644 EXPEREVrEFT STATION BECOBD. [VoL 35 



Bordeaux mixture stains removed, M. G. Kains (Country Gent., 81 {1916), 

 No. 23, p. 1161). — Experiments reported by the author Indicate that tomatoes 

 and other vegetables stained with Bordeaux mixture may be freed from stain 

 by dipping the vegetables in a solution of acetic acid. In the work here noted, 

 which was conducted with tomatoes, a solution of half a cupful of pure acetic 

 acid to 2 gal. of water was used. The dipped tomatoes were readily cleansed 

 of the newly-formed acetates by passing the fruit under running water. 



Report of general fruit committee, J. P. Stewart (Proc. State Hart. Assoc. 

 Penn., 57 (1916), pp. 15-20). — In this paper the author briefly reviews some of 

 the more important work of the department of experimental pomology of the 

 Pennsylvania Experiment Station. 



The time of blossoming of fruit trees (Univ. Bristol, Ann. Rpt. Agr. and 

 Hort. Research Sta., 1914, pp. 107-116). — Records for 1914 are given of the 

 flowering dates of individual varieties of fruit trees grown in the plantations 

 and orchards of the National Fruit* and Cider Institute, Bristol. 



The history of the classification of apples, E. X. Buntaed (Jour. Roy. 

 Hort. Soc, 41 (1916), No. 3, pp. 445-464, pis. 4). — In this paper the author dis- 

 cusses the many attempts that have been made in the past to devise a system 

 of classification for apples. The subject matter is presented for the special 

 purpose of showing wherein such classifications have proved unsatisfactory. 



Cultural methods in bearing orchards, J. P. Stewakt (Pennsylvania Sta. 

 Bui. 141 (1916), pp. 3-28, figs. 5). — In a previous bulletin of the station the re^ 

 suits of some of the author's cultural experiments in young apple orchards were 

 reviewed (E. S. R., 33, p. 238). The present bulletin gives the results through 

 the season of 1915 of six experiments started in bearing orchards in 1907-8. 

 The experiments involved a comparative test of mulch, sod, tillage, and cover 

 crop treatments, both with and without fertilizers. 



Summing up the results thus far obtained it is found that the mulch treat- 

 ment reinforced by outside materials has been most efficient in improving the 

 yield, growth, and average size of the fruit in orchards up to about 20 years of 

 age. It has also been most efficient in conserving moisture in all cases that 

 have been determined. For orchards over 20 years of age tillage and cover 

 crops slightly surpassed the mulch treatment, unless it was accompanied by 

 adequate fertilization. 



The sod treatment has usually given the lowest results in yield, growth, and 

 average size of fruit in orchards of all ages, except when aided by special con- 

 ditions. On the other hand, it has excelled in color of fruit and in freedom from 

 blight. Fertilized sod plats have generally given better results than unfertilized 

 plats receiving a mulch or tillage. Both the sod and the mulch treatments re- 

 quire thorough protection against mice. 



Tillage has generally done best in the fully matured orchards, where it is 

 especially efficient in stimulating growth. Tillage has done well in the younger 

 orchards when accompanied by proper fertilization. The experiments with till- 

 age as a whole indicate that plowing deeper than 4 in. is probably undesirable 

 and that most of the cultivation should be done with disk harrows, or similar 

 shallow-working cultivators rather than the plow. Cover crops have not proved 

 especially beneficial unless the moisture supply was unusually good or the 

 amount of food added was extra large. 



In most of the experiments there has been a very close correlation between 

 growth and bearing, except in the older orchards, when it is often possible to 

 secure more growth than is necessary to maintain the best yields. Two of the 

 experiments indicate that annual crops may be maintained by such biennial 

 bearers as Baldwin and Spy in the presence of ample food and moisture supply, 

 by regulation of the yield in any year to prevent ov«rbearing and by preventing 



