CHANGES IN COMPOSITION DURING GROWTH. 9 



HEATH CLING (SYN. WHITE HEATH). 



Size medium to large; oblong-oval, surface smooth, creamy-white, often with a 

 delicate crimson blush on exposed side; dots rare; down short; cavity regular, small, 

 abrupt; suture medium, extending from cavity to apex; apex prominent; skin thick, 

 tenacious; stone medium, cling; flesh creamy-white, firm, melting, juicy; sweet, 

 rich; very good; season late. Very popular for canning and preserving on account 

 of its firm flesh and fine flavor. 



The cultural data, as furnished by Mr. S. H. Fulton, assistant 

 pomologist. Bureau of Plant Industry, are as follows: 



Trees 6 years old. Soil medium sandy loam. In nursery stock two years previous 

 to planting. Orchard has been thoroughly plowed and well cultivated annually, 

 cultivation continuing up to about August 1 to 15. 



Sweet potatoes were planted the first two years, well fertilized and manured. 

 Crimson clover planted in 1902, plowed under in May, 1903, crop very large, causing 

 unusual growth of trees. 



Trees sprayed with crude oil and water, spring of 1901 and 1902. Lime-sulphur- 

 salt used in 1903 and 1904. 



The crop this year (1904) w r as very heavy. The season was abnormal. For six 

 weeks prior to August 10 the atmosphere was very humid, resulting in the ruin of all 

 peaches ripening up to that date. About August 20 the season became abnormally 

 dry, no rain falling throughout the ripening period of all the later varieties. In com- 

 paring the ripening of the early and late peaches with each other, therefore, the vary- 

 ing climatic conditions to which the two classes were subjected must be taken into 

 consideration. 



The fruits of the first two pickings were examined microscopically 

 for starch. No starch was found in the embryo or in the stone, and 

 none in the flesh with the exception of a thin layer of granules just 

 under the epidermis of the fruit. The specimens which apparently 

 had the largest amount of starch were examined quantitatively and 0.1 

 per cent found to be present. This amount is of course negligible and 

 no further determinations of starch were made. 



The changes in composition of growing fruits m&y be expressed 

 in two ways: First, the percentage composition of the fruit at various 

 stages of growth, showing the change in composition of the sub- 

 stance, and hence in nature as it progresses; second, the actual weight 

 of solids, water, sugar, starch, proteids, etc., in an individual of the 

 species under examination. For example, it is interesting, on the one 

 hand, to note the changes in percentage composition which occur as 

 peaches progress from the green to the ripe stage; on the other hand, 

 the actual weights of each ingredient present in a single peach at 

 various stages of the life history of the fruit are of still greater interest 

 and throw more light on the changes in chemical composition. 

 6041 No. 9705 2 



