46 a EXPERDIEXT STATION. [Jan. 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

 HORTICULTURE. 



J. K. SHAW. 



There are at present four projects dealing with pomological 

 questions under active investigation: — 



The Interrelation of Stock and Scion in Apples. — The or- 

 chards devoted to this project have made satisfactory growth, 

 and the usual records have been taken during the year. Some 

 tabulations have been made which indicate that the stock 

 materially modifies the growth of the tree, but these must ac- 

 cumulate for several more years before safe conclusions may 

 be drawn. 



The Genetic Comjwsition of Peaches. — The orchard planted 

 for this work has made fair growth, and several additional 

 varieties desired have been secured. It will be a year or two 

 yet before the trees come into bearing so as to permit extensive 

 pollination work. A small quantity of pits of known parentage 

 was planted in the spring of 1920, but for some unknown reason 

 none of them grew. 



A Study of Tree Characters of Fruit Varieties. — Last year 

 some work was done on the study of variation and its relation 

 to the theory of senility, and it is proposed to give some more 

 time to this next year. Plans are made for a somewhat ex- 

 tensive study of leaf characters, which it is hoped may be 

 completed during the season of 1921. 



Pruning Young Apple Trees icith Special Reference to Head 

 Forniafion. — This orchard has made sj)len(lid growth, and is 

 showing substantial results from the different methods of 

 pruning. Unfortunately it was not pruned in the spring of 

 1920, and this omission will have an effect on the future be- 



