17 



applied to branches near the trunk and had spread over it so much as 

 to kill it, consequently those buds which seemed uninjured failed to 

 start. 



Experiment No. 4. 



Four trees of the same kind were selected and covered with straw 

 matting. After the mat was bound about the tree, dry sawdust was 

 poured in at the top of one, moist sawdust into another, and coal 

 ashes into another, and the fourth contained nothing. After tying up 

 the ends of the mats, the whole was supported by two strong stakes. 



Result. 



The trees covered and protected with dry sawdust show more unin- 

 jured fruit buds than those covered in other ways or unprotected. 



The trees protected with wet sawdust and ashes showed no more un- 

 injured fruit buds than the same kinds unprotected. 



This experiment was cai-ried out iu detail by Mr. L. F. Kinnej' of tlie Class of '88. 



Conclusion. 

 Very little satisfactory information has been obtained by the above 

 experiments, but the following facts are as fully demonstrated as is pos- 

 sible by one series of experiments. 

 1st. That turpentine and benzine will destroy peach trees when applied 



to branches or trunk. 

 2d. That the fruit buds are not protected by the ordinary light cov- 

 ering of mats, pine boughs, etc. 

 3d. That the glue solution as applied is of no value in protecting 

 the buds. 

 The system of covering trees by binding over must be more fully 

 worked out as to detail, to demonstrate its practicability and economy. 

 Further experiments are required to demonstrate the value of linseed 

 oil and shellac. 



GIRDLING APPLE TREES TO PRODUCE FRUITFULNESS. 



In many sections where the soil is moist and rich, fruit trees grow 

 largely to wood and foliage, and fail to produce fruit until they reach 

 considerable age and size. 



To discover some means of hastening the fruiting of such trees the 

 following experiments have been made. 



A row of crab apple trees of about the same size and condition of 

 growth were selected and treated as follows. 



Experiment No. 1. 

 1st. Three trees were girdled by cutting out a ring of bark ^, ^, and 

 ^ inch wide at the ground, July 12th, 21st and 29th. 



