THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Agricultural Experiment Station BULLETIN NO. 211 APPLE-BUD SELECTION APPLE SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES BY CHARLES S. CRANDALL URBANA, ILLINOIS, JUNE, 1918 CONTENTS OF BULLETIN No. 211 PAGE INTRODUCTION 181 APPLE-BUD SELECTION : 181 Test of Size : Large Buds and Small Buds 183 The 1,000 Series . 183 Growth of Trees in Eelation to Size of Buds from which Prop- agated 185 Other Factors Affecting Growth of Trees 200 The 11,000 Series .201 The 14,000 Series. . .201 Discussion of Eesults 201 Comparative Value of Buds from Different Locations on Tree 202 Losses in the Various Series 204 Endurance of Trees by Varietal Groups 205 Endurance of Trees from Buds Grouped According to Location on Tree 206 Growth the Only Basis for Comparison 207 Comparative Value of Buds from Different Locations on Shoot 232 Growth of Trees : 233 Comparative Value of Kobust and Slender Scions 250 Effect of Vigor of Stock on Growth 252 Influence of Care in Grafting 252 Varietal and Individual Differences 253 Discussion of Eesults 254 GROWING SEEDLINGS FROM SEEDS OF FRUITS FROM TREES CHOSEN AS POSSES- SING SPECIAL MERIT 254 Seedlings from Fruits of 1908 254 Seedlings from Fruits of 1909 '. 256 CONCLUSIONS , . . , , . , , , , , 263 APPLE-BUD SELECTION APPLE SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES BY CHAKLES S. GRAND ALL, CHIEF IN PLANT BREEDING IN HOETICULTUEE INTRODUCTION In addition to hybridizing, which stands as the major project in apple breeding as outlined and undertaken by the Department of Hor- ticulture in 1907, two minor projects in selection were entered upon at the same time. These are : 1. Growing apple trees from selected buds to determine whether or not there are differences in value, for purposes of propaga- tion, between large buds and small buds, between buds pro- duced on different parts of the tree, and between buds from different locations on the shoot. 2. Growing apple seedlings from fruits from trees chosen as pos- sessing special merit. The nature of the plants is such that the projects must of necessity extend over a considerable number of years. Judgment as to the value of a fruit tree is based upon capacity to bear fruit and upon the char- acter of the fruit produced. It follows that trees propagated from selected seeds or from selected buds must become well established in fruit production before conclusions are possible from which answers to the original questions may be formulated. It is the purpose of this publication to bring together the records thus far made in connection with these minor projects, to present the methods pursued, and to give the status of the trees growing under each of the projects. APPLE-BUD SELECTION This project is an attempt to discover and bring out such differ- ences in value, for purposes of propagation, as are commonly supposed to exist between large buds and small buds, between buds from differ- ent situations on the same tree, and between buds from different loca- tions on the same shoot. The trees grown under the project are divided into groups designated as series and numbered by thousands to prevent confusing any of them with numbered groups in other projects. 181 182 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, Selection of the buds began in 1908 and additions were made in each of the three years following. The aggregate is fourteen series represented by 5,400 selected buds distributed as shown in Table 1. TABLE 1. DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED BUDS, BY SERIES Year Series Test No. of buds No. of varieties 1908 1 000 Size 100 5 2000 Location on tree 450 5 3 000 Location on shoot 320 5 1909 4000 Location on tree 750 13 5000 Location on shoot 430 10 6000 Size 220 11 7 000 Location on tree 290 6 8000 Location on shoot , 190 6 1910 9000 Location on tree 840 12 10000 Location on shoot 450 11 11 000 Size 240 12 1911 12000 Location on tree 530 11 13000 Location on shoot 330 . 11 14000 Size 260 13 Total 5 400 When one year old, all living trees in the 4,000, 5,000, and 6,000 series, originally represented by 1,400 selected buds, were transferred to the Station farm at Olney and, because of incomplete growth re- cords, are not to be further considered at this time. The two other series selected in 1909, the 7,000 and 8,000 series, differ from all other series in that here, the selected buds, instead of being propagated by grafting in the spring, were budded in August of that year, and as they were dormant until the next spring, the trees rate, as to age, with those selected and propagated in the spring of 1910. Of the eleven series here considered, three, with 600 selected buds, represent the comparison between large and small buds ; four series, with 2,110 buds, represent the test of location on tree; and four, with 1,290 buds, represent the test of location on shoot. Numbers of buds in the different series varied for two reasons ; in some cases the time available for making grafts was limited ; in other cases series were incomplete because buds desired were not available. These irregularities occurred mainly in those series including buds from different locations on the tree. Buds from twenty-one varieties were used, but these varieties did not have equal representation. Five varieties were represented in nearly all series ; these were Yellow Transparent, Oldenburg, Winesap, Grimes, and Ben D'avis. Other varieties represented in one or more of the scries were Jonathan, Fameuse, Minkler, Kinnard, Willow, 1918} BULLETIN No. 211 183 Whitney, Rome, Osimoe, Huntsman, Isham, Twenty Ounce, Dominie, Arkansas Black, York Imperial, Cornell, and Sweet Bellflower. TEST OF SIZE : LARGE BUDS AND SMALL BUDS The test of size of buds included three series : the 1,000 series of 100 buds, selected in 1908 ; the 11,000 series of 240 buds, selected in 1910; and the 14,000 series of 260 buds, selected in 1911. THE 1,000 SERIES Buds were selected in groups of ten and, using scions approxi- mately six inches in length, were root-grafted, by the veneer method, on ordinary apple stocks. For the 1,000 series, the numbers 1,001 to 1,010 were given to the grafts made with the ten selected buds of large size, and the numbers 1,011 to 1,020 to the grafts made with the selected buds of small size, all from the same Yellow Transparent tree. This plan of numbering was also used for the varieties Olden- burg, Ben Davis, Winesap, and Grimes. There were then 100 grafts in this series as made up in February, 1908. In selecting for large size, terminal buds from central terminal shoots on bearing trees were chosen, because these, in most varieties, were the largest to be found on the trees. With Grimes, however, the terminal buds of terminal shoots were quite small, many of them pro- truding but little from the concavity formed by the enlargement of the tip of the