1(52 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



when these were shipped by freight or express, they were 

 packed in crates holding approximately one bushel. This 

 style of package proved generally satisfactor}^ ; it furnishes 

 about the quantity of fruit desired by most purchasers. 



In making local sales, especially of plums for canning pur- 

 poses, a larger package was usually more satisfactor}^ The 

 so-called Jersey peach basket, holding sixteen quarts (one- 

 half bushel), is the cheapest and most convenient. 



In some cases, where fancy plums are designed for the 

 fruit stand trade, they may be put up in t^uart baskets, such 

 as are used for strawberries. We find these also satisfactory. 



This whole matter may be summarized by saying that 

 most markets are not fastidious with respect to the form of 

 package used for plums. Any small, neat basket or box 

 will answer, if the fruit is of good quality and Avell packed. 



Experiments in Pruning Peach Trees. 

 The department of horticulture has under way a series of 

 experiments and special studies in pruning fruit trees. Re- 

 ports on various phases of this work will be made from tune 

 to time as results are reached. At the present time we are 

 able to make a report of progress in the experiments in 

 pruning peach trees. 



1. The liesuhs of uVo Pruning. 



One row of trees in the principal peach orchard has been 

 left entirely without pruning from the first. This row runs 

 crosswise of the variety rows, and therefore contains trees 

 of all the varieties in the orchard, as follows: Oldmixon, 

 Triumph, Mountain Rose, Elberta, Earh^ Crawford, Late 

 Crawford, Crosby. The trees are nine years old. 



These trees, left unpruned for nine years, are plainly dif- 

 ferent from adjacent trees of the same varieties which have 

 been pruned. Surprising as it may appear on first state- 

 ment, they are more open-headed. They have generally 

 assumed a vase form. The interior wood has died out, leav- 

 ing the centres open, and at the same time leaving the lower 

 part of the main branches bare. The fruiting wood is 

 sparse, Aveak and high up in the trees. The trees are very 



