38 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Fruits for the home garden: Varieties and culture, F. A. Waugii (.l/aswf- 

 chim'Us Croji lipt., May, IDpo, ])p. ;J!>-39).—T\\v autlior enumerates and briefly 

 describes the varieties of orchard and small fruits m()stdesira])le for the home <iarden 

 in ]\Iassachnsetts. 



The experimental fruit garden, A. D. ll.u.i, {Jour. Southeast. Agr. Col., II y*;., 

 100.1, Xo. i.,^ pp. 48, 49, pi. i).— The experimental fruit garden here noted was set 

 out at Wye College in the winter of 1899-1900. One series of plats which was fertil- 

 ized at the rate of 1,200 lbs. sulphate of potash, 400 ll)s. sulphate of potash, and no 

 potash per acre, respectively, show the best wood growth of trees on the plat heaviest 

 fertilized with the sulphate of potash. Black currants which were planted among 

 the trees also appeared much more vigorousand healthy and produced a larger growth 

 on the plat which had received the largest amount of fertilizer. In another series of 

 plats trees set out on deeply trenched ground were much more vigorous than trees 

 set on ground simply dug over. 



Report of South Haven Substation, T. A. Farrand {Miclngnn Stn. Bui. -205, }>p. 

 S3-4ri). — An account in continuation of previous work (E. S. R., U, p. 14::")) of 

 the behavior at the station of a large numV)er of varieties of raspberries, black- 

 berries, currants, gooseberries, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, apples, 

 crab apples, quinces, chestnuts, filberts, and walnuts, with descriptive notes in 

 many instances of the more promising varieties. One of the features of the year 

 has been the determination of the l)est methods of marketing different fruits. Red 

 raspberries brought a good i^rice throughout the whole season, but with black rasp- 

 berries, and also with blackberries, the best prices were obtained for the very earliest 

 and very latest varieties. Cherry varieties of currants sold for SI .25 for a 16-qt. crate, 

 while all other varieties brought only 40 to 60 cents a crate. In the case of cherries 

 no satisfactory commercial results were secured with sweet varieties, and the latest 

 varieties of the sour cherries were most profitable. 



In marketing peaches it was found that some of the better white varieties, well 

 packed in open-slat, i-bu. baskets sold for a higher price in Chicago than many of 

 the later yellow varieties. Plums were shipped on the same date to the same mar- 

 ket in the following packages: One 16-qt. case, two i-bu. baskets, and one 4-basket 

 crate, such as is used for tomatoes. The two 1-bu. baskets equaled in size the one 

 4-basket crate. The 16-qt. case sold for $1. The 4-basket crate, containing 5 qts. 

 less, also sold for §1, while the two ^-bu. baskets sold for 35 cents each. There was 

 thus a difference of 75 cents a bushel in favor of the 4-basket crate. The fruit in all 

 the different Imskets was as near alike as it was possible to grade it. 



Four-pound ])askets of Delaware grapes sold for the same price as 8-lb. baskets of 

 large blue grapes. Oldenburg and Jonathan l)rought the highest price among apjales. 

 The demand for crab apples was found to l)egin the first week in September and to 

 continue well into October. Hyslop brought the highest price throughout the 

 season. In this connection it is stated that in harvesting crab apples the fruit must 

 be picked while firm and crisp. If an attempt is made to hold it over it becomes 

 mealy and sells for a lower price. 



April 1 was found to be the latest practicable date at which trees could be sprayed 

 with copper sulphate for the prevention of leaf curl. In a test of pruning peaches 

 in the spring and in the fall better results were obtained from spring pruning. In 

 some instances trees pruned in the fall killed back during the winter, and generally 

 the wounds did not heal over as well as when pruned in the spring. A test in 

 thinning peaches to distances apart of 8 in., 5 in., and not thinning at all was 

 started during the season, to continue for 3 years. The good results of thinning 

 on the appearance of the tree was iioted during the first season, and the fruit from 

 the thinned trees sold for nearly double as much as that from unthinned trees. Like 

 results of thinning were also noted w'ith plums. Plums thinned so that the fruit did 

 not touch each other were larger, brought a better price in the market, and were less 



