BIENNIAF, RKPOliT, 1927 AND 1928 331 



in tlie literature, an experiinent was undertaken some two years since to 

 determine as nearlj-^ as possible the mineral requirements of dairy heifers 

 up to two or more years of age. Eight heifers are at present under test, 

 tiie intake and outgo of calcium and phosphorus in each case being ac- 

 curately determined. One group is receiving a diet high in calcium and 

 another group a ration rather low in this ingredient. It is too early yet to 

 draw any conclusions from the data already secured. 



DEPARTMENT OF POMOLOGY 



F. C. Sears in Charge 



The Interrelation of Stock and Scion in Apples. (.). K. Shaw and J. S. 

 Bailey). The usual observations of the growth, bloom, and yield have been 

 continued. Information to date has been tabulated and a bulletin report- 

 ing results is in process of preparation. The general results of this in- 

 vestigation seem to indicate a rather less influence of stock than had been 

 expected. These trees were grafted at the surface of the groiind. Possibly 

 if the union had been higher up results would have been different. The 

 results suggest that stock influence is more likely to dwarf trees than tf) 

 invigorate them. 



Investigation of the clonal stocks from East Mailing, England were 

 continued. Mound layering gave rather poor results, and attempts to 

 propagate several of the stocks from cuttings planted in the field re- 

 sulted in complete failure. When cuttings were grafted on nurse roots 

 from ordinary apple seedlings, good success was achieved and practically 

 all the trees rooted from the scion and are now on their own roots. A 

 considerable number of these stocks were dug and root cuttings made 

 and planted in the spring of 1928. A good percentage of these started 

 into growth and bid fair to produce good stocks although the first sea- 

 son's growth is rather small. 



About 300 Mcintosh and Wealthy trees on East Mailing stocks were 

 planted in the orchard in the spring of 1928. 



Tree Character of Fruit Varieties. (J. K. Shaw and A. P. French)- 

 Further observations have been made on the varietal characteristics of 

 apple and other nursery fruit trees. These observations are being brt.'Ught 

 together in a bulletin designed to replace and extend Bulletin 208, "Leaf 

 Characters of Apple Varieties." Plans are being made to extend and in- 

 tensify work under this project by means of a nursery in which will be 

 grown all apple varieties generally propagated by nurserymen. It is 

 hoped that in time this work may be extended to fruits other than apple. 

 The results of this work continue to be applied in a practical fashion in 

 nurseries, and it is hoped will result in a substantial decrease in the num- 

 ber of mixed varieties sold by nurserymen. 



The Genetic Composition of Peaches. (J. K. Shaw and J. S. Bailey). 

 About 1200 selfed and cross-fertilized seedlings resulting from work in 

 previous years were planted out in the orchard in the spring of 1928. 

 The parent trees failed to bloom in the spring of 1927 because of winter- 

 killing of the buds. In 1928 some further crossing was done, but the 

 results were rather disappointing owing to poor set of fruit. 



A freezing apparatus for the purpose of studying the bud hardiness of 

 seedlings and parent varieties was constructed in 1927 and further de- 

 veloped in 1928 by attaching to the refrigerating plant in the cold storage 



