Recent Studies on Peach Vellows and Little Peach ol 



Rate of Growth Affects Time of Maturity of Fruits 



It is a well known principle that slow growing or checked trees 

 tend to ripen their fruit earlier than rapidly growing trees. 



In 1914 at the Vineland orchards mature Elberta peach trees re- 

 ceiving no nitrogen began to ripen their fruits 8 days earlier than 

 trees receiving 10 tons of stable manure, while young and well fer- 

 tilized Elberta trees in the same orchard did not begin to ripen until 

 19 days after the no-nitrogen block. 



Vigorous but slow growth and early storage of reserve food tends 

 to promote early maturity and large size of the fruit. 



Rate of Growth as Affecting Fruit Bud Formation 



Slow but vigorous growth results in the early storage of reserve 

 food, the early differentiation of fruit buds and the early shedding 

 of foliage or maturity of the buds. Such buds are commonly larger 

 and more advanced in their development than buds on trees that grow 

 more rapidly and later in the season. Buds that are advanced in 

 development when they enter the dormant period are the most easily 

 started into growth during warm periods in winter. Such a condition 

 of the buds is therefore objectionable in peach sections where more 

 or less "open"' winters are likely to prevail. 



Rate <>f Growth May Affect Size <>l Fruit from Almost the Beginning 



of the Season 



Peaches on adjoining trees i>i the same variety may vary consider- 

 ably in size soon after the fruit has set where there is a marked dif- 

 ference in the rate of growth and a slight cheek to translocation of 

 plant- foods. 



The fruits on rapid-growing young trees tend to be the smaller. 



Effect of Girdling Upon the Size and Maturity of the Fruit 



Slight girdling of the trunk either above or just below the surface 

 of the soil tends to cause earlier ripening, and increased size of the 

 fruit with enlarged lenticels or dots. Such fruits are likely to be 

 bitter and also astringent because of their increased tannin content. 

 Severe girdling causes prematuring of the fruit and the death of 

 the tree. 



Girdled trees may develop symptoms almost identical with yellows. 