shoot. Short lateral shoots just below the terminal shoots were, in most cases, crowned with large, well-developed terminal buds, and these were the buds selected in this variety. It occasionally hap- pened in other varieties that on vigorous terminal shoots the apical bud was undeveloped, the food supply having been appropriated by an adjacent bud in an upper axil. In such cases the large lateral bud was the one selected. The small buds were, in most cases, lateral buds from short interior branches, but with Grimes, terminal buds of in- terior branches were selected as being smaller than the laterals on these branches, or on other branches elsewhere on the tree. When a lateral bud was selected, the shoot was cut back to this bud so that in all grafts the chosen bud was at the distal end of the scion. The scions were tied with raffia, the unions waxed with alcoholic plastic, and the grafts stored in moist sphagnum until the series was complete; they were then transferred to sand, where they remained until planted in the field, May 12, 1908. Table 2 shows the averages for length and diam- eter of shoot, and the number of buds ; and, for buds, the averages for length and diameter, and also the length of scion and the number of buds on scion used. At the time of planting the grafts (May 12), the selected buds appeared to be in good condition, but when checked over twenty-four APPLE-BUD SELECTION : SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, a-s ^ 2 . OSr-l OO5 OSO5 >OCO COO CD o ^ 1 1 I 1 I 1 I I I 1 1 I d > ^ ^ .2 S bf o G a CDIO CO 1 ** 1 lO 1 "* 1 COCO COiO ^jj CD o!?^3 COIN Tt< OS rfl CN COCO l> * CD 1 " 73 * CO *! i-i rfi CO rti CO <* (N >'te *-i T3 <1 pq o kp^ *OO iCOO I>OS -<*CO CM 00 2 bf 2 cp d cp -^H kOi-H COCO CO"* COIN > jB - B CD cf CD 6 s 00 (N 1> 00 O OS 00 OS O I-H i 1 i 1 i i i I i 1 Ol i I CNCM a 3 O U5 CO-* 00 rH lOlO 1>IO g 5 1 _o "o o 1 a O t>- i 1 O O 1C >O O O iO co -O COCN -<*IOO. COOS OiO. > s CO COlO CO IO * CO COCO CO iO ! IS Sa O>O OO O 00 CN O OOOO eri^s s CJ CD l> (N CO CO"* COCO OS O CO i-l i-H CN i-l i-l CN O3 COCD COCD COO COCD COO .2^ EH 2 bio .2 j>. H o ? ^ 8 g Q 1 1 .I : *1 d 4) 2 n IT* KH O O ^ pq 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 185 days later it was found that eleven of the buds had not started or had started and immediately died. These failures were fairly well dis- tributed. Six were in lots of large buds and five in lots of small buds. The buds that were growing on June 6 exhibited all degrees of* vigor. Some were strong, others so weak that their early death was foreseen. When the plants were taken up for winter storage (November 3), 77 were living ; most of them were fairly vigorous, but a few were small and weak. Of the 23 failures, 12 were of small buds and 11 of large buds. The greatest loss in any one lot was five of the small buds of Winesap, and next to this was the loss of four of the large buds of Ben Davis. One lot, the small buds of Oldenburg, came thru this first season with the full complement of ten. During 1909 six of the weak trees died, so that at the close of this second season the losses totaled 29. In the spring of 1910 the remaining 71 trees of this series were planted in orchard. Four more trees died during this third season. More serious losses occurred during the first winter in orchard. Of the 17 trees recorded as dead in the fall of 1911, some had not started in the spring and some had made a feeble effort at growth and then died. Thus 50 percent of the buds included in this series dropped out during the first three years. The 50 trees remaining are established, and altho exhibiting differences in vigor, should reach maturity unless lost thru accident. Of the trees lost, a few were destroyed by rabbits or were broken down by storms, but the chief cause of loss appeared to have beeri weakness or want of vitality, whether in the buds chosen, in the scion, or in the stock, it was not possible to determine. In considering distribution of the losses, there is nothing to suggest a superior vitality on the part of large buds ; in fact, the number of failures of large buds was two greater than the number from small buds. For three varieties the losses were equally divided between large and small buds, for one variety the loss for small buds was greater, and for another the loss for large buds was greater. Trees living in 1915 were divided as follows : Yellow Transparent, one from large bud and one from small ; Grimes and Ben Davis, six each from large and small ; Winesap, six large and four small ; Oldenburg, five large and nine small. Growth of Trees in Relation to Size of Buds from wliicli Propagated The basis of comparison of trees is vigor as indicated by growth increment. For the first two years the leader and branches were meas- ured and the total was recorded for each tree, but as the trees increased in size this procedure became impracticable. In the third year (1910) growth of leader only was recorded, and in succeeding years measure- ments of height and spread only were recorded. This change destroys the uniformity of the record, but does not in any way interfere with the comparison it is desired to make between the two groups of trees, 186 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, those from large buds and those from small, in the matter of growth. At no time during the eight years of this experiment did there appear any striking differences between the groups of trees from large buds and those from small buds. There were and still are marked differences between individuals in the same group, but the summation of growth records for the different groups shows that they closely approximated thruout. Bringing the averages of growth together, in tabular form, by years, and for the last five years considering total height only, they are as shown in Table 3. TABLE 3. COMPARISON OP GROWTH OF TREES FROM LARGE BUDS AND FROM SMALL BUDS: 1,000 SERIES Variety Size of bud No. of trees Average of growth (inches) 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 Yellow Transparent . . . Oldenburg Large Small Large Small Large Small Large Small Large Small 1 1 5 9 6 6 6 4 6 6 21 17 15 11 19 21 28 21 28 20 11 6 26 20 20 16 17 10 19 21 11 9 11 12 9 8 9 11 9 7 37 42 46 37 42 38 46 46 43 46 40 50 49 45 51 47 55 56 52 56 53 60 63 58 64 53 70 72 64 69 74 72 70 72 80 64 88 89 78 84 92 93 92 93 102 90 116 113 98 109 Grimes Winesap Ben Davis NOTE. Total growth is given for 1908 and 1909, for 1910 growth of leader only, and for each succeeding year total height of tree. There is nothing in these figures, nor was there anything to be derived from inspection of the trees in orchard, to suggest the exist- ence of any marked difference between large buds and small buds in their value for purposes of propagation. The approximation of the growth curves of the classes here under consideration