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Rutgers University to determine the benefits, if any, of irrigation of peaches 

 in Pennsylvania. 



The experiment was conducted during the 1955 growing season on eight year 

 old trees of the varieties Golden Jubilee, Newday and Elberta. All trees 

 received uniform cultural practices except for irrigation. After the June 

 drop the fruit on all trees were thinned to a uniform spacing. 



The rainfall during April, May, July and September was below normal but the 

 rainfall for August was 3 times normal, Pennsylvania like Massachusetts had 

 hurricane rains during August of 1955. Also like Massachusetts, temperatures 

 were exceptionally high in the months of July and early August. 



The trees to be irrigated received supplemental water 3 times during a 5 

 week period (July to August). Three inches of water was applied each time. 



Irrigation resulted in a significant increase in fruit size and yield 

 of all three varieties. The yield of Golden Jubilee, harvested August 10th 

 to 13th, showed an increase of two bushels per acre over non irrigated trees. 

 Ninety-five per cent of the fruit harvested from the irrigated trees was 2 1/4 

 inches in diameter or larger as compared to only forty per cent of this size 

 from non irrigated trees. 



Irrigation of the Newday variety, harvested August 15th to 18th, resulted 

 in an increase of 1.4 bushels per tree. Seventy-five per cent of the fruit 

 harvested frcm the irrigated trees was 2 1/2 inches in diameter or larger 

 while only fifty per cent of the fruit from non irrigated trees were of this 

 size. 



The Elberta variety, harvested on September 10th to 13th, showed an increase 

 of one bushel per tree over non irrigated trees. Ninety per cent of the fruit 

 from the irrigated trees was 2 1/4 inches or larger whereas from non irrigated 

 trees 75 per cent were of this size. Although 16 inches of rain fell in August 

 during the period of the final swell of the Elberta peaches, there was a 

 significant increase in size and yield of fruit on the irrigated trees. The 

 trees had been irrigated during the dry period in July and the results obtained 

 were in agreement with other research findings in that a prolonged drought 

 during any period of fruit development will result in an ultimate reduction of 

 fruit size and yield. 



The fruit from the irrigated trees was harvested in one picking, whereas 

 two pickings were required on the non irrigated trees. In addition, the fruit 

 from irrigated trees ripened two to three days earlier than did the fruit from 

 non irrigated trees. 



Due to irrigation, shoot growth on all three varieties was increased 

 significantly. Irrigation had no effect on color nor pit-splitting, 



W, J. Lord 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



NOTICE 



The next issue of Fruit Notes will be a combined July - August issue and 

 will be published August 15. 



