112 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. XII, No. 3 



As soon as obtained, the samples were transferred to tin cans with 

 tightly fitting lids, and the cans immediately closed. The weight of 

 the fresh soil sample was determined and a second weighing made after 

 the soil had been reduced to constant weight in a drying oven, the 

 difference between the two weighings being taken as the moisture con- 

 tent of the sample. The percentage of saturation was determined by 

 comparing the moisture content of the sample with the total water- 

 holding capacity of the soil. In the experiments of 1914 and 191 5 the 

 latter was secured by taking the average water-absorbing capacity of 

 a large number of samples, but in 191 6 saturation tests were made on 

 each soil sample. 



Notes were taken on the amount of bitter-pit at picking time, and 

 later notes were taken to determine the increase in storage. The apples 

 were cut open at the time of the last note-taking and a record made of 

 the amount of internal browning. An apple was counted as affected 

 with bitter-pit if it had either internal or external evidence of the dis- 

 ease, but very few apples showed internal browning that did not also 

 have the external pitting. 



EXPERIMENTS ON GANG APPLES IN 1914 



The irrigation experiments were begun in 191 3. The results of the 

 first season were of little value, since the main trouble in the experi- 

 mental orchards was found to be stigmonose instead of bitter-pit. In 

 1 91 4, the data from the most promising orchard were lost on account 

 of mistakes of the picking crew, but some interesting contrasts were 

 obtained in an orchard of Gano apples. The trees in the latter orchard 

 were 11 years old and thrifty; the soil was a volcanic ash, uniform in 

 texture to a depth of 6 feet. The orchard had been under clean culti- 

 vation but at the time of the experiments was sown to vetch. There 

 were four trees in each plat. The soil-moisture condition for the season 

 is shown in figure i. All of the plats became quite dry the middle of 

 August on account of trouble with the irrigation canals. 



Table I. — Percentage of bitter-pit on Gano apples in igi4 



The crop was quite heavy, averaging about 25 bushels per tree. There 

 was no bitter-pit on the fruit at picking time. Five boxes of apples 

 from each plat were placed in cold storage and held for three months. 

 Tab e I gives the results of notes taken at the end of this storage period. 



