branches, effect of pinching cer- 

 tain shoots, etc., are recorded for 1901. 



Seventy-five per cent of the shoots on 16 trees made their principal growth in 

 length before July 1. Growth continued thereafter, however, quite generally, and 



