MOISTURE CONTENT OF PEACH BUDS IN RELATION 
O TEMPERATURE EVALUATIONS 
EarRt S. JOHNSTON 
(WITH TWO FIGURES) 
The moisture content of peach fruit buds shows a marked 
increase in late winter and early spring. Experiments performed 
at the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station in 1919 show that 
moisture values based on the dry weight of buds increased from an 
average ratio of 0.69 on January 7 to 3.65 on March 28. The 
following year the average ratio increased from 0.73 on January 
29 to 3.51 on April 1. Such marked increases come after the end 
of the rest period. CHANDLER" has shown for several varieties of 
peach that the rest period ends during the latter part of December 
or the first part of January. The work of AUCHTER in 1919 (unpub- 
lished), at the Maryland Experiment Station, shows that the rest 
period for fruit buds of six peach varieties was completed by Decem- 
ber 25. It is true that there is a fluctuation in the moisture content 
of dormant buds, but such variations are slight in comparison with 
those coming at the time the buds start their growth. Concerning 
buds of the plum, STRAUSBAUGH? states: 
During the period of dormancy the moisture content of the semihardy 
varieties fluctuates with the temperature. Periods of low temperatures are 
accompanied by a loss of moisture from the leaf and fruit buds, and higher 
winter temperatures, which are seldom above freezing in Minnesota, by an 
increase in moisture content. 
It is interesting to note that the moisture content of his hardy 
variety, Assiniboine, remained fairly constant during dormancy. 
ince the increase in moisture content following dormancy 
seems to be related to growth of the bud, an examination has been 
made of the available moisture data of peach fruit buds and of 
, W. H., Winter eae of peach buds as influenced by previous 
treatment. oe Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 74. 1907. 
2 StRAuSBAUGH, P. D., Dormancy sie hardiness in the plum. Bor. Gaz. 61: 
337-357- 1921. 
Botanical Gazette, vol. 74] [314 
