Feb, 1927] PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS 19 



last eight years, and which is also characterized by more regularity 

 in bearing than the other plots. 



It was expected that the data on size of fruit taken for the first 

 time this season would indicate a greater difference in favor of the 

 highly fertilized plots. However, during this summer there was rel- 

 atively little rainfall, and the size was more largely limited by lack 

 of water than is usually the case. It is believed that under ordinary 

 circumstances data of this character would indicate a material in- 

 crease in size of the apples in the fertilized plots. The average twig 

 growth for the season of 1925 was relatively small, and was not at 

 all typical of the relations usually found in these plots. 



In order to gain a more clear insight into the changes in manner of 

 growth and method of fruiting, detailed records have been made on 

 branches selected at random in Plots 1. 6. and 9. The labor of con- 

 ducting this work is such that it is impossible to apply this method 

 to all of the plots. Plot 1 rcjiresents the trees in sod which receive no 

 fertilizer, make a weak growth and have declined materially in yield 

 during the past eight to ten years. This plot has always been the 

 lowest yielding one in the orchard. 



In Plot 9 cultivation and cover croji together with the application 

 of six pounds nitrate of soda and other chemical fertilizers have made 

 the trees the most vigorous in the orciiard. Instead of declining in 

 yield they show an increase on the average for 1919-1925 of nearly 

 75 per cent over their production for the preceding ten years, 1909- 

 1918 inclusive. These trees are resisting winter injury and the in- 

 roads of canker more successfully than the others in the orchard. 



In Plot 6 the trees are in an intermediate condition, making a med- 

 ium growth and approximately holding their own so far as yield and 

 vigor are concerned. 



The data obtained will be jMiblishcd shortly in bulletin form, but 

 it may be said now that from general observations and from annual 

 measurements of the crop covering the years 1919-1925, it appears 

 that Plot 9 is definitely more regular in bearing than Plot 6. The 

 evidence indicates that this cannot be attributed to any large extent 

 to successive bearing by the same branches. It appears to be due to 

 the greater annual production of new s]nn's and their greater ten- 

 dency to fmit in their second season. The evidence indicates, how- 

 ever, that in large measure the crop is on different small branches in 

 successive years. 



Relation of Composition to Performance of Fruit Spurs 



A new phase of this experiment was begun in 1925 by G. F. Potter 

 and T. G. Phillips in twenty-six different plots, each of from six to 

 nine Baldwin apple trees growing under a variety of environmental 

 conditions. Spurs were sampled at two periods — those most advanta- 

 geous as determined by previous work — about July 1 and a month 

 later. Care was taken to have all the branches of each tree rep- 

 resented in the composite sample. Only non-bearing spurs were 

 used, and these were cut at the base of the new growth made during 

 the season in which the samples were taken. In most instances the 

 sample consisted of about 250 spurs or from 40 to 60 from each tree; 



