ketable. The conclusion arrived at from numerous experiments 

 made here and in other localities with fertilizers and with different 

 methods of cultivation is that it is largely due to a premature and 

 imperfect ripening, on light land especially exposed to the south, or 

 on trees where there is an excess of nitrogen in the soil available 

 during July and August. (See Fertilizers for fruits, page 9.) 

 While on rather cool, moist soils with a northern exposure and 

 where there is an abundance of potash in the soil and the nitrogen- 

 ous elements are pretty well exhausted when the fruit begins to 

 mature, there are few or no spots found. A warm, rather dry 

 August and September, seems to increase the amount of injury 

 especially if the trees are not in clean, cultivated land. Under cul- 

 tivation the frequent stirring of the soil tends to a later growth that 

 is not so much subject to this disease. This injury is more abund- 

 ant in fruit grown on old weak trees, but it sometimes attacks that 

 from young trees as well. 



NEW VARIETIES. 



The old standard varieties possess qualities that render them 

 especially valuable for home use and for market, but there have 

 been many tests made of new varieties grown here as well 

 as in other localities that are competing with the old varieties 

 grown for our local markets. If new varieties are showy, bear 

 transportation well and are good keepers, old varieties are likely 

 to become unpopular unless of especially line quality and good size 

 and color. The question then is, whether the growers of Massa- 

 chusetts shall raise Baldwins, Rhode Island Greenings, Roxbury 

 Russetts, varieties of unquestion.able hardiness, vigor and produc- 

 tiveness, yet with many defects, or the more showy Macintosh, 

 Wealthy, Washington Royal (Palmer Greening), Sutton Beauty, etc. 

 which possess the merits of being beautiful and of fine quality, but 

 which are rather delicate for shipping, or the Ben Davis, which is 

 beautiful, productive and a good shipping variety, but of very poor 

 quality. Viewed in the light of past experience it is safe to say 

 that varieties of poor quality, no matter how showy, will not, in the 

 long run, increase the demand for them, while beautiful form and 

 color with good quality, which should go together, will increase the 

 demand and generally raise the price. The varieties most profitable 

 for Massachusetts as determined by the tests in the Station orchards 

 and in various localities of the state are as follows : 



