342 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The results thus far indicate that differences in season and therefore dif- 

 ferences in the moisture supply must be taken into consideration in determin- 

 ing the value of different fertilizer treatments. Practically none of the treat- 

 ments have materially improved the color of the fruit, while a number of 

 them have distinctly decreased it. The author concludes that the kind of 

 pruning and the degree of maturity obtained before i)icking are the chief means 

 at the disposal of the orchardist for affecting the amount of color in fruit. 

 As compared with the unfertilized plats, the fertilized plats gave net gains 

 in the third year of from $124.75 to $267.5-5 per acre, thus indicating for these 

 experiments that plant food was a limiting factor. 



In the soil management experiments, the sod mulch system has proved most 

 satisfactory in the young orchards as to yield and size of fruit, second to sod 

 as to color, and slightly behind clean tillage as to growth. The mulch system 

 has surpassed the cover crop method in every way. In the mature orchard, how- 

 ever, tillage with a cover crop for 3 years has been superior to sod mulch 

 in yield and growth, although the mulched fruit excels in color by more than 

 30 per cent and in average size of apples by about 6 per cent. The last fact 

 appears to be connected with the smaller crop on the mulched trees. 



Fertilized plats were also included in the soil management experiments. 

 The applications of plant food appear to reduce strongly or even nullify the 

 differences due to cultural methods. In some cases there was a consecutive 

 increase in jti-oductiveness following the addition of plant food. The data thus 

 far secured indicate that with equal values of manure and a proper commer- 

 cial fertilizer, the manure gives the best results on sod or mulched areas, and 

 the commercial fertilizer gives the best results when used in connection with 

 tillage. From the work as a whole, it appears that manures used in both 

 young and old orchards reduce the color and increase the size of the fruit 

 and tree growth. In the old orchard, manure shows some advantage over 

 commercial fertilizers in tree growth and in size of api)les with effects revei'sed 

 in the young orchards. 



The author sul)niits summarized data furnished by W. P. Brooks of the 

 Massachusetts Station, showing the ti'eatment and total yields per acre from 

 fertilizer experiments with apples, conducted by that station from 1889 to 1910. 

 In every case the treated plats have proven superior to the untreated. The 

 manure plat which alone received nitrogen in quantity is superior in yield 

 and growth but ranks only just above the check plat in quality. This work 

 also indicates that it is best to use the riotash in the sulphate form. 



Orchard fertilization, J. P. Stewart {Proc. State Hort. Assoc. Perm., 51 

 (1910). PI). Il)'i-I21, figs. 2). — The subject matter of this paper is essentially 

 similai- to that of the bulletin above noted. 



Thinning of table grapes, F, T. Bioletti {Pacific Rural Press, 79 (1910). 

 No. 2^, pp. 461, .1,63. figs. 3). — The author describes in detail the method em- 

 ployed in thinning table grapes in the California vineyards and enumerates the 

 good results secured from this practice, especially with the Tokay grape, the 

 thinning of which variety results in short in a general improvement of appear- 

 ance, quality and transportability without in most cases increasing the net cost 

 of production and leaving the improvemeirt in quality as clear gain. 



Fertilizer experiments with grapes, K. Windisch {Mitt. Dent. Landw. 

 GeseU., 25 {1910), No. 19, pp. 27 8-2 SI). —The results are given of fertilizer ex- 

 periments conducted during 1909 in a number of vineyards in Wiirtemberg. 



Activities of the Macomer royal nursery of American grapes for the 

 period 1897 to 1909, C-. Liuzzi {Bol. Min. Agr., Indus, c Coiik [Rome], 9 

 {1910), S<r. ('. \o. 3. pp. J-6'S). — A general review with tabular data showing 

 the work accomplished in testing, propagating, and distributing .\nierican 



