1024 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [march, 



Pruning Apple Trees (Harper Adams Agric. Coll., Field Experi- 

 ments, Report, 1908). — Trees that were unpruned were found, both in 

 1907 and 1908, to form more fruit buds than pruned trees, especially 

 in the case of Cox's Orange Pippin. The average increase in diameter 

 of stem of unpruned trees is less than that of those pruned regularly. 



Average diameter in inches 

 at a,\ feet above ground. 

 Unpruned trees. Pruned trees. 



Cox's Orange Pippin ... ... 2*06 2*44 



Bismark ... ... ... 2*25 2*55 



Bramley's Seedling ... ... 2*42 278 



Strawberry Runner Experiments (National Fruit and Cider Institute, 

 Report, 1908. — Trials of the relative cropping qualities of the "first" 

 and "second" runners of strawberry plants were started in 1906. By 

 the term, "first" runner, is meant the first runner produced from 

 parent plant on a given stem, while the "second" runner is the next 

 produced on the same stem. The crops for 1907 were small, the plants 

 for the first season not being particularly strong, although, as might be 

 expected, the "firsts" were the larger. In 1908, the yield was fair, 

 considering the nature of the season ; and the plants of the two groups 

 were more even in size and strength. In the two years the total yield 

 for five varieties from the "first" runners was 713 lb., and from the 

 " second " runners 607 lb. 



The assertion by some growers that the "second" runners produce 

 larger crops has thus not been supported by the results for the first 

 two seasons, although possibly the third season's crop may result 

 differently, -since the " seconds " were originally the more backward 

 plants, and may, therefore, take longer to reach full vigour. 



Yield of Strawberries over a number of years (Worcester C. C, 

 Thirteenth. Report on Droitwich Experimental Garden, 1908.) — A record 

 has been kept of the yield of a number of plants of three varieties over 

 ten years. Good crops were obtained in some of the later years. 



Protection of Fruit against Frost by Smudging (Jour, of South- 

 Eastern Agric. Coll., No. 17, 1908.) — Owing to the absence of severe 

 frosts it was impossible to test the effect of smudging, but some pro- 

 gress was made in discovering the best method of arranging the 

 apparatus and in estimating the cost. The method employed was that 

 of making a hot black smoke by burning a mixture of naphthalene and 

 creosote in the iron pots recommended in an article in the Journal of the 

 Board of Agriculture, April, 1907 (p. 23), forty pots being used to the 

 acre. It was found that lighting up forty pots took one man about 

 twenty minutes. If the pots are lit up early, as appears to be necessary, 

 and the frost continues till sunrise, it is necessary to relight them, and 

 the refilling and relighting of forty pots took three men a considerable 

 time. The dense black smoke did not scorch the bushes but those near 

 the pots were covered wth black smuts. These washed off after a few 

 days' rain, but smudging would be impracticable if early rhubarb or 

 other low-growing plants and vegetables nearly ready for market were 

 grown between the rows, or where the plantation is close to houses. 

 The cost, including labour, five acres being done at a time, is estimated 

 at 255. qd. per acre. If a refill is necessary the cost would be about 

 225. more. 



