92 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 378 



Determinations of loss on ignition as a measure of organic matter 

 indicate that there is more organic matter in the soil of the sod plots 

 than of the cultivated plots, especially in the 6 to 9 inch level except in 

 cultivated plot 7. This plot is lower and wetter, and therefore the soil 

 is less well aerated and the decomposition of organic matter proceeds 

 more slowly. This determination will be repeated later to measure any 

 changes that may appear. 



Comparison of Cultivation and Heavy Mulching for Apples. (J. K. 



Shaw.) No additonal mulch was applied either to the block of mature 

 Wealthy or to the old Mcintosh block now planted to young Wagener 

 and Rhode Island Greening trees. The decaying mulch is now 6 or 8 

 inches deep and should be sufficient for several years to come even though 

 grasses, mostly quack grass, have grown up through the mulch. The trees 

 continued to grow and produce well, and no injury from mice or fire has 

 yet occurred. Networks of fine fibrous rootlets abound in the upper 

 layer of the soil just below the decaying mulch. Both cultivated plots 

 were fertilized with a nitrogen-potash mixture. 



The Effects of Fertilizer Limitation on Fruit Plants. J. K. Shaw.) 

 The trees planted in 1931 have been removed and the experiment termi- 

 nated for a time at least. The data await study and evaluation. The 

 general result is that factors other than the fertilizer applications have 

 greatly afifected the growth of the trees. 



Effect of Potash and Lime on Apple Trees. (J. K. Shaw.) This or- 

 chard was pulled out last winter and the experiment ended. The data 

 accumulated in the past 20 years will be studied this winter. The area 

 was seeded to rye in early fall. It is interesting to note that while the 

 addition of phosphorus to nitrogen and potash did not improve the per- 

 formance of the trees, the presence of phosphorus is the deterniining factor 

 for good growth of the rye. One corner of the orchard had no fertilizer 

 during the 20-year period, yet the rye grew almost, if not quite, as well 

 as on the nitrogen-only plots. The addition of potash to nitrogen im- 

 proved growth slightly; but on all plots which had received phosphorus 

 with nitrogen, with potash, or in a complete fertilizer, growth of the rye 

 was excellent. 



Study of Varieties of Fruits. (J. K. Shaw and Staff.) The usual ob- 

 servations of the behavior of many of the newer varieties of fruits were 

 made. A new orchard of peach and cherry varieties was set in early 

 May, 1940, on contours on a moderately steep slope. It contains from 

 two to five trees each of 67 new and old varieties. 



Apple. Two red variants from the Pacific Northwest have fruited. The 

 Seeando Red Rome this year was much inferior in size and color to Gallia. 

 The latter is often sold as Red Rome but all trees under the name Red 

 Rome may not be Gallia. Shotwell Delicious closely resembles Richared 

 but is possibly a little darker in color. 



Stamared is a sport of Stayman, dark red, obscurely striped and 

 splashed. Otherwise, it is like Stayman and the nursery trees cannot 

 be distinguished. It is promising for anyone who wants a highly colored 

 Stayman. 



Two varieties from the Prairie Northwest also have fruited. Sharon, 

 of Iowa origin, resembles Duchess in color and has a firm juicy fiesli but 



