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POMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 



3» The Evaluation of Rootstocks 

 for Tree Fruits 



We have been conducting rootstock studies for the past 2^ years. It would seem 

 that after 2^ years there would not be much left to learn about rootstocks, but wlien 

 we consider that the life of an apple tree is 35-50 years it is easy to see that root- 

 stock research is by necessity a long time proposition. 



Up until the present time yre have been concerned with evaluating the performance 

 of our principal apple varieties w^hen groim on the several East Mailing rootstocks. 

 We have been looking for a rootstock which would produce a tree 1/2-2/3 the size of 

 a seedling rooted tree* V/e also wanted the tree to come into production at an early 

 age and to produce high acre yields. 



The results indicate that a few of the lulling stocks appear promising in ac- 

 complishing our goal, Mlling II and 711 produce trees which are 1/2-2/3 the size of 

 seedling rooted trees. They come into production at an early age and have given high 

 acre yields. There maybe a possibility of a weakness vdth these stocks in that the 

 trees may not be too well anchored. 



Mailing I is another stock which shows promise. It produces a tree about 3/U 

 the size of seedling rootstocks. It comes into production early and is productive aid 

 appears to be well anchored o 



Mailing XVI does not produce a semi-dwarf tree, but is a vigorous stock. It is 

 very productive and appears promising as a s took for weak growing varieties. 



In our studies with the semi-dwarfing rootstocks we have found that the vigor 

 of the variety determines to a large extent how much dwarfing effect can be produced 

 by the rootstock. Very vigorous varieties are dwarfed slightly while weak growing 

 varieties may be dwarfed too much by a given rootstock. 



We have recently received a new series of semi-dwarfing rootstocks from England 

 which are reported to be superior to the Ifeilling stocks. So it looks like we shall 

 have to start evaluating rootstocks all over again. 



Our future studies with rootstocks call for evaluating new rootstocks and deter- 

 mining if the better Mailing stocks are practical for the commercial orchard, 



VVJD .Weeks 



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The Ear list Formed Stravfberry Runners Are Money-Makers - Research 

 has shown that the earliest (June-formeci) runner plants are the 

 ones T*iich will produce the largest yield the following spring. 

 Early spring planting of mother plants will allow for June runner 

 plant formation, Funner plants then have plenty of time to bui]d 

 up food supply for use in forming blossom buds in fall. 



The Moral ; Plant your strawberry mother plants early and take 

 care of them. 



