180 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



This lias been shown in various bulletins from dilTercnt experi- 

 ment stations. The Baldwin seems especially intlueuced hy con- 

 ditions of orchard culture, and other varieties more or less so. 



Certain experiments at this station -^ have shown marked ef- 

 fects from the use of different fertilizers. This question has 

 been little investigated, but no doubt great variation in fruit 

 may be produced by the fertilizer used on the land. Differences 

 in pruning also have their effects. A tree kept Avith an open 

 top will admit an abundance of sunshine, resulting in a higher 

 colored fruit ; in many other w^ays the effect of pruning may be 

 shown in the character of the fruit. 



Many fruit growers have discovered, to their grief, that Bor- 

 deaux mixture has a decided effect on many varieties, by pro- 

 dncing russetiug. On the other hand, the liuie-sulphur prepara- 

 tion has frequently been found to render the appearance of the 

 fruit better than when not sprayed at all. 



Soil Yakiation. 

 It has been shown that the nature of the soil has great effect 

 on the character of the fruit. Bed apples are likely to be higher 

 colored on sandy soils than on clayey soils, Not enough is 

 known regarding this question to make any very definite gen- 

 eralizations on the subject. H. J. Wilder has determined the 

 soil adaptations of various varieties, and shown that different 

 varieties have decided preferences as to soils.^ The question of 

 the adaptation of varieties to soils is much complicated by the 

 question of stocks already alluded to. 'No doubt varieties have 

 soil preferences w^hich are general to the variety, and not seri- 

 ously modified by differences in stock. ISTevertheless, the writer 

 is satisfied that much greater uniformity w^ould be found in 

 the adaptation of varieties to soils were they grown on their 

 own roots. 



Cliimatio Yariatiox. 

 In a l)road Avay, the limits of apple growing are governed by 

 climatic conditions. The apple is a fruit of a temperate cli- 

 mate, and does not flourish in the far north nor in the warmer 



' Report, Massachusetts Experiment Station, 22, Part II., p. 10. 

 2 Proceedings American Pomological Society, 31, p. 138 (1909). 



