HORTICULTURE. 



579 



In the experiment to determine the vahie of spring applications of nitrate of soda 

 in the culture of asparagus, 200 lbs. was applied per acre in 4 equal portions at inter- 

 vals of about 10 days. The first application was made about 2 weeks before the cut- 

 ting season began. The weight of stalks obtained from a half acre fertilized with 

 nitrate of soda was 460 lbs. On the unfertilized half acre the weight was 448 lbs. 

 This slight difference in the yield of the fertilized over the unfertilized plat is not 

 believed to be of any special significance. The use, therefore, of nitrate of soda on 

 asparagus beds during the cutting season is not recommended. 



Results of thinning experiments with apples for 1 year show an increase of from 

 I5 to ;> times as much first-grade picked fruit on the thinned as on the unthinned 

 trees. The yield of second and tliird grade picked fruit was also usually larger on 

 the thinned trees. As regards dropped fruit, there was al)out 7 times as much first- 

 grade fruit obtained from the thinned as from the unthinned trees. Of eecond-grade 

 dropi)ed fruit the greater amount was obtained under the untliinned trees. In total 

 yield, 4 unthinned Lankford trees produced 117| baskets of apples, while the thinned 

 trees produced 116i baskets. One of the peculiar features of this experiment was 

 that notwitlistanding all wormy fruit was first removed in thinning, at the end of the 

 season 60 per cent more of tlTe thinned fruit was wormy than of the unthinned fruit. 



The experiments with peaches included comparisons between the percentages of 

 fancy fruits and firsts obtained from unthinned trees, and from trees on which the 

 fruit had been thinned inmiediately after the June drop to 4, 6, and 8 in. ai)art, 

 respectively, and to these same distances apart on other trees about 3 weeks later, 

 when the pits were beginning to harden. The results secured with well-loaded 

 Elberta trees are shown in the following table: 



Comparative yield of peaches from thinned and unthinned trees. 



Method of thinning. 



Yield of 

 tliinned as 

 compared 

 with un- 

 thinned 

 trees. 



Unthinned 



Thinned early 4 in. apart 

 Thinned early 6 in. apart 

 Thinned early 8 in. apart 

 Thinned late 4 in. apart. 

 Thinned lateO in. apart. 

 Thinned late 8 in. apart. 



Per cent. 

 100.0 



85.8 

 104.0 



71.0 

 101.5 



71.0 



84.5 



The table shows a considerable increase in the percentage of fancy fruits and firsts 

 due to thinning. Tlie author recalls in this connection that in previous experiments 

 early thinning to Sin. apart has given the best results. The last column of the table 

 shows the comparative yields obtained on the thinned trees, calling the yield from 

 the unthinned trees 100. 



The work in pear and apple pollination is in continuation of that previously 

 reported by the station (E. S. R., 14, p. 252). Out of a total of 612 cross-pollinations 

 between apple blossoms of Paragon, Stayman, Winesap, and Lily of Kent only 1 

 fruit set. Kieffer and Angouleme pears also proved practically self-sterile. 



In testing the self-fertility of Old Mixon, Reeves, Elberta, Globe, Crawford Late, 

 and Fox peaches the self-fertility of the blossoms was found to vary between 70 and 

 88 per cent, the average being 81 per cent. These fruits may therefore he safely 

 planted in solid blocks without danger of reducing the set of heavy crops of fruit. 



An attempt was made to secure an increased root development of young orchard 

 trees by increasing their callusing surface. Strips of bark \ in. wide were cut from 

 the side of the main root and the larger side roots, with the expectation that numer- 

 ous new roots would be sent out from these places. The experiment was made with 