is, perhaps, more clearly indicated in the accompanying graphs platted from the measurements given (Figs. 1 to 6) . The number of plants is small and therefore the basis for conclusions is less reliable than if the number were greater. However, careful study of the trees from year to year strengthens the belief that an increase in the number of trees would tend towards nearer coincidence of the lines rather than towards their greater separation. With Yellow Transparent, only one tree of which remained in each of the two groups, the tree from large bud was in advance of the tree from small bud in the three early years. In the fourth year it fell behind the tree from small bud and remained in this position for the two following years. In the seventh year it again took the lead by a narrow margin, but the last year it again fell slightly behind. Olden- burg, of which there were five trees from large buds and nine from 1918} BULLETIN No. 211 187 small buds, except for a slight advantage on the part of trees from small buds in the third year, showed a greater -average growth of the trees from large buds than of those from small buds thru the sixth year. In the seventh year* trees from small buds gained a slight ad- vantage over those from large buds and this was maintained thru the eighth year. Grimes, with six trees in each group, showed a slightly better average growth by trees from large buds than by trees from small buds. With Winesap, having six trees from large buds and four from small buds, the trees from small buds had a slight advantage from the third toi the seventh year and in the eighth year dropped slightly below the trees from large buds, but the lines thruout are so nearly parallel that neither group can be regarded as superior to the other. Ben Davis trees, with six in each group, showed a slight advantage on the part of those from small buds. Combining the varieties and platting the average growth of the 24 trees from large buds with that of the 26 from small buds, there appears such close coincidence in the lines as to indicate no appreciable difference in value between large buds and small buds for purposes of propagation. A large bud may make a stronger initial growth than a small one, but the supply of nutrients in either bud will be quickly exhausted; then, which takes precedence in growth will depend, not upon the original size of the bud, but upon which has the larger store of reserve food materials in adjacent parts, or which is the better sup- plied from the stock upon which it is grafted, subject, of course, to other factors which may influence the availability of the reserve food supply. Individual trees from large buds and from small buds for each of the three varieties Ben Davis, Grimes, and Winesap are shown in Figs. 7 to 12, which are from photographs made in July, 1915. Close proximity of trees in some cases restricted positions and interfered with absolutely uniform camera distance. This resulted in some slight inaccuracies in relative size, and for this reason height of tree as meas- ured October 13, 1915, accompanies each plate. 188 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, IUU 90 80 70 8 60 < o s ' SO \ ^ 40 30 20 to fears is Tree fro Tree fro m L mS irge mat Buc IBu i d / 4 I/ f / // / / z / / / / 7 V i 1 1 . ' ^-- ii it * n n n i / V ( \ X a 'i \ x -- ,..-- V0 I9O9 1910 1911 I9IZ 1913 1914 1915 FIG. 1. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM LARGE BUDS AND FROM SMALL BUDS: YELLOW TRANSPARENT, 1,000 SERIES Growth in 1908 and 1909 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1910 by the length of leader only, and in 1911 to 1915 by the total height. 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 189 IUU 90 60 70 Jo J8 A3 60 S \ 50 1 V. 40 & 5 X Cb JU * 20 10 n i 77- ?es from Large Buds -Tn ej from -Small ESuds j { '/ / / / / *s y // { 2 / / ^-^ -^ / / i i i i / i i i I X i ! l : i i / \ i 1 1 / % \ \ ! t /!_ z 7 \./ \ / \ i i f Years i90d )909 /9io 1911 1912 1915 1914- 1915 FIG. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM LARGE BUDS AND FROM SMALL BUDS: OLDENBURG, 1,000 SERIES Growth in 1908 and 1909 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1910 by the length of leader only, and in 1911 to 1915 by the total height. 190 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES 100 90 80 2 7 ^ 60 \ | 10 o Yeorsn -TL ees from Large Buc '665 from Small Buc b / -Tr ~ is 1 / 1 / I / 1 1 / / 1 I / / / / / / s s / ~? /' 1 /, h / !/ // ^ I ^x \ a X \ jj * > 1O3 1909 I9IO 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 FlG. 3.-^-SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM LARGE BUDS AND FROM SMALL BUDS: GRIMES, 1,000 SERIES Growth in 1908 and 1909 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1910 by the length of leader only, and in 1911 to 1915 by the total height. 1918] 120 110 10O 90 so 1 4O 30 IO BULLETIN No. 211 \ ^ Yeans 1908 I9O9 I9IO I9H 1912 1913 1914 1915 FIG. 4. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM LARGE BUDS AND FROM SMALL BUDS: WINESAP, 1,000 SERIES Growth in 1908 and 1909 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1910 by the length of leader only, and in 1911 to 1915 by the total height. 192 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, IIU IOO 90 30 $ *> I 1 1 % 1* 1 ^ x 20 K) n - / / 75V es from Large Buds / Trees from Sma/l Buds // / / // / / / v r /. / / / / '/ / // / / / / 2 / 1 !i n / ll I ! \ I f \ \. i 1 ~N \ \ i I \. i v< s i Years i9oe I9O9 I9io 1911 /9/2 19/3 1914 1915 FIG. 5.- -SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM LARGE BUDS AND FROM SMALL BUDS: BEN DAVIS, 1,000 SERIES Growth in 1908 and 1909 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1910 by the length of leader only, and in 1911 to 1915 by the total height. 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 193 too 90 30 70 1 ^ to 1 1 I ^ 4O t J 30 x; 20 10 o j _ -Average of 24 frees from Large Buds i - -Average of 26 Trees from Small Buds // / / / / / 2 // // / /. / v/ i / /' h y // 1 j ! - 5b / / \. j Year 1903 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914- I9IS FIG. 6. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM LARGE BUDS AND FROM SMALL BUDS: THE FIVE VARIETIES COMBINED, 1,000 SERIES Growth in 1908 and 1909 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1910 by the length of leader only, and in 1911 to 1915 by the total height. 