332 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATK N BULLETIN 247 



building. This will soon be in operation and promises to furnish excellent 

 means of studying bud hardiness. In this way much more rapid progress 

 can be made than by waiting for test winters. 



Head Formation in Apple Trees. (J. K. Shaw). This project has been 

 completed and the results published. (Bulletin 238). The orchard in 

 which these studies were made has been utilized for a fertilizer experi- 

 ment. The trees now receive a moderate annual pruning, excepting those 

 which have never been pruned. This treatment is being continued to see 

 what the effect of no pruning on yoimg trees may be. 



Testing Methods of Pruning. (J. K. Shaw). This project involves a 

 comparison of heavy, light and no pruning in a young bearing orchard. 

 Several varieties are included in this test, but the results must be based 

 on Wealthy for the other varieties appear in relatively small numbers. 

 The unpruncd trees are developing very thick tops, especially on some 

 varieties, but thus far no distinct differences in quality and quantity of 

 fruit appear. 



Effect of Pruning on Bearing Apple Trees. (F. C. Sears and J. K. 

 Shaw). The fertilizer experiment started in this orchard in 1889 has been 

 discontinued, and the plots now receive equal amounts of nitrate of soda. 

 A comparison of heavy, light and no pruning is now being made on these 

 trees. This work was begun in the spring of 1927. It supplements the 

 pruning test in the preceding project, using trees nearly forty years oR 

 instead of young bearing trees. The first two years of the experiment have 

 shown no marked effect on quality and quantity of apples produced. 



Comparison of Cultivation and Sod in a Bearing Orchard. (J. K. Shaw). 

 This project had been continued on a fixed program since 1921. In the 

 spring of 1927 it seemed wise to redirect the work. One of the plots 

 which had previously been in cultivation without fertilization has received 

 for the past two years the same amount of nitrogen that the sod plots 

 have been receiving — 300 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre. This seems 

 to have favored production of the Baldwin very distinctly, and there 

 appears a less distinct improvement in the production of the Mcintosh. 



One of the sod plots which had received nitrogen has been continued 

 on the same program. A second plot has received an additional applica- 

 tion of nitrate of soda, 200 pounds per acre, at about the time terminal 

 growth stopped. This seems to have favored production with the Bald- 

 win and shows a less distinct improvement with the Mcintosh. The third 

 sod plot has received 200 pounds per acre of sulfate of potash in early 

 spring. There is no indication that this has improved production with the 

 Baldwin, but it may have slightly favored production with the Mcintosh. 



The fertilizer test now being carried on in the orchard previously de- 

 voted to a study of Head Formation may be considered a part of this 

 project. The orchard is entirely in cultivation and from planting in 1916 

 to 1925 received no fertilizer. The trees showed some indications of 

 nitrogen definciency. The orchard was divided into seven plots; four 

 of these are now receiving nitrogen equivalent to 300 pounds per acre 

 of nitrate of soda, the other three plots continue to receive no fertilizer. 

 The fertilized plots show improved color of foliage and should show 

 improved yields. Of course no conclusions can be drawn for several years. 



Comparison of Clover Sod and Grass in Sod Mulch Orchard. (J. K. 



Shaw). This project has been continued as in the past and the usual 

 observations made. The plots receiving complete fertilizer have shown 

 rather better production than those receiving phosphorus, potash and lime. 



