Grape pruning—The spur and long cane systems compared

Grape pruning experiments carried on near Council Bluffs during the season of 1914 for a comparison of the “spur” with the long cane and spur renewal” system, showed that the vines pruned alter the long cane system yielded, on the average, 41 per cent more grapes than the spur pruned vines. These results indicate that the long cane system is of value for the southwestern and other sections of Iowa where grapes are grown. However, it must be recognized that these results are for one year only. Further experiment with the two systems must be carried on before the long cane system can be recomended unreservedly

Grape production and distribution in Western Iowa

Commercial grape growing is unusually successful in the vicinity of Council Bluffs, not merely because this district is naturally adapted to this industry, but also largely because of the influence of the excellent cooperative marketing organization known as the Council Bluffs Grape Growers’ Association. This organization has for many years provided satisfactory markets for grapes at the best possible prices to growers and at a low cost of marketing, besides handling other fruits and buying supplies for its members. Due to its influence, grape growing near Council Bluffs is generally better organized and managed than elsewhere in Iowa. The practices of the grape growers in the Council Bluffs district and their marketing methods have been carefully studied by the Pomology Section of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station and the facts secured are presented in this bulletin for the information of growers in other districts in Iowa where similar success might be secured

Effect of potato scab treatments on seed vitality: Formaldehyde and corrosive sublimate solutions and formaldehyde gas

In three years of experiments at Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station in the use of formaldehyde gas for treating seed potatoes for scab, it was found that the gas greatly reduces the germinating powers of the tubers. The injury not only affects the eyes, preventing germination, hut also causes sunken spots about the lenticels. The tubers absorb the gas and retain it and thus are poisoned. In experiments with the usual treatment for potato scab, where the seed is soaked in‘ standard solutions of formaldehyde or corrosive sublimate, it was found that injury results if the tubers are soaked for more than two hours, the injury increasing with the length of treatment. It was also found that in soaking tubers in standard solutions for potato scab they should be placed in the solution whole and not be cut for planting before treatment. Cut tubers when treated for only two hours showed a marked decrease in germination

Better methods of potato production for Iowa: Results of three years’ investigations at Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station

Spraying potatoes for early blight proved profitable each year during three seasons of experimentation. Three sprayings increased the net income per acre $3.20; five sprayings,$8.92; seven sprayings, $16.46 per acre. About thirty different varieties of early and late potatoes were tested during each of the three years. Of the early varieties Irish Cobbler and Early Ohio gave the best yields; of the later varieties Prosperity and Rural New Yorker gave the highest yields. The importance of seed selection was demonstrated by selecting high yielding hills in the field. The yield was increased 50 bushels of marketable tubers per acre by selecting the best hills as compared with the poorest hills. In selecting the best hills from both of these lots the following year the seed which had high yielding characters behind it still outyielded the poorer lot by 50 bushels of marketable tubers. Planting late in April gave the highest yield in 1910. Plantings on May 16 and May 23 gave the highest yields in 1911 and 1912

Potatoes

This circular will answer the many Inquiries received by the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station relative to different phases or potato culture. More complete Information on the Investigational work now under way at the Station at Ames will be published later In a regular bulletin

The Rose Crimson Rambler and Its Progenies

The year 1893 is an important landmark to the rosarian as in that year Charles Turner of Slough, England, introduced the Crimson Rambler rose to the occidental world. Nothing is known of its parentage, it having been introduced from Japan where it had been grown for an unknown period of time. When it was first introduced it was called the Engineer. Later, it was known as Turner\u27s Crimson Rambler. Still later the name Turner was dropped, making it the Crimson Rambler as we know it today. Without regard to name, this rose introduction has proven to be a prolific parent in the production of new varieties. Although the variety belongs to the multiflora group, and many of the descendants are found under that designation, yet its influence also is evident in Polyantha, Lambertiana, Hybrid Wichuraiana, Hybrid Polyantha, and other groups

