RESEARCH FROM OTHER AREAS 



(Items included under this heading are for your information and may not apply to 

 Massachusetts conditions in all instances.) 



MALLING MERTON ROOTSTOCKS 



In the March-May 1963 issue of Farm Research, Karl Brase discussed his 

 observations of Mcintosh, Red Delicious and Monroe on 4 Mailing Merton Rootstocks. 

 The follbwing is information taken from the article. 



M.M. 106 



On heavy soil at Geneva, New York, Mcintosh, Monroe and Red Delicious on 

 M.M. 106 rootstocks have resulted in trees of a size one-half that of the same 

 variety on seedling roots. Tlie size controlling effect is more pronounced on 

 Monroe than on either the Red Delicious or Mcintosh varieties. Growth performance 

 under the test conditions indicate that the important apple varieties grown in New 

 York on M.M. 106 might best be planted 15 feet apart in the row and 30 betvjeen rows. 



The roots of M.M. 106 provides good anchorage since they arise at nearly a 

 right angle from the trunk and are equally well distributed on two sides. 

 "Furthermore, sucker growth from the root system of the tree, often occurring when 

 E.M. VII makes up the root system, is absent with trees on M.M. 106. Although a 

 longer test period is needed to critically evaluate this apple rootstock, results 

 obtained thus far indicate advantages over the presently much used E.M, VII 

 rootstock." 



M.M. Ill 



The growth of Monroe, Mcintosh and Red Delicious on M.M. Ill indicates that 

 the trees will be of similar size as those on E.M. II. Depending upon the variety, 

 the trees will be 1/2 to 3/4 the size of the same variety on seedling roots. 



The larger anchorage roots are more numerous than on M.M. 106. "Observations 

 made during the past very dry summer indicate that trees on M.M. Ill in comparison 

 with other E.M. and M.M. stocks were not affected by prolonged drought periods. 

 Similar experiences as to the drought-resistance of M.M. Ill are reported from 

 test areas in England." 



Brase states for a tree of medium vigor such as Monroe, 15 feet by 30 feet 

 planting distance should be ample. On stronger growing varieties the planting 

 distance in the row might be increased to 20 feet. 



M.M. 104 



Brase reports that trees grown on M.M. 104 will be no smaller than 3/4 the 

 size of the same variety on a seedling rootstock. Also, the trees do not reach 

 full bearing as rapidly as those on M.M. 106 and M.M. 111. "Our test plantings 

 indicate that the three varieties tested will not bear much earlier than those on 

 standard seedling rootstocks, but that after full bearing age is reached, fruit 

 production will be heavier than that of trees on seedling rootstocks." 



