38 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



tion of copper sulphate, caustic soda, and other materials is an added expense and 

 gives no better results. 



The usual method of mixing ingredients and boiling was found to he the most 

 satisfactory way for preparing the wash. Experiments with this mixture on peaehes 

 showed that it is perfectly safe to spray on peach trees up to the time the blossoms open. 

 The use of copper sulphate has again been found the most satisfactory method of 

 controlling peach-leaf curl. It can be controlled equally well by the use of lime- 

 sulphur-salt wash, hut the latter is much more expensive and unless it is required 

 for the scale should not be used. 



Fall applications of the lime-suiphur-salt wash, copper sulphate, and Bordeaux 

 mixture were compared with spring applications of these same fungicides. The 

 spring applications gave slightly better results. In order to test the effect of a thick 

 coating of lime as a protection for peach buds over winter they were heavily sprayed 

 with whitewash in the fall. Neither beneficial nor injurious effects could be observed 

 from the application. In the experiment 8 lbs. of salt was added to each 50 gals, of 

 wash. The coating of whitewash and salt was without effect as regards leaf curl. 



Kxperiments in the fall pruning of peach trees indicated that the heading in of the 

 t rees in late fall and early winter if continued may result in serious injury. Dust 

 sprays proved inefficient in the control of apple-scab fungus and of pear leaf blight 

 and scab. 



I n order to test the recommendation of a California fruit grower that crude petroleum 

 could be used as a spray while the foliage was on if followed within 15 to 20 minutes 

 with a solution of concentrated lye, a test was made in June. Six trees were sprayed on 

 one side with petroleum. Immediately thereafter 2 of the trees were sprayed with a 

 solution of 1 lb. concentrated lye dissolved in 9 gal. of water. Two other trees were 

 sprayed with a solution of 1 lb. of caustic soda to 9 gals, of water, and the 2 remain- 

 ing trees with 1 lb. of crude potash to 9 gals, of water. The foliage was killed where- 

 ever the oil was used. The trees were also seriously injured and many of the smaller 

 branches killed. The caustic solutions also slightly burned the foliage but not suffi- 

 ently to cause it to fall off. 



A number of trees were treated by the Owen process for the control of insect pests 

 and diseases. The treatment consisted of boring a hole into the heart of the tree, 

 putting in a grayish black powder composed largely of sulphur and charcoal and 

 then putting in a wooden plug. Up to the present time this treatment has proved 

 entirely valueless, as was expected. 



Japanese chestnuts at the station are proving of but little value. Two of the 

 European varieties, Paragon and Comfort, are very promising and have given several 

 noteworthy crops. In the test of cover crops in the orchard mammoth clover has 

 proved especially valuable. It is most satisfactory when oats or barley are grown 

 with it. 



Pomology as a study, R. L. Castle {Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc. [London], 29 {1904), 

 No. 1-3, pp. 146-160). — A paper showing the wealth of material which fruits furnish 

 to students who wish to study them for pleasure or information. Specific sugges- 

 tions are given for study and investigation along the following lines: (1) Flower-bud 

 formation, controlling influences such as food supply and weather; (2) problems in 

 fertilization and sterility; (3) the development of fruits; (4) fruit characters and 

 description; (5) systems of classification. 



Under flower-bud formation the author notes an experiment in root pruning 6 

 espalier pear trees which had made a very free growth but which were still unfruit- 

 ful. Two trees were root pruned on both sides, 2 on one side only, and the remain- 

 ing 2 were left untouched for controls. The root pruning was performed in January 

 and February and nothing special was noticed during the current year. 



The following year the trees root pruned on one side only produced a fair crop of 

 good fruit; those more severely root pruned had very lew fruits, while those which 



