238 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.35 



Osmotic relationships and incipient drying with apples, W. H. Chandleb 

 {Proc. Soc. Iloi-t. ScL, 11 (1914), PP. 112-116).— The results are given of some 

 preliminary experiments conducted by the author and A. J. Heinicke relative 

 to incipient drying of both leaves and fruit of the apple. 



The data secured show a fairly large incipient drying in the leaves of apples 

 and an appreciable incipient drying in the fruit. The incipient drying shows 

 earlier with the leaves than with the fruit, and the leaves recover moisture 

 under favorable conditions much faster than the fruit. Moisture determina- 

 tions of detached and attached fruits show conclusively that the loss of water 

 from the fruits was due to its being drawn from the fruits toward the leaves 

 rather than to evaporation. Although the author does not consider the effect of 

 large leaf surface in drawing water from the fruits at times to be a determining 

 factor so far as size of fruit is concerned, it is suggested that this effect may 

 enter as one of the many possible sources of error in the interpretation of 

 experiments dealing with orchard culture problems. 



Experimental results in young orchards in Pennsylvania, J. P. Stewart 

 (Proc. Soc. Hart. Sci., 11 (1914), PP- 101-111).— The substance of this paper 

 has appeared in a subsequent bulletin of the Pennsylvania Experiment Station 

 (E. S. R., 33, p. 238). 



A fertilizer experiment with peaches, C. A. McCue {Proc. Soc. Hort. Sci., 

 11 (1914), pp. 8^-91). — A progress report on a long-time experiment with 

 peaches being conducted at the Delaware Experiment Station to determine the 

 effect of certain plant food elements upon the physiology of the tree. At the 

 time of this report the experiment had been running for seven years. 



Observations that have been made of the effect of different fertilizing elements 

 upon color of fruit led to the tentative conclusion that any effect of nitrogen, 

 potash, or phosphoric acid upon color is secondary. For example, the deficiency 

 in color in plats heavily fertilized with nitrogen is attributed to the profuse 

 growth of foliage shutting off the light rather than to the direct effect of the 

 nitrogen. The potash plats imd practically the same intensity of color as the 

 check plat. Heavy applications of phosphoric acid appear to have a somewhat 

 deadening effect upon color without decreasing the actual amount of color. Trees 

 that were treated with nitrogen or combinations of nitrogen and potash are 

 characterized by their general thriftiness. 



Tests thus far made with reference to the keeping quality of the fruit from 

 the various plats indicate that potash has some beneficial effect in increasing 

 the period of soundness of the fruit. Heavy phosphoric acid applications delayed 

 ripening about two days and potash hastened it one day. Nitrogen either in 

 combination or alone delayed ripening from a week to ten days. With combi- 

 nations of nitrogen and potash the retarding effect of the nitrogen is dominant. 

 Observations thus far made do not show any effect of fertilizers on the time 

 of blooming. The results relative to the effect of fertilizers upon the time of 

 wood ripening in the fall are inconclusive but indicate, contrary to common 

 opinion, that heavy applications of nitrogeneous fertilizers do not make a soft 

 immature wood. It is suggested that the regulation of the soil moisture has 

 a more intimate connection with fall ripening of wood and bud than does plant 

 food. As in the case of color of fruit, light appears to be the most important 

 factor Influencing the color of twigs. Although no definite conclusion can be 

 made at this time, tests made for several years of pollen from the various 

 fertilizer plats suggest that plant food does have an effect upon the viability 

 and longevity of the pollen. 



Data are given showing the calculated yields per acre from the different 

 plats during the three years, 1912 to 1914. Heavy applications of nitrate 

 of soda have been beneficial to fruit production. Still better results have been 



