36 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



HORTICTJLTTJRE. 



Report of the department of horticulture, J. H. Gourley {New Hamp- 

 shire Sta. Bui. 192 (.1919), pp. 21-31). — In connection witli the long-continued 

 fruit hud formation study, the data on which are being prepared for publi- 

 .niioii, studies on the influence of light and of ringing and root pruning were 

 (■(iimnenced. A tent was erected over two Duchess apple trees in order to 

 (leterniiiie whether the fruit bud formation could be affected by a reduced 

 intensity t)f sunlight. In one case the covering was a muslin cloth and in the 

 other ii cheesecloth. At the time of the present report a difference was ob- 

 served between color of the foliage and fruit of the two trees. A decided 

 contrast was also observed between the foliage under cover and a similar 

 foliage not covered. In connection with this study soil and air temperature 

 records are being taken, and an attempt is to be made to measure the intensity 

 of the light under the two covers. 



Attempts to propagate blueberries from cuttings have been unsuccessful, 

 whereas the division and transplanting of rooted plants has given good results. 



Some experimental work was conducted in the storage of root crops and 

 (■al)bage. The conclusions drawn from this work were that if good cellar 

 storage is available the storing of roots in pits is hardly advisable because the 

 quality deteriorates faster than in cellar storage. Cabbage, on the other hand, 

 when given proper protection comes out of the storage pit in better condition 

 than when kept in cellar storage. 



[Report on horticultural Investigations], F. M. Rolfs {Oklahoma Sta. 

 Rpt. 1919, pp. 44-^-'f9). — Observations on the blossom drop of tomatoes were con- 

 tinued by F. B. Cross during the year. So far as it was possible to determine 

 no organism was associated with this trouble. There were numerous evidences 

 of incomplete pollination, such as small fruit without seed and irregular fruit 

 having a normal seed development on one side and few or no seeds on the 

 oilier. Septoria leaf spot was specially abundant, and Fusarium wilt ruined 

 a number of plants in two of the experimental plats. One or two very strictly 

 physiological diseases were under close observation and will be reported on 

 later. Mulching with straw again increased the yield. Irrigation proved 

 beneficial, but somewhat less so than the straw mulch. Pruning increased the 

 size, producing a high percentage of marketable fruit. 



Some progress is reported on the studies of fruit bud development (E. S. R., 

 40, p. 638. ) Spraying operations on these plats were somewhat interfered with 

 by inclement weather conditions, consequently apple blotch and codling moth 

 were prevalent. The bacterial leaf spot {Bacterium pruni) is still abundant 

 on all stone fruit trees, and the influence of this organism on foliage and 

 twigs of the trees is becoming more marked each year. During the past year 

 the peach buds on the west side orchard were weakened by the attacks of this 

 organism, and most of the buds were completely killed by June 1. The cherry 

 buds were also more or less infected, the sweet cherries suffering more than 

 the sour cherries. From the results of fruit bud studies during the past two 

 years it appears that too late cultivation does not always give satisfactory re- 

 sults and in some cases tends to weaken the trees, making them more sensitive 

 to winter injury. IMulching with straw on both the peach and cherry appears 

 to stimulate fruit bud formation and tends to make them more resistant to 

 cold. 



[Variety tests with truck crops], G. T. McNess {Texas Sta. Bui. 254 {1919), 

 pp. 21, 22). — Brief notes are given on the value of different varieties of green 

 peas, beans, radishes, lettuce, watermelons, and cantaloups for east Texas 

 conditions, based on tests conducted at the Nacogdoches substation. 



