ANNUAL REPORT, 1940 91 



Tree Characters of Fruit Varieties. (J. K. Shaw, A. P. French, O. C. 

 Roberts, and L. Southwick.) This was the twentieth year of nursery 

 examination for trueness to name. A group of 18 nurseries has been 

 visited annualh' for five years, one of them for all the 20 years. While 

 the number of misnamed trees decreases witli repeated examinations, few 

 nurseries escape introducing a few misnamed trees. About the usual 

 number of trees was certified by the Alassachusetts Fruit Growers' Asso- 

 ciation. 



The introduction of clonal stocks into the nurseries presents a new 

 problem. Unless the stock is identified before cutting back after budding, 

 it will be difficult or impossible ever to know certainly what stock is under 

 the trees in the orchard. It would be entirely possible to examine the 

 stocks before or after budding and the budded trees tlie next year and 

 then certify the identity of both stock and scion varietj^ when the trees 

 are ready for sale. Something of this sort should be undertaken or great 

 confusion and uncertaint}' will arise when and if trees on clonal rootstocks 

 come into use. 



The cherry variety nurserj' of about 45 varieties presented an oppor- 

 tunity for study, and descriptive notes and photographs were secured for 

 pul)lication. All the distinct varieties can be identified in the nursery row. 



A pear nursery, including nearly all the varieties found in nurseries 

 in this section of the country, was started. While most pear varieties are 

 ratlier easily identified, there are a few that require closer study than can 

 be given in nursery visits. 



Some study was given to a collection of about 60 peach varieties, and 

 most of them were rebudded for further observation directed toward the 

 difficult problem of identifying peach varieties. 



The Genetic Composition of Peaches. (J. S. Bailey and A. P. French.) 

 During the year this project was redirected and rewritten to bring it 

 more in line with work actually in progress. Data obtained during the 

 year indicate that : (1) Genes F (free). AT (melting), s (albino), and 

 St (soft melting flesh) are linked in that order, and (2) M is 15 units from 

 F. c 35 units from M, and St 5 units from c. 



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



Shaw.) No change was made in the soil treatment in this orchard, which 

 has lieen under experiment for 20 years. Additional mulch to a depth of 

 1 to 2 inches was applied to plot 3 as in the previous two years. The trees 

 are vigorous, with good foliage color and no signs of nitrogen deficiency, 

 despite the fact that no nitrogenous fertilizer has been applied for 20 

 years. Attempts to harrow in the decaying mulch have not been too 

 successful. Some mixing of the soil and hay has occurred and in this 

 surface layer small rootlets from the apple trees are readily found. This 

 fact is considered to be very significant and may explain in part the sur- 

 prising apparent response of the trees in growth and fruiting. 



Yields and growth of this orchard in 1940 have not yet been compiled, 

 but yield was much lower than the record crop of 1939. As previously 

 mentioned, two additional plots in a younger adjoining orchard were 

 mulched for the first time this year. In all three of these plots, the mulch 

 was applied to cultivated soils reasonably free from grass and weeds. 

 Experience with them suggests that in starting a full mulching program, 

 it may be wise to suppress grass and weeds by cultivation before the 

 mulch is applied. 