194 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 7. No. 1085: BEN DAVIS FROM LARGE BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET. PHOTOGRAPHED JULY 13, 1915 1918} BULLETIN No. 211 195 FIG. 8. No. 1093: BEN DAVIS FROM SMALL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET. PHOTOGRAPHED JULY 13, 1915 196 APPLE-BUD SELECTION; SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 9. No. 1047': GRIMES FROM LARGE BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 8 FEET, 1 INCH. PHOTOGRAPHED JULY 14, 1915 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 197 FIG. 10. No. 1051: GRIMES FROM SMALL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 7 FEET, 2 INCHES. PHOTOGRAPHED JULY 14, 1915 198 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 11. No. 1068: WINESAP PROM LARGE BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET, 6 INCHES. PHOTOGRAPHED JULY 14, 1915 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 199 FIG. 12. No. 1073: WINESAP FROM SMALL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 11 INCHES. PHOTOGRAPHED JULY 14, 1915 200 AFPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FEOM SELECTED TREES Oilier Factors Affecting Growth of Trees In general it would seem that plumpness and healthy appearance of the scion shoot should offer a better basis upon which to judge value for purposes of propagation than does size of buds. In each of the years 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1915, an inspection of the trees in this series was made, from which judgment was recorded as to grade, rating them as ' ' good, " " fair, ' ' and ' ' poor. ' ' The results are shown in Table 4. TABLE 4. GRADES OF TREES FROM LARGE BUDS AND FROM SMALL BUDS: 1,000 SERIES Number of trees 1912 1913 1914 1915 Good | Fair Poor Good Fair Poor Good Fair Poor Good Fair Poor Large buds . . Small buds . . 7 8 12 12 5 6 10 11 12 12 2 3 20 15 2 9 2 2 22 23 1 2 1 1 These figures exhibit a rather striking improvement in quality with each succeeding year. Trees from large buds rated as good jumped from 29 percent in 1912 to nearly 92 percent in 1915, and trees from small buds rated as good changed from 31 percent in 1912 to 88 percent in 1915. While five trees from large buds and six from small buds were rated as poor in 1912, only one from large bud and one from small bud were so rated in 1915. Further changes in the same direc- tion are expected in succeeding years. This expectation is based upon the aggregate of experiences, of the past ten years, in growing apple root-grafts and apple seedlings on the black soil of this locality. The top soil does not appear to be adapted to the promotion of growth in young apple trees. "Whether this is because of texture, deficiency in some essential food element, the pres- ence of some deleterious ingredient, or the presence or absence of some soil organism, is not known. The difficulty may be physical, chemical, or biological, surely one or all of these factors, because it is habitually the case that newly planted root-grafts or transplanted seedlings make very unsatisfactory growth during the first, second, third, and sometimes fourth years. After the third or fourth year there is usually a very marked increase in the annual growth incre- ment, which continues to augment until fruiting maturity is reached. It appears that a certain period is necessary for roots to penetrate to and become established in the subsoil, and that the subsoil supplies conditions more favorable to growth than those encountered in the top soil. This is only suggested as one possible cause for the behavior observed. The subject is one that offers attractions as a field for investigation. BULLETIN No. 211 201 THE 11,000 SERIES The 11,000 series, selected in 1910, consisted of 240 buds repre- senting twelve varieties. With ten of the varieties all the losses oc- curred in the first year; with two varieties the losses occurred in the second year. No losses occurred after the second year in this series. With Rome the loss was total in. the second year, altho at the close of the first year nine trees were living in each group. Isham was reduced to one tree in each group at the end of the second year. Only one tree each of Ben Davis and Twenty Ounce survived the first year, the Ben Davis a tree from large bud, the Twenty Ounce a tree from small bud. Living trees of other varieties ranged from three to nine in each group. At the end of the sixth year there were living 57 trees from large buds and 41 trees from small buds. Growth increments of trees from large buds compared with those of trees from small buds were almost iden- tical. Trees from large buds had a slight advantage in the first year, the increment was equal in three years, and differed by only one inch in the other two. The uniformity in growth of trees in the two groups was even more marked here than in the 1,000 series. THE 14,000 SERIES The 14,000 series, selected in 1911, included 260 buds representing thirteen varieties. The losses in this series aggregated greater than in either of the other series in the test of size, and, instead of being con- fined to the first two years as in the 11,000 series, were distributed thru the five seasons. There were living in 1915, 39 trees from large buds, or 30 percent of the original selections, and 34 trees from small buds, or 20 percent. The small-bud groups of Fameuse and Willow were lost entirely, and those of Oldenburg and Isham were reduced to one tree each. The large-bud groups of Twenty Ounce and Huntsman were also reduced, to one tree each. The curve of average growth for all varieties shows that the two groups made equal growth in the first year, that for the second year the small-bud group gained a slight ad- vantage, then dropped slightly below in the third year and remained below in the two following years, altho exhibiting a tendency to greater growth that promised to bring the two groups to equality in another year. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS In the three series of trees here considered in detail there were, in 1915, 221 trees living in orchard. Of these, 120 were grown from large buds and 101 from small buds. Divided according to age, 24 from large buds and 26 from small buds were eight years old, 57 from large buds and 41 from small buds were six years old, and 39 from large buds and 34 from small buds were five years old. 202 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, In the fall of 1915 the trees were carefully inspected and classified as follows : Large buds Small buds Good 77 65 Fair 31 25 Poor 12 11 The percentages are very nearly the same for the two groups approximately 65 percent good, 25 percent fair, and 10 percent poor. Here, as in every other comparison attempted between trees from large buds and those from small buds, there were no tangible differences by which the two groups could be separated. Individual growth differences between trees within groups, as has already been mentioned, were in some cases extreme. Thus, nine Oldenburg trees of the 1,000 series grown from small buds, had, at the close of the eighth year, a height range from 36 inches to 127 inches the tallest more than three and one-half times the height of the shortest. The companion group of five trees of Oldenburg from large buds had an individual range from 62 inches to 104 inches ; in this group the shortest would have to be increased by nearly 68 percent to make it equal the tallest. Other similar groups of the same series showed differences requiring additions to the shortest of from 21 to 55 percent to make them equal the tallest. The comparisons that have been given between trees propagated from large buds, and those propagated from small buds, together with the aggregate of impressions derived from careful inspections of trees of all groups, leave no question regarding conclusions. The only pos- sible conclusion from the summarized data is that there are no differ- ences in value, for purposes of propagation, between buds of large size and those of small size. COMPARATIVE VALUE OF BUDS FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON TREE Investigations were made in an attempt to determine whether or not there are differences in value, for purposes of propagation, between buds taken from different parts of the tree. Five classes of buds, all from mature trees, were determined upon as representative of possible differences that might arise from exposure or situation. These were as follows : 1. Terminal buds from central terminal shoots 2. Terminal buds from extreme lateral shoots on south side of tree in full exposure to sun 3. Terminal buds from extreme lateral shoots on north side of tree and for the most part shaded 4. Terminal buds from short interior branches 5. Terminal buds or scions from centrally located water sprouts The same procedure as that adopted for. the test of size was used ; that is, ten buds were chosen to represent each of the five groups for 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 203 each variety, and as many varieties were used as time for the work allowed. Scions were grafted on ordinary apple-seedling stocks and the grafts were handled according to common practice with root-grafts. The one departure from this practice was in one series of 1909, where the buds, instead of being selected and grafted in late winter, were chosen and budded on seedling stocks in August. For the sake of uniformity, the attempt was made to include only terminal buds, and this was with few exceptions carried out for three of the variety groups, but in the two remaining variety groups diffi- culty was encountered, especially in regard to buds from water sprouts. With some varieties water sprouts were absent, and when they were present it was frequently the case that terminal buds had not been formed, or, if formed, they had gone into the winter in such an immature condition that they were destroyed by even moderate freezing. Where water-sprout tips had been injured, the uninjured lateral buds nearest the extremity of the shoots were chosen. Where short interior branches were present, there wa*s usually no difficulty in obtaining terminal buds, but some varieties did not possess branches such as were desired for this group and in these cases the group was of necessity omitted. The work of selecting and measuring buds was begun in the spring of 1908, and additions were made in each of the three seasons following. Locating the position and recording the dimensions of the buds established individuality for each, and for purposes of identifica- tion at any time thruout the life of the prospective tree, some designa- tion was necessary that should be inseparable from the individual until the tree was permanently planted and its position accurately platted in permanent record. This identity of individuals was secured by a system of numbering. The buds selected in any one season constituted what has been called a "series." Thus the "2,000 series" was com- posed of 450 buds from five varieties selected and root-grafted in 1908 ; the "7,000 series" included 290 buds from six varieties selected and budded in August, 1909; the "9,000 series," 840 buds from twelve varieties selected and grafted in 1910; and the "12,000 series," 530 buds from eleven varieties selected and grafted in 1911. In each series the individual numbers were from one up. Thus the ten terminal buds on top central shoots of Ben Davis bore the numbers 2,001 to 2,010, the ten terminal buds from lateral shoots south, the numbers 2,011 to 2,020, and so on thru the series. On painted wooden labels about two inches long and one-quarter inch wide, notched at both ends, the num- bers were painted with shellac and lampblack, and a label with number corresponding to the number in the descriptive record of the bud was attached, when the graft was made, by a copper wire band at each end. After the grafts were planted in nursery in strictly numerical order it was necessary to remove the labels, but this was not done until stake 204 APPLE-BUD SELECTION : SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [ June, labels for each group of ten were in place and the whole planting had been carefully checked Avith a previously prepared record. In the fall, if the plants were to be lifted for winter storage, the labels were again adjusted. This matter of individual labels for several hundred small plants may appear as a simple detail, but in reality it was the most important, and, at the same time, the most exacting procedure in connection with the test undertaken. If the identity of a plant is lost, the plant is of no value and must be discarded ; not only is the labor expended upon it lost, but the value of the ultimate results of the experiment are more or less imperiled, because in any such experiment, numbers have weight and any decrease in numbers diminishes by a definite amount the value of final results. Therefore effort expended in devising and applying means of insuring permanent identity for individuals is imperative. LOSSES IN THE VARIOUS SERIES Iii this test of buds from different locations on the trees the aggre- gate of buds selected, measured, and propagated was 2,110, divided unequally among fifteen varieties. Nearly 70 percent of the buds were from the five varieties Ben Davis, Winesap, 'Oldenburg, Yellow Trans- parent, and Grimes, for the reason that these varieties, being most readily available, were represented in all the series, while the others appeared in only one or two of the later series and were, in large part, from selected trees in orchards in the southern part of the state. The varieties thus represented by smaller numbers were Jonathan, Arkan- sas Black, Kinnard, Miiikler, Huntsman, Whitney, Fameuse, Rome, Willow, and Isham. Altho careful attention was given to all details of propagation and storage tKru the interval between grafting and planting in nursery, the losses during the first season were heavy with all series, particu- larly with the 7,000 scries, which was budded in August, 1909. In this series the loss resulted chiefly from failure of the buds to take, and this failure is ascribed to extreme drouth during and following the budding season. In the