FLOWER BUDS OF APPLES 271 



The imiiiediate purpose of the work reported in this bulletin, 

 was to discover the ways in which ditt'erent trees of the Jonathan 

 and Grimes Golden growing on plots representing four types of 

 soil manag^enient, (clover sod, 'blue grass sod, tillag:e and cover 

 crop and clean tillage) differed in the time of forming flower 

 buds, in the number of flower buds formed and in the rate of the 

 development of flowers. In addition to the difference in the 

 manag'ement of the soil, also such factors as the amount of soil 

 moisture of the different plots and. the growth and prcduction 

 of the different trees during previous years were considered in 

 relation to the differences in the formation and development of 

 flower buds. 



At the time the orchard was leased it was ei2:hteen or nineteen 

 years old. It was perhaps in a little better condition than the 

 ordinary neglected orchard of similar size and age. The soil of 

 this orchard is known as Missouri loess. It has a texture almost 

 as fine as clay but is very porous and affords excellent drainage 

 and aeration. This soil is very deep and since it holds moisture 

 well, it is an ideal orchard soil. 



The part of the orchard included in the experiment was 

 divided into six plots. These plots have received the following 

 treatment since 1910. 



Plot One (clover sod) has an east slope. Beginning with 

 1910 it was seeded to red clover but a poor stand resulted then 

 and in the three next years; in the spring of 1914 it was seeded 

 to white sweet clover. A very heavy stand was obtained in 191.5 

 but the clover failed to reseed itself and in 1916 the plot was 

 well covered with a good growth of weeds. 



Plot Two (cover crop) is situated above plot one on the same 

 east slope. Each year it receives weekly cultivations between 

 May first and the last of July. Between July 25 and August 3 

 a leguminous or nonleguminous cover crop is sown. The legni- 

 minous crop is sown on even years. In 1915 rape and buckAvheat 

 were sown while in 1916 vetch was substituted for the buck- 

 wheat. 



Plot Three (clean tillage) receives a weekly cultivation from 

 early spring till late in July. The part of the plot on which 

 the trees included in the experiment were located was near the 

 top of the ridge on a southwest slope. 



Plot F&ur (blue grass) was plowed in 1910 and seeded to 

 blue grass. It required two or three years to get a blue grass 



