974 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



secured, having a value of $2,077.57, and $240 worth of No. 2 culls and vinegar apples 

 total value, $2,317.50, while the expense of production was $883.30. An unculti- 

 vated orchard of 30 acres in the same locality yielded, in comparison, but 70 bbls. of 

 poor No. 2 apples. The results of analyses of the soil and subsoil in the orchard 

 rejuvenated are given. They show considerably less than half of the humus nor- 

 mally present in average southern soils. In newer ground the humus was greatest 

 in the surface soil, but in the older land it was greatest in the subsoil. 



Attention is called to the injury to apples by the green narrow-winged katydid 

 (Seudderia texensis). This insect injured from 3 to 5 per cent of the fruit on many 

 trees. The injury consisted principally in the disfiguring of the fruit. The propor- 

 tion of sound apples on the area first sprayed in going into the orchard was 93J per 

 cenl ; in other parts of the orchard the percentage was 84 to 89 per cent, thus show- 

 ing that the best work in spraying was done when the men were fresh. The cost of 

 spraying was 3| cts. per tree. 



Some of the trees were dust sprayed, but the foliage and fruit of these trees were 

 not so perfect as with the liquid. It gave better results against codling moth than 

 against seal), and was very efficient for tent caterpillars. The notion commonly 

 prevalent among orchardists in Arkansas that pruning must not be practiced was 

 found to be erroneous when conducted in a careful and intelligent manner. 



The use of nitrate of soda at the rate of 3 lbs. per tree greatly promoted the general 

 vigor of the tree, increased the average size of the apples one-third over trees receiv- 

 ing a genera] fertilizer, and gave much better results than when only 1 lb. of the 

 same fertilizer alone or with 3 lbs. muriate or sulphate of potash or with 20 lbs. 

 slaked lime was used. "The fruit was not so well colored as that of other trees, and 

 was later maturing. On this clayey cherty soil, very deficient in humus, no marked 

 effects followed the use of the other fertilizers mentioned above, when used separately. 

 Lime seemed to help the foliage and color of the apples on trees treated, while the 

 muriate of potash gave a very bright winesap red to the normally brownish Arkan- 

 sas, or M. B. Twigs." The resets in the orchard were found to make a good growth 

 when care was given them and sufficient fertilizer to insure plenty of plant food 

 within reach of the roots. 



Carbon bisulphid was found an efficient remedy for killing sassafras sprouts when 

 used at the rate of a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful on sprouts 3 to 5 feet tall. It was 

 poured down the stems, beginning 6 inches above the ground. It appeared to kill 

 the roots in all instances. Protection from rabbits was secured by painting the trees 

 with white lead mixed with pure linseed oil. 



The most serious harvest injuries to apples were found to come from bruises origi- 

 nating in careless handling by the fruit pickers and in the crushing of the riper speci- 

 mens by the harder specimens in heading in the barrels. By shaking down the 

 barrels every time a half bushel is put in, and filling only slightly above the chine, 

 this source of injury and loss can be avoided. 



The Spencer seedless apple (Amer. Agr., 77 (1906) , No. 7, pp. 206, 207, jigs. 3). — 

 An account of a visit to the seedless apple orchard at Grand Junction, Colo., by 

 W. F. Crowley. 



The writer states that this orchard contains about 50 trees from 6 to 12 or 14 years 

 old; that the apples produced are not entirely without seeds at all times; that the 

 apple is a good keeper, and that it will compare favorably in size with the Jonathan 

 and is larger than the Missouri Pippin. In flavor and quality it is placed ahead of 

 Ben Davis and on an equality with many other winter varieties. The claim that the 

 variety is seedless is believed to be well founded. There appears to be a semblance of 

 a core, although not nearly as much as in the ordinary varieties. The apple is hollow 

 in the calyx and it is no longer claimed for it that it is wormless. Under like con- 

 ditions of storage the apples kept as well as Baldwins. 





