- 2 



Another important factor is wind. On a bright, sunny day, heat 

 will not accumulate in the trunk if a mild breeze is blowing, so wind 

 can be a protective influence. But at night, a wind will significantly 

 lower the temperature of the trunk on the windward side, and therefore 

 may be a damaging influence. 



It should be clear, then, that this cold injury is the result of a 

 combination of environmental and physiological factors. Work is now un- 

 der way in Georgia to find an economical way to protect the trees from 

 this injury. It has been found that wrapping trunks with aluminum foil 

 backed with fiberglass is effective protection, but it is not economical. 



Do these results obtained in Georgia have any application to us in 

 New England? They do indeed I Eggert reported from New Hampshire some 

 years ago (Proc . Amer . Soc . Hort . Sci . 45: 33-36) that between December, 

 1943, and March, 1944, peach tree trunks reached 60°F. or higher on 18 

 different days, and reached 80° or higher on 5 different days. On most 

 of these days, air temperature was at or below 32 F. He found that 

 trunks of apple trees, on the other hand, underwent far less severe tem- 

 perature fluctuations, and this difference between kinds of trees he at- 

 tributed to differences in smoothness, thickness, color, and texture of 

 their bark. 



How much can be done practically to reduce cold injury to trees is 

 highly debatable. Nevertheless, the findings of Dr. Savage's group 

 should help us to understand why trees respond to their environment in 

 the way that they do, and should help us to evaluate problems that may 

 develop. 



*************** 



NEW EARLY APPLE VARIETIES 



Walter D. Weeks 

 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences 



Ouinte Quinte originated in Canada. It is one of the earliest 

 red varieties to be released in recent years. It ripens 

 just after Lodi and seven to ten days before Melba. 

 Quinte is an attractive red apple with fruit quality 

 equal to Melba. As it is not a large apple, it may re- 

 quire thinning to get good size in some locations. The 

 tree is hardy and it bears annually. 



Julvred Julyred is a New Jersey introduction. It ripens about a 

 week before Melba. The fruits are an attractive medium 

 red. Fruit quality is good, it has better shelf -life and 

 shipping ability than most early summer varieties. July- 

 red is a promising new early dessert variety. 