grafted series a considerable share of the loss occurred by reason of failure of chosen buds to vegetate, but this source of loss was not so pronounced as in the budded series. With all series losses occurred thru the breaking of young shoots by storms, and thru depredations by cutworms, mice, and rabbits. The number of living plants in the various series, after growing one year in nursery, is shown in Table 5. Losses continued to occur in succeeding seasons, due in part to winter injury, in part to the death of weak individuals that had made but feeble growth from the beginning, and in part to accidents result- ing from wind. The total number of living trees in 1915 was 734, 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 205 representing approximately 35 percent of the 2,110 buds selected. They were distributed as shown in Table 5. TABLE 5. LOCATION OF BUD ON TREE: ENDURANCE OF TREES, BY SERIES Series Number of buds selected Trees living after one year in nursery Trees living at close of eighth year Year Number Percentage of total Age (years) Number Percentage of total 2000 7 000 9000 12000 450 290 840 530 1908 1909 1910 1911 .278 64 561 226 61.77 22.06 66.78 42.64 8 6 6 5 129 23 436 146 28.66 7.93 51.90 27.54 ENDURANCE OF TREES BY VARIETAL GROUPS Classification of the trees according to varieties is not wholly satis- factory because of differences in age and in numbers of buds selected, but for purposes of record the status of the varieties as to number of trees living in November, 1915, together with the percentage of the original selections, is given in Table 6 ; the varieties are arranged in sequence from the higher to the lower percentages. TABLE 6. LOCATION OF BUD ON TREE: ENDURANCE OF TREES, BY VARIETIES Variety No. of buds selected Trees living after eight years Number Percentage of total Minkler 50 30 80 50 100 310 90 260 50 50 290 320 50 140 240 36 20 46 25 46 141 36 84 16 16 90 97 12 30 48 72.00 66.66 57.50 50.00 46.00 45.48 40.00 32.30 32.00 32.00 31.03 30.31 24.00 21.42 20.00 Arkansas Black Whitney Willow Fameuse . . Grimes Huntsman Oldenburg Kinnard Isham Winesap Ben Davis Rome Jonathan Yellow Transparent The higher percentages here fall to varieties having few buds and representation in but one or, at most, two of the series in which the trees were in part six years old and in part five years old. The five varieties Grimes, Oldenburg, Winesap, Ben Davis, and Yellow Trans- parent were all represented in each of the four series and together represented over 67 percent of the buds selected and about 62 percent of living trees. They give a basis for judging endurance that is per- haps better than that given by the complete list of varieties. Per- 206 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, centages of trees of these varieties living in the fall of 1915, or after eight years, ranged from 45.48 percent for Grimes to 20 percent for Yellow Transparent. Other percentages are 32.3 for Oldenburg, 31.03 for Winesap, and 30.31 for Ben Davis. The average for the five varie- ties is 31.82 percent. Eliminating the 7,000 series, in which budding was substituted for grafting and wherein failure of buds to start resulted in very few trees, and considering the three grafted series only, it may be noted that there were differences in these series that were in the nature of seasonal differences. Thus, for the 2,000 series, of 1908, Oldenburg led with 35 percent of the buds selected persisting as trees in the fall of 1915. Ben Davis and Grimes were equal] and followed a little below Oldenburg, Winesap followed next, and last Yellow Transparent with only 15.5 percent of the buds represented as living trees. For the 9,000 series, ofi 1910, Grimes was far in the lead in number of living trees, nearly 70 percent of the selected buds being represented by trees ; this was followed by Oldenburg, Yellow Transparent, Winesap, and Ben Davis in the order named. In the 12,000 series, of 1911, Grimes was again in the lead, but with a much lower percentage than that shown in the 9,000 series. This was followed by Winesap and Yellow Transparent in descending order and then by equal values for Ben Davis and Oldenburg. In general, Grimes proved the most satis- factory; the other four varieties followed in this order: Oldenburg, Wirresap, Ben Davis, and Yellow Transparent. ENDURANCE OF TREES FROM BUDS GROUPED ACCORDING TO LOCATION ON TREE The endurance of grafted buds having been considered as ex- pressed in percentage of living trees, when grouped by varieties, exam- ination may now be made of the behavior of the same selected buds as expressed when grouped according to location on tree. Using the five varieties represented in each of the three series propagated by grafting, the aggregate of buds selected was 1,180. The number rep- resented by living trees at the end of the first year was 670, or 57 per- cent, and in the fall of 1915 there remained 430 living trees, which rep- resented 36.5 percent of the buds selected. In Table 7 are shown the number of living trees arranged according to location of the buds from which they were propagated. Here trees from buds from short interior branches led by a small margin in percentage of trees living. After eight years the percent- age of trees living in this group was 44.28, followed by trees from top central buds with 43.84 percent living ; trees from extreme lateral buds on north side came next with 34.61 percent living; then came the group of trees from extreme lateral buds on south side with 31.15 percent living, and last trees from buds from water sprouts with 27.36 1918} BULLETIN No. 211 207 percent living. Considering the four series separately, the groups of trees in no two series had the same order of ascendency in this matter of percentage of living trees. Trees from top central buds occupied first place in three series and took third place in the fourth; trees from extreme lateral buds from south side had second place in one, third place in two, and fourth place in one ; trees from extreme lateral buds from north side had third place in two and fourth hi two ; trees from buds from short interior branches had first place in one, second place in two, and third place in one ; while trees from buds from water sprouts occupied second place in one, fourth place in one, and fifth place in two. Of the five locations from which buds were chosen, buds from no one location produced trees that exhibited any marked or constant advantage over others in percentage of living trees at the end of eight years. i TABLE 7. ENDURANCE OF TREES FROM BUDS GROUPED ACCORDING TO LOCATION ON TREE Location of buds No. of buds selected Trees living fall of first year Trees living after eight years Number Percentage Number Percentage Top central 260 260 260 210 190 162 140 135 139 94 62.30 53.84 51. 