Jan. 1923] annual report 9 



The samples were then extracted, and the following determinations were 

 made: moisture, free reducing substances, sucrose, maltose, starch, acid 

 hydrolizable material, ash, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and potash. 



The total leaf area of the leaves of the spurs was measured at each time 

 of sampling. In the spring of 1922 counts were made upon the remaining 

 spurs in each class analyzed of the number of spurs which blossomed and 

 the number which failed to blossom. These blossom counts show the fol- 

 lowing results: (1) non-bearing spurs from non-bearing trees 1921 on sod 

 plots, 10.4% blossomed in 1922; (2) bearing spurs from bearing trees in 

 1921 on sod plots, 0.0% blossomed in 1922; (3) bearing spurs from bearing 

 trees in 1921 on high nitrate plots, 0.5% blossomed in 1922; (4) non-bear- 

 ing spurs from bearing trees in 1921 on high nitrate plots, 40.0% blossomed 

 in 1922. The chemical data is not completely tabulated and conclusions can- 

 not be drawn at the present time. Significant differences in the different 

 lots, however, in the per cent, of total nitrogen, starch, dry matter and 

 ash are evident. 



During the spring of 1922 Duchess apple trees were selected for the pur- 

 pose of studying the effect upon the composition of fruit spurs of removing 

 the fruit at blossom time. Three types of spurs were sampled from these 

 trees at frequent intervals throughout the season as follows: (1) spurs bear- 

 ing fruit from trees which had not been defruited and which bore a heavy 

 crop of fruit; (2) spurs not bearing fruit from trees which blossomed heavily 

 but which were defruited entirely at blossom time; (3) spurs not bearing 

 fruit from trees which blossomed heavily but which had every other spur 

 defruited at blossom time. In addition the fruit from spurs which were 

 bearing fruit was sampled. 



The samples were treated similarly to those of the previous experiment 

 and the following determinations are being made: moisture, free reducing 

 substances, sucrose, maltose, starch, acid hydrolizable materials, total 

 nitrogen, total phosphorus and ash. In the spring of 1923 blossom counts 

 will be made upon the spurs remaining upon the trees. 



Leaf samples were taken and the leaf area of the spurs measured. Samples 

 of the buds were taken also for morphological studies to determine the time 

 of fruit bud initiation. Twelve samples were taken from May 12th to August 

 19th. 



Nutrition Studies. 



During the past year particular attention in the nutrition investigations 

 with the new type of respiration chamber has centered on the influence of 

 the degree of fill in the digestive tract of cattle, under varying conditions, 

 on metabolism and on the true live "weight. In other words, the studies 

 have attempted to determine the true losses or gains in body tissue. Under 

 normal conditions of feeding, animals show material daily fluctuations in 

 the amount of feed and especially of water taken in. The same holds true 

 but to a less extent of the waste matter voided. Hence a study of the energy 

 metabolized and especially of the increases in body tissue (i. e. Uve weight) 

 may give highly misleading deductions unless the influence of fill can be 

 accounted for. It is rather remarkable that so little investigation is on 



