50 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 305 



Ten representative soils contained an average of 75.4 per cent fine sands and 

 12.9 per cent silt-clay particles. The average percentages of potash were L71 

 in the sands and 2.08 in the silt-clay. The bulk of the soil potash is held in the 

 sands. In 100 pounds of soil, the sands will contain 1.27 pounds potash and the 

 silt-clay only .27 pound. But this average soil to the depth of six inches would 

 contain about 4000 pounds per acre of potash in the silt-clay particles. The 

 stronger loams of the State may need little potash. 



Mineral Requirements for tlie Growtli of Dairy Heifers. (J. G. Archibald and 

 E. Bennett.) The second phase of this project involving a three-year study of 

 phosphorus requirements has been completed and the results prepared for pub- 

 lication. The principal conclusion reached is that rations ordinarily fed to 

 growing heifers often do not contain sufficient phosphorus for optinmm growth. 



Studies in the Chemistry of Pasture Grasses. (J. G. Archibald and E. Ben- 

 nett.) Results of a survey of natural pastures in the five western counties of the 

 State have been published in Bulletin 300. 



Another year's data on the chemical composition of various species of grass 

 have been secured. The analytical work on this season's samples is nearing com- 

 pletion and results for the three-year period will be ready for publication early 

 in 1934. A second series of plots of single species of grass has been established 

 this season on an entirely different type of soil and will be available for continuance 

 of the study next season. The object of this second series is to ascertain, if 

 possible, whether traits of chemical composition which have been characteristic of 

 certain species thus far in the in\'estigation will hold true on widely differing 

 soil types. 



Commencing next season the first series of plots will be used for investigation 

 of the effect of fertilizers on the chemical composition of individual species. Thus 

 far the grasses on these have been grown without the aid of fertilizer other than 

 that residual in the soil. 



DEPARTMENT OF POMOLOGY 

 F. C. Sears in Charge 



The larger peach orchard of the Experiment Station was removed in the spring 

 of 1933 and only a few trees in a variety block remain. The past winter was 

 rather severe and fruit buds were badly killed on trees in sites subject to low 

 temperatures. 



The apple crop was large when one considers the rather heavy crop of 1932. 

 This may be due to exceptionally favorable weather during and immediately 

 following the blooming period. Air temperatures were unusually high and fair 

 weather favorable to bee activity prevailed. These conditions were similar to 

 those of 1930 when there was a very heavy crop. 



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

 the main orchard was resumed b>- the Station after a year of operation by a 

 private grower. These trees have not been doing well and crops have been 

 small. Increasing the supply of nitrogen seemed to injure rather than to improve 

 the condition of the trees. There was an apparent improvement in growth 

 and appearance of the trees in two rows to which about 3 to 4 pounds per tree of 

 muriate of potash was applied. Analysis of the ash from shoots of the present 



