30 N. J. Agricultural Experiment Stations Bulletin 356 



It has been noted that early storage of elaborated food tends to 

 hasten maturity of fruit under normal conditions. Enforced storage 

 of starch in any portion of a tree may then be expected still further to 

 promote maturity or cause premature ripening of the fruit. It is a 



Fig. 18 — Illustration of Same Tree as in Figure 17 Showing Con- 

 dition a Little Later in Season. Note Normal Trees in Full 

 Foliage in Background at Right 



well-known fact that girdling or ringing will hasten the maturity of 

 grapes, a practice which is sometimes followed. 



Complete girdling of a peach tree near the ground as a result of 

 winter injury commonly causes its death before the fruit has an op- 

 portunity to ripen, but if the girdling is not complete, enlargement of 

 the fruit and early maturity is commonly the result. Such behavior 

 by a tree has not infrequently led to the belief that it was a special 

 strain or bud sport. Fruit from girdled trees is readily distinguished 

 from normal fruit by the enlarged lenticels, or dots, as illustrated in 

 figure 27. Such fruit is invariably astringent, apparently because of 

 the increased tannin content. Girdling, either artificial or otherwise, 



