366 MAlSS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 260 



two-year trees in 1931. The photographic method will be used, and it 

 is felt that real iDrogress can be made in recording various differences so 

 they may be understood by anyone familiar with nursery trees. 



The Genetic Composition of Peaches. (J. S. Bailey). The orchard of 

 about 1200 selfed and cross-fertilized seedlings planted in the spring of 

 1928 made satisfactory growth during the past season, and only a very few 

 trees died. Few studies were made the past season, but with the trees 

 in good growth it is expected that studies will be made the coming summer. 

 Some additional work in crossing varieties was done the past summer, but 

 for some unknown reason very few fruits were secured. 



The freezing apparatus designed for use in the study of fruit bud 

 hardiness in connection with this project has been completed and con- 

 siderable data have already been accumulated bearing on the killing point 

 of buds of different varieties and on the effect of various conditions on 

 the killing point. This work is slow and painstaking, and considerable 

 time will be required before sufficient data can be accumulated to war- 

 rant definite conclusions- 

 Testing Methods of Pruning. (J. K. Shaw). This project has been 

 continued' the past year, but no attempt to summarize the results has 

 yet been made. No obvious differences have appeared in the quality and 

 quantity of the fruit borne on the heavy pruned, light pruned, and un^ 

 pruned trees. 



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

 The past season was the third year of this experiment on old bearing 

 trees- There seems to be a slight though not very consistent increase in 

 size of fruit on the heavy pruned trees. The fruit from these trees is 

 graded according to the State Grading Law each year, and notes of size, 

 color development, and various insects and diseases have been made. No 

 striking differences have appeared; yet the data must be carefully ex- 

 amined before safe conclusions can be drawn. 



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



Shaw). The experimental program as modifiedl in 1927 has been con- 

 tinued. Where nitrate of soda has been used on trees in cultivation with- 

 out fertilizer, there was distinct increase in yield. Whether a midsummer 

 application of nitrate of soda has increased yield is yet uncertain. The 

 same may be said relative to the sod plot which has for the past three 

 years received potash in addition to nitrogen. 



The fertilizer test in the orchard formerly devoted to the study of head 

 formation has continued as for the past four years. No careful study of 

 data has been made, but it seems clear that the nitrogen has improved 

 the trees, although perhaps the unfertilized plots show better performance 

 than one would expect from trees on rather poor soil which has been 

 without fertilizers since the planting of the trees in 1916- 



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



Shaw). This project is a comparison of a complete fertilizer with phos- 

 phorus, potash and lime designed to bring in a sod of white clover which 

 may be expected to furnish nitrogen for the trees. The white clover 

 appeared first in 1927 and has been slowly spreading, as the fertilizer 

 treatment has been continued. The trees with complete fertilizer con- 



