1910.] Summary of Agricultural Experiments. 1023 



SUMMARY OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.* 

 Fruii, Cider, and Hops. 



Grafting and Pruning Fruit Trees {National Fruit and Cider Inst., 

 Report, 1908). — The comparative merits of the " Hereford " and 

 " Somerset " systems of growing- standard cider trees is being investi- 

 gated. According to the " Hereford " system the tree is worked in the 

 usual way at the base of the parent stock in the nursery, with the 

 variety intended to be grown permanently, while in the " Somerset " 

 system a well-grown tree of a strongly growing variety is planted in 

 its permanent position in the orchard, and allowed to produce a good 

 well-balanced head, which afterwards is cut back and worked on each 

 main branch with the selected vintage variety. 



Trials of the two systems are being carried out in alternate rows 

 and annual measurements of the trees have been made, with the result 

 that the " Somerset " method of treatment causes a decided check in 

 development, temporarily at any rate. Taking by far the most favour- 

 able case for the latter system, that of six Morgan Sweet trees head- 

 worked with Reinette Obry, Cremiere, and M. Jacques, in April, 



1905, this being one year after planting, the average comparative size 

 for the six trees in March, 1909, was 173, as against 100 in March, 



1906, whereas the average for all trees under the "Hereford" system 

 was 186 in March, 1909, as against 100 in March, 1906; while the 

 average for all trees, 70 in number, under the "Somerset" system was 

 only 134 in March, 1909. 



It should be stated that the time of re-grafting the "Somerset" 

 trees appears to make a considerable difference to the extent of the 

 check sustained by the trees. Almost invariably the trees grafted in 

 1905, i.e., one year after planting, suffered decidedly less check than 

 those not worked until 1906. This matter is to be further investigated. 



The experiments on the pruning of apple and pear bushes have only 

 been in progress a short time. Twelve varieties of apples and four 

 varieties of pears are being pruned according to various systems. The 

 bushes are still quite young but the yield of fruit in 1908 furnished 

 some interesting results. Light pruning resulted in a larger yield 

 than severe pruning for every variety except two (Allington Pippin and 

 William's Bon Chretien), and the total yield of these was too small for 

 comparative purposes. Of the varieties that produced good crops only 

 one (Stirling Castle) failed to show a decided balance in favour of light 

 pruning. There was an appreciable advantage as regards yield and 

 quality of apples from root pruning in the case of some varieties, but 

 others were severely checked in growth by it. 



* The summaries;of Agricultural Experiments which have appeared in the present 

 volume have been as follows : — Experiments with Cereals, April, p. 65, and May, 

 p. 150; Experiments with Root Crops, June, p. 239, and July, p. 311 ; Experiments 

 with Potatoes, July, p. 313, and August, p. 402; Miscellaneous Experiments, 

 August, p. 405, and September, p. 489 ; Experiments with Clover and Grass, 

 October, p. 589 ; Experiments with Live Stock, November, p. 660 ; Experiments 

 with Milk, Butter, and Cheese, December, p. 573 ; Weeds and Fungus Diseases, 

 January, 1910, p. 854 ; Weeds, Insects, and Fungi ; and Fruit and Hops, February, 

 I910, p. 953. 



