92 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 339 



PUBLICATIONS 



Bulletins 



317 Blueberry Culture in Massachusetts. John S. Bailey and Henry J. 

 Franklin. 20 pp. illus. February 1935, Revised May 1936. 



327 Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending November 30, 1935. 84 pp. 

 February 1936. 



The main purpose of this report is to provide an opportunity for presenting in published 

 form, recent results from experimentation in fields or on projects where progress has not 

 been such as to justify the general and definite conclusions necessary to meet the require- 

 ments of bulletin or journal. 



328 Heavy Mulching in Bearing Apple Orchards. J. K. Shaw and L. South- 

 wick. 15 pp. illus. March 1936. 



Mcintosh and Wealthy apple trees were observed during a fifteen-year period under a 

 comparison ot heavy mulch and cultivation with a cover crop. No additional fertilizer 

 was used on the mulched plots; the cultivated plots received nitrate of soda at the rate of 

 300 pounds per acre during the last six years only. 



The moisture content of the surface layer of soil differed little except during dry periods 

 when it was higher under the mulch. Soil temperature during the growing season differed 

 little except during warm periods when it was a little lower under the mulch. After the 

 first three years the soil nitrates were much higher under the mulch, but did not produce 

 excessive growth of trees. 



Growth and yield of trees was greater under the mulch system than under cultivation. 

 Fruit on the mulched trees matured a little later, but no marked differences in color or 

 quality were observed. 



This work suggests that heavy mulching is a satisfactory system of orchard management. 

 The chief objection is cost. 



329 Winter Pause in Rhode Island Reds. F. A. Hays. 11 pp. illus. March 



1936. 



The birds studied were hatched between March 4 and April 23, and those hatched in 

 March showed a somewhat higher incidence of pause than the ones hatched in April. 

 There seemed to be no relation between winter pause and age at first egg, weight at first 

 egg, mean body weight to March 1, laying-house mortality, or hatchability. Short intervals 

 between eggs of a clutch during the winter months, large winter clutch size, the ability to 

 lay large numbers of eggs over a long period before pausing — all had a tendency to shorten 

 the winter pause. There was no evidence for looking upon winter pause as a recuperative 

 period to be followed by increased egg production. 



Winter pause caused birds to lose an average of about 37 days in the winter production 

 period and very significantly reduced winter egg production. 



330 The Bulbous Iris and Its Outdoor Culture in Massachusetts. Frank A. 

 Waugh. 15 pp. illus. April 1936. 



Although bulbous irises are among the most beautiful and adaptable groups of flowering 

 plants, the belief that they are not hardy for this latitude has hindered their general intro- 

 duction. However, in growing these irises out of doors over a period of thirty years, we have 

 never had a single convincing case of loss from winter freezing, and they are apparently 

 quite as winter-hardy as Darwin tulips or tiger lilies. A large number of varieties are listed 

 with notes on color, size, date of bloom, and general desirability. Methods of culture are 

 outlined, and recommendations made of the varieties most suitable for beginners. 



331 The Development of the Testes and Scrotum of the Ram, Bull, and Boar. 

 Ralph W. Phillips and Frederick N. Andrews. 16 pp. illus. April 1936. 



A knowledge of the normal course of development of the testes and scrotum is necessary 

 as a basis for the management and feeding of young developing males. 



In the studies here reported development of the germinal epithelium of the testes was 

 first noted at the age of 84 days in the ram and boar, and 142 days in the bull, and sper- 

 matozoa first appeared at the age ot 147 days in the ram and boar and 224 days in the bull. 