92 ] 66.19 49.47 114 81 90 93 52 43.84 31.15 34.61 44.28 27.36 Lateral south Lateral north Short interior Water sprouts GROWTH THE ONLY BASIS FOR COMPARISON For determination of possible differences between trees produced from buds from different locations on the tree, the only available basis is the recorded measurements of yearly increments, or better, because more practicable, the two dimensions indicated by total height and spread. When this test was begun it was proposed to measure and record all growth made by each tree. The sum of growth of leader and of all lateral shoots was recorded as the growth of the tree for the particular year. This plan was carried out for two seasons with each series, but the impracticability of the method soon became apparent. Each additional year multiplied the number of shoots and the labor involved in making the measurements soon made a change of plan imperative. For the third season of the experiment, only the growth of the leader of each tree was recorded. At this stage another factor came in to modify greatly the form and dimensions of trees. Pruning became a necessity in order to insure future symmetry and correct habit of trees. Most trees required removal of branches to enable formation of the head at proper height. Some demanded cutting back of too vigorous leaders, and in the interest of symmetry, rampant laterals required shortening. Application of this treatment, looking to good form, was in most cases coincident with removal from nursery 208 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES to orchard where the ti^es are planted 15 by 15 feet to remain until the end of the test. After planting in orchard, four measurements, namely, total height, spread, and diameter and length of trunk, were recorded, together with notes regarding the amount of branching and general vigor. Without going into details of the measurements of each year, data showing the height and spread of the five varieties having representation in the three grafted series are given as recorded at the end of the season of 1915, segregating these series because of age differences (Table 8). TABLE 8. LOCATION OF BUD ON TREE: SHOWING GROWTH OP TREES, BY VARIETIES, FALL OF 1915 Variety No. of trees Average (inches) Height Spread The 2,000 Series, Trees Eight Years Old Ben Davis 35 110.08 90.65 Winesap 25 110.68 97.32 Oldenburg 28 112.60 58.85 Yellow Transparent 14 92 . 00 37 . 42 Grimes 31 106.90 89.87 The 9,000 Series, Trees Six Years Old Ben Davis 53 81.73 54.05 Winesap 39 86.74 57.43 Oldenburg 47 83.08 39.46 Yellow Transparent 22 74.77 25.95 Grimes 90 85.85 65.51 The 12,000 Series, Trees Five Years Old Ben Davis 8 62.62 34.30 Winesap 14 64.21 38.07 Oldenburg 8 57.25 25.12 Yellow Transparent 9 57 . 55 12 . 44 Grimes 15 52.60 35.40 Combining the three series, ignoring age differences, the varieties range as below : Ben Davis 96 90.47 64.21 Winesap 78 90.37 72.00 Oldenburg 83 101.39 44.63 Yellow Transparent 45 78.91 26 82 Grimes.. 136 86.98 67.74 In both height and spread Ben Davis was slightly in advance of Grimes, but the differences were no greater than would be expected between varieties following their normal characteristics. Oldenburg and Yellow Transparent showed less spread than the other varieties because of the naturally more erect habit. Arranging the 438 trees of these five varieties according to the locations from which the buds were taken and segregating the three series as before, the tabulation showing number of trees and average height and spread appears in Table 9. 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 209 TABLE 9.- -LOCATION OF BUD ON TREE: SHOWING GROWTH OF TREES OF THE FIVE VARIETIES, BY SERIES, FALL OF 1915 Location of buds 2,000 series 9,000 series 12,000 series No. of trees Average '(inches) No. of trees Average (inches) No. of trees Average (inches) Height Spread Height Spread Height Spread Top central . . . 39 21 30 25 18 110.82 108.00 105.60 112.08 100.83 84.87 71.23 72.36 84.24 75.22 64 57 56 56 18 84.95 84.56 84.71 82.60 80.98 55.00 55.33 55.19 56.35 49.83 10 11 4 14 15 58.50 56.63 61.25 60.14 58.66 23.00 28.09 39.25 28.00 37.53 Lateral south Lateral north Short interior Water sprouts Reducing this tabulation to a single expression by combining the trees of different ages, in order to facilitate comparison of growth from buds from the different locations, Table 10 is given as a condensed result of the last measurements made. . TABLE 10. LOCATION OF BUD ON TREE: COMPARISON OF GROWTH OF TREES OF THE THREE SERIES COMBINED, AS MEASURED IN THE FALL OF 1915 Location of buds No. of trees Average (inches) Height Spread Top central 113 89 90 95 51 91.54 86.64 90.63 87.05 81.41 62.47 55.71 60.21 59.51 55.17 Lateral south Lateral north Short interior Water sprouts The foregoing gives the results to November, 1915, for five of the varieties in the three series propagated by grafting and points to a close approximation in the development of trees from buds from the different locations. Tabulations in detail for each variety show no regularity in sequence of locations when arranged in order on the basis of total height of the trees. In some cases trees from buds from short interior branches showed greatest growth, in others trees from buds from water sprouts were in ascendency, and in still others the trees from buds from central terminal shoots had first place. In no case, however, was there any marked or significant departure from the gen- eral trend shown by the, trees when grouped either by varieties or by the locations from which buds were taken. The cases of maximum departures from the general average were with single varieties, in single series, where the number of trees was small. Grouping single varieties within a series, or combining the series, either by varie- ties or by bud location, has immediate effect in smoothing out and bringing growth curves into close approximation. In all computations the effect of numbers is strikingly shown, and apparently it would require only small additions to bring the results to absolute zero, thus demonstrating conclusively that for purposes of propagation ft makes no difference from what position on the tree the bud is taken. 