HORTICULTURE. 475 



ago (E. S. R., 12, p. 749). The present pamphlet gives the details of investigations 

 made to determine why grass has such a serious effect on the development of apple 

 trees. 



Experiments have been made with both dwarf and standard trees. The details of 

 the experiments reported by the authors clearly indicate that the injurious action of 

 grass is not due to its harmful effects in absorbing or evaporating the moisture of the 

 soil about the trees, nor of removing the plant food from the soil, nor of interfering 

 with the air supply in the soil. On the other hand, it is thought probable that it 

 may be attributed to the action of some product, direct or indirect, of grass growth 

 which exercises an actively poisonous effect on the roots of the trees. 



Data are given which show that the temi^erature of the soil on bright days in sum- 

 mer, 6 in. below the surface in land covered with grass, is quite uniformly about 3 

 degrees lower than in cultivated soils. This, however, is not considered an item of 

 importance, since the average soil temperatue of one summer often differs by more 

 than this from that of another without producing any of the injurious effects caused 

 by grass on tree.s. 



Orchards in grass not only made a very much smaller growth, but also blossomed 

 earlier in the spring and the leaves yellowed up and dropped much earlier in the 

 autumn than with cultivated trees. Calculating the growth of trees in cultivated 

 ground as 100, trees in grass have made a growth in the case of Bramley of 50 per 

 cent, Cox 33 per cent, and Potts 41 per cent. "When Aveeds have been allowed to 

 grow Bramley made an a^■erage growth of 66 per cent. Cox 52 j>er cent, and Potts 73 

 per cent. It is thus seen that weeds are not nearly as harmful in orchards as grass. 



Cold storag'B of apples, H. C. Price [loiva Sia. Bui. 7^, pp. -U-44, <hjms. 2). — 

 This bulletin contains a discussion of the present status of apple growing in Iowa, the 

 importance of cold storage of apples to the State, directions for handling the apple 

 crfip, and the results of a test of the keeping qualities of 15 standard varieties of 

 apples grown in the State. 



The author states that but few late varieties do well in the State, consequently the 

 market season of Iowa ajiples is comparatively short, the bulk of the crop being 

 marketed during November and December. The abundance of apples on the market 

 at this time is a little later followed by a dearth which must })e supplietl l)y impor- 

 tation from other States. It is believed that this condition might be changed if the 

 surplus crop harvested in the fall could be kept in cold storage until such time as 

 needed later in the winter. 



Experiments were therefore made to test the keeping qualities of some of the vari- 

 eties commonly grown in the State. A immber of barrels of each of 15 varieties were 

 stored in Sejitember and Oc-tober, and examined at intervals of a month during the 

 winter until April 14. The amount of decayed and sound fruit found in the barrels 

 of the different varieties at each inspection is given in tabular form. 



The data show that McMahon White, Northern Spy, Pewaukee, Koman Stem, 

 Seek-No-Further, White Pippin, and Wolf River all possess poor keeping qualities 

 and are not considered suitable for storing. On the other hand, such varieties as 

 Ben Davis, Domine or Wells, Janet, Romanite, Willow Twig, Fameuse, and Wealthy 

 kept especially well. Especially satisfactory results were secured with Fameuse and 

 Wealtiiy, both of which kept well until March. The results with Wealthy and 

 Fameuse are believed to be of great value to the apple growers of the State, since 

 these varieties ai-e hardy throughout the State, productive, and of excellent quality. 



Observations on the fertilization of peacli orchards, E. 11. Jenkins ( Connecticut 

 Stiite St'i. Rpt. 1002, pt. 4, pp. 44.]-44.'j) . — The data secured in 1902 are added to those 

 reported in previous years (E. S. R., 14, p. 354) on the yields of peaches obtained 

 on plats differently fertilized. Each plat contains 48 trees, Avhich are replaced as 



