150 EXPERIMEXT STATION RECORD. 



bulletin presents the results of a survey of the supply and distribution of peaches 

 in the Unitefl States during the 1914 season. Reports were received from 993 

 shipping points at which peaches originate in car lots. Diagrams and a map 

 are given showing the comparative shipping seasons of the different States and 

 the comparative volume of shipments from the leading areas, together with 

 tabular data showing actual shipments for 1914, where known, and estimates 

 based on the 1913 sliipinents in other cases for the individual shipping stations. 



The effect of lime on the strawberry, W. J. Wkioht {Pcnmi/Ivdnia Sto. Rpt. 

 1912, pp. 773-790, pis. 17). — The intnuluctory considerations in this paper call 

 attention to the lime requirements of widely differing economic plants and briefly 

 notes the experience of a number of practical growers in the use of lime for 

 strawberries. An account is then given of five separate experiments conducted to 

 determine the effect of lime on the growth and fruiting of the strawberry. One 

 of these experiments was conducted under field conditions; the others were pot 

 experiments conducted under control conditions. 



The experiments as conducted for one season show that the addition of lime 

 retards the l)l()ssoming and fruiting period from three to six days. The total 

 number of fruits picked from the unlimed plats was greater than from the limetl 

 plats and the total weight was slightly greater but the average weight per fruit 

 was less. The plant growth was greater in every case on the unlimeil plats. 

 The caiistic effect of hydrated lime was very severe on the roots of strawberries. 

 The effect of carbonate of lime Avas less .severe but it made the roots dark col- 

 ored and brittle. Plants treated with carbonate of lime at the rate of 4.000 and 

 8,000 lbs. per acre were checked in growth but were not kilUnl. Tlie application 

 of carbonate of magnesium at the rate of S.IHO lbs. per acre, equivalent to 2.100 

 lbs. of CaO. proved fatal to the plants. Strawberries grew well in a soil too acid 

 for clover. The addition of lime to such a soil lessened the growth of straw- 

 berries while it made possible the growth of clover. The addition of lime i9 

 deemed especially detrimental to the formation of runners and young plants. 



Experiments with fertilizers on cranberries, .T. H. Voorhees (New Jersey 

 Stas. Rpt. 191.'/, pp. 2'i7-251). — The cooperative fertilizer experiments on cran- 

 berries outlined in the previous report (E. S. R., 32. p. 541) were continued. 



Data are given showing yield and size te.sts of berries from the various plats 

 for 1913 and 1914. Compiling the results from all the plats to which three 

 elements of plant food wore given, there was an average increase in yield of 29 

 per cent in 1913 and 23 jior cent in 1914 and an average increase in size of berries 

 of 10 per cent in 1913 and 1.") per cent in 1914. Plats which receivtxl only nitro- 

 gen gave an increase in yield of 6 per cent and in size of 5 per cent in 1913, and an 

 average decrea.se in yield of 7 per cent with an increa.se in size of 3 per cent in 

 1914, thus indicating that nitrogen applied alone at the rate of 40 lbs. per acre 

 is excessive and tends to cause runners to grow at the exj^ense of fruit bud 

 formation and fruit development. Plats receiving phosphoric acid in different 

 forms gave an average increase in yield of 9 per cent and an incn-ase in size of 

 5 per cent in 1913, and an increase in yield of IS per cent with no increase in 

 size in 1914. The potash plats showed an increase in yield of 15 per cent and in 

 size of 12 per cent in 1913, and an increase in yield of S per cent and in size of 

 5 per cent in 1914. With reference to sources and form of the materials, the ob- 

 servations on growth indicate that nitrate of soda, acid phosphate, and muriate of 

 potash have given the best results. 



Preliminary tests were started to determine the adaptation of cranberries to 

 soils having varying amounts of acidity. This test al.<o includes the use of 

 finely powdered copp»>r sulphate, manganese sulphate, sulphur, and ground lime- 

 stone in varying quantities. 