210 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, To illustrate further the results of this test of buds from different locations, the following tabulations and graphs are presented. Each tabulation with its accompanying graph stands for one complete series in which the trees were of equal age. In Table 11 is presented the growth record for eight years for the 2,000 series, which included five varieties, and in Fig. 13 the same data are presented graphically. It would be more satisfactory and the curves in all probability would be more nearly coincident if the numbers of trees for the various locations were equal, but even as it is there is remarkable uniformity in the development of the trees from buds from the different locations. The 7,000 series, propagated, as already explained, by "budding, and includ- ing six varieties, sustained such heavy losses that the number of trees remaining was too small for satisfactory comparison; however, even here -the departures from the general trend of development were not great, as is shown in Table 12 and in Fig. 14. The 9,000 series included twelve varieties and was started with 840 selected buds ; Table 13 and Fig. 15 show the growth for six seasons of the 436 remaining trees. Greater uniformity in the distribution of trees in location groups would doubtless have given curves that more nearly coincided, but as it is, there is close approximation in the growth of the different groups. The 12,000 series began with 530 buds distributed among eleven varie- ties ; in Table 14 and in Fig. 16 are given the growth records of 146 trees for five years, and here there is shown a more nearly equal dis- tribution in the location groups. Figs. 17 to 32 illustrate some of the trees of the 2,000 series, test- ing buds from different locations on the tree. These plates are all from photographs made in July, 1915. 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 211 TABLE 11. LOCATION OF BUD ON TREE: 2,000 SERIES, SHOWING GROWTH OP TREES OF ALL VARIETIES COMBINED (Expressed in inches) Year 1908 1909 | 1910 j 1911 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 Top Central: Average of 39 Trees Height 20 18 10 44 54 68 84 111 Spread 30 44 58 85 Lateral South Side: Average of 21 Trees Height 18 21 1 10 43 52 67 85 108 Spread 24 36 50 70 Lateral North Side: Average of 30 Trees Height 18 17 1 9 41 52 66 82 105 Spread .. 1 .. 25 36 47 71 Short Interior: Average of 25 Trees Height 18 16 9 42 53 69 87 112 Spread 28 42 56 84 Water Sprouts: Average of 18 Trees Height 18 15 9 39 51 64 79 101 Spread 25 39 65 75 NOTE. Total only, and for each growth is recorded for 1908 and 1909, for 1910 length of leader succeeding year total height of tree. TABLE 12. LOCATION OF BUD ON TREE: 7,000 SERIES, SHOWING GROWTH OF TREES OF ALL VARIETIES COMBINED (Expressed in inches) Year' 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 Top Central: Average of 7 Trees Height 21 7 41 51 17 63 33 86 57 Spread Lateral South Side: Average of 5 Trees Height 30 7 43 52 22 66 35 92 63 Spread Lateral North Side: Average of 4 Trees Height 24 6 40 54 26 69 43 94 74 Spread Short Interior : Average of 4 Trees Height 21 * 35 46 16 65 29 85 49 Spread Water Sprouts: Average of 3 Trees Height 25 8 43 47 14 60 36 85 67 Spread NOTE. Total growth is recorded for 1910, for 1911 length of leader only, and for each succeeding year total height of tree. 212 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, TABLE 13. LOCATION OP BUD ON TREE: 9,000 SERIES, SHOWING GROWTH OF TREES OF ALL VARIETIES COMBINED (Expressed in inches) Year 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 Top Central: Average of 112 Trees Height 19 9 41 49 21 64 31 88 60 Spread Lateral South Side: Average of 102 Trees Height 18 10 41 49 18. 65 29 88 65 Spread Lateral North Side: Average of 92 Trees Height 16 11 41 50 16 63 30 87 58 Spread Short Interior: Average of 84 Trees Height 15 ? 36 44 17 60 30 83 55 Spread Water Sprouts: Average of 46 Trees Height 16 10 36 46 15 60 29 82 59 Spread NOTE. Total growth is recorded for 1910, for 1911 length of leader only, and for each succeeding year total height of tree. TABLE 14. LOCATION OF BUD ON TREE: 12,000 SERIES, SHOWING GROWTH OF TREES OF ALL VARIETIES COMBINED (Expressed in inches) Year 1911 1912 1913 19H 1915 Top Central: Average of 26 Trees Height 7 17 25 37 9 56 26 Spread Lateral South Side: Average of 29 Trees Height 8 18 24 36 12 60 32 Spread Lateral North Side : Average of 29 Trees Height 9 18 28 42 12 65 34 Spread Short Interior: Average of 28 Trees Height 10 18 29 41 12 64 34 Spread Water Sprouts: Average of 34 Trees Height 9 19 30 41 15 64 38 Spread NOTE. Measurement for 1911 is given for length of leader only; for each succeeding year total height of tree is given. 1918} BULLETIN No. 211 213 no 100 90 80 "6 70 : 5 60 1 ^ 50 \ fe 4O 5k 20 10 O Top Terminal Lateral South Side Lateral North Side Short Tnter/or Water Sproute il 1 _ it m I/ ii 1 / II t t / r / 1 f // M y f A s 1 w_ I i \ t / ~^-~- . **=: s\. $ = "S % 1 Years /9Od 1909 /9io 1911 I9^^. 1913 19/4 /9/5 FIG. 13. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM B'UDS SELECTED FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON TREE: ALL VARIETIES COMBINED, 2,000 SERIES Growth in 1908 and 1909 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1910 by the length of leader only, and in 1911 to 1915 by the total height. 214 APPLE-BUD SELECTION : SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, 100 90 80 1 70 6O I I 1 5O 4O 20 10 O "op Terminal .ateral South S/de atera/ Norfh 5/de )horf Infer/or Vofer Sproufa 1 - I L __ ' * y V // 7 /, i // 7 /// V /<> Y) A g I 1 W !/ / / 1 t / / / li \ III \\ \ . \ 1: i * i v \ /; Is' % f v _ Years 1910 1911 1911 1913 1914 1915 FIG. 14. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM BUDS SELECTED FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON TREE : ALL VARIETIES COMBINED, 7,000 SERIES Growth in 1910 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1911 by the length of leader only, and in 1912 to 1915 by the total height. 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 215 *u~ 1 do 70 8 Is 60 ^ 1 I 5 1 ^40 | 30 X 5/? Terminal Lateral Joufh Latera/ North . Short Interior Water Sprats fc Side Side > // > /(' _ / 9 1 y L y // _ / _* / f ^ : ^ i'* li>! ''sv ! I .'/, i K % -J ' !> /I X* ***s 1 Years 1910 1911 1912 1912 1914 /9/s FIG. 15. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FKOM BUDS SELECTED FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON TREE: ALL VARIETIES COMBINED, 9,000 SERIES Growth in 1910 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1911 by the length of leader only, and in 1912 to 1915 by the total height. 216 APPLE-BUD SELECTION : SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June. 70 60 30 10 10 lop Terminal / ~ Lateral South S/d Lateral North Side --Short Interior - Water Sprouts /// h / 7 \ J y / ' / f \A / // w /$ y jt' '4 ^ s/ y _ Years i9ii i9iz 1913 1914 1915 FIG. 16. SHOWING THE GROWTH OP TREES FROM BUDS SELECTED FEOM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON THE TREE: ALL VARIETIES COMBINED, 12,000 SERIES Growth in 1911 was measured by the length of leader only, and in 1932 to 1915 by the total height. 1918} BULLETIN No. 211 217 FIG. 17. No. 2451: GRIMES FROM TOP TERMINAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET, 2 INCHES 218 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 18. No. 2218: GRIMES FROM SOUTH LATERAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 6 INCHES 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 219 FIG. 19. No. 2229: GRIMES FROM NORTH LATERