6o2 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [oct., 



seriously reduced. The acidity, on the other hand, was decidedly higher 

 than usual, especially in the bitter-sweet varieties. The percentage of 

 tannin generally was appreciably below the average amount, except in 

 the sweet varieties. The rate of fermentation was almost invariably 

 unusually rapid. The ciders themselves showed corresponding features. 

 There was a general lack of richness and body ; and although in most 

 instances a fair average gravity was retained by means of 

 repeated nitration, the liquor was wanting in the true fruity aroma and 

 flavour and in body, and depended mainly upon its sweetness for its 

 character. It was difficult to prepare satisfactory blends, since the acidity 

 of the malic acid and the bitter astringency of the tannin stood out in 

 striking fashion, and could not be masked sufficiently by the other 

 elements of flavour. The manner in which the tannin flavour predomi- 

 nated was very marked. Other features deserving of mention were the 

 poor keeping quality of the fruit and the rapidity with which it matured. 

 Kingston Black apples, for example, were at the fittest state for milling 

 towards the end of October, whereas in a normal year they do not 

 approach that stage until the end of November or the first half of 

 December. 



Varieties of Apples, Pears, and Plums (Worcestershire C.C. Educ. 

 Com., Rept. on County Exptl. Garden, Droitwich, 1910). A large 

 number of different varieties of apples were planted from 1896 to 1898, 

 and in this report the crops produced by each in each year from 1900 

 to 19 10 are given. Of bush and standard trees the following are 

 considered to have shown themselves in the first rank at this garden 

 in producing regular and good crops of marketable fruit : — Bismarck, 

 Bramley's Seedling, Ecklinville Seedling, Lane's Prince .Albert, Lord 

 Grosvenor, Lord Suffield, Potts' Seedling, The Queen, Worcester Pear- 

 main, and Stirling Castle. Among sixteen half-standard trees on the 

 crab stock, Betty Geeson, Baxter's Pearmain, Royal Jubilee, and Potts' 

 Seedling take the foremost position. Thirty-two vertical cordon trees 

 of different varieties were planted in 1898, and the crops for the last 

 twelve years are given. The total from thirty-two trees in 19 10 was 

 95 1 lb., and for the twelve years 806 lb. 



A large number of varieties of pear and plum trees have also been 

 grown, and full particulars of the crop of each since 1900 are given, 

 and in the case of plums the average price realised for fruit of each 

 variety. 



Pruning of Apples and Pears (Worcestershire C.C. Educ. Com., 

 Rept. on County Exptl. Garden, Droitwich, 19 10). — Twelve bush trees 

 of Lane's Prince Albert were planted in 1899 for the purpose of testing 

 the results of good pruning, slight pruning, and no pruning on the 

 fruitfulness of the trees, and the quality of the fruit. The records of 

 production since 1900 show that for some years pruning reduced the 

 quantity of fruit considerably, though its quality was higher, but by 

 1909 the carefully pruned trees gave nearly the same weight of fruit 

 as the unpruned trees, while the market value of the fruit from the 

 former was more than twice as high as that from the latter. The 

 same plan was adopted with pears with similar results. 



Manuring of Apple and Pear Trees (Worcestershire C.C. Educ. Com., 

 Rept. on County Exptl. Garden, Droitwich, 1910). — In 1899 eight bush 

 apple trees, Lane's Prince Albert, and eight pears, Williams' Bon 