Apple storage investigations fourth progress report

This is the fourth report* of the apple storage investigations begun in 1906 by the Pomology Section of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station. The report embodies the results of investigations dealing mainly with the development and control of such storage diseases as Jonathan-spot, apple-scald and internal breakdown. The investigations are divided into two parts. Part I deals with the development and control of the storage diseases, Jonathan-spot and soft-scald on the Jonathan apple. Part II includes studies on the development and control of apple-scald and internal breakdown and the effect of certain odorous substances on apples. The report embodies the results of investigations on the keeping quality of apples in storage as affected by varying treatments in the orchard, as time of picking, time of storing and soil cultural methods. Various storage conditions such as temperature, humidity, and aeration have been considered. Particular attention has been given to different types of apple wraps. The keeping quality of Jonathan apples has been compared in cold and common storage

Soggy breakdown of apples and Its control by storage temperature

1. Soggy breakdown, a non-parasitic disease which develops at low temperatures, is described. 2. Soggy breakdown is distinguished from internal breakdown and from physiological decay or the breakdown which accompanies senescence. The name mealy breakdown is suggested for the latter. 3. Grimes and Wealthy apples have been found to be very susceptible to soggy breakdown, while Jonathan, Arkansas, Willow and Northwestern Greening appear immune to the disease. 4. The initial appearance of soggy breakdown on Grimes in cold storage occurred during the early part of December. 5. Differences of 2° or 4° F. in cold storage temperatures markedly affected the development of the disease. 6. No serious amount of soggy breakdown occurred on the fruit stored at 36° F., or on fruit held in common storage. The disease did not appear in common storage. 7. Soggy breakdown developed most seriously at 30° F., as compared to its development at 32 °, 34° and 36° F. The most satisfactory temperature for the storage of Grimes was found to be 36° F. 8. When stored immediately after picking, late picked fruit was more susceptible than early picked. 9. Delayed storage materially increased the susceptibility to soggy breakdown. The influence of delayed storage, however, appears to be linked with the time of picking. 10. Exposure of the fruit to free circulation of the storage room atmosphere prevented the development of soggy breakdown on delayed storage fruit during one storage season, and caused visible shriveling of the fruit. 11. Direct access of the fruit to air during delayed storage did not reduce development of the disease in storage. 12. Evidence obtained suggests that apples become susceptible to soggy breakdown after certain periods of exposure to ordinary temperatures. 13. Soggy breakdown appeared to be more serious some years than others. 14. Grimes from the Wenatchee apple district of Washington and those from central Michigan were as susceptible to soggy breakdown as Grimes from Iowa. 15. Grimes in commercial cold storage developed as much soggy breakdown as those at the same temperature in experimental storage. 16. The quality, condition and attractiveness of Grimes, stored at 36° F., were superior to those stored at the lower temperatures. 17. Grimes stored at 36° F. softened only slightly more than those at lower temperatures. 18. An increase in the tendency to apple-scald in Grimes, due to a slightly higher storage temperature. was successfully averted by the use of oiled paper wraps. 19. With well graded, high quality fruit, the increase in loss due to apple rot fungi at 36° F. was insignificant

Grape training and pruning in Iowa

The Concord grape and grapes of this type and hardiness, which are the grapes most widely grown in Iowa, require yearly pruning if the grower wishes to obtain heavy annual yields of large-sized high-quality fruit. The illustration on the cover of this bulletin indicates the development and distribution of the fruit which may be expected on correctly pruned vines. Far too many home vineyards are left unpruned or are incorrectly pruned with the result that they are unproductive and unsightly. There are many systems used in training the American grape, but the system which seems to be best adapted to Iowa conditions is the single-stem four-cane Kniffin system. The spur method of pruning, which has been employed to a considerable extent with the European grape, is still followed in many sections of Iowa. Unfortunately, this method is unsatisfactory with the Concord grape and, except with grapes trained on arbors, should not be used. The grapevines pruned by the long cane method and trained to the Kniffin system in certain Iowa tests have repeatedly out-produced those pruned by the spur method. The Concord produces the heaviest yield of fruit from approximately the fifth to ninth bud and the lowest yield from the first four buds on the cane. Therefore, it can be seen that with the spur method of pruning, when only the first two buds are left on each cane, the heaviest producing buds are removed. The characteristic bearing habit of the American grape explains why long cane pruning is more productive than the spur cane system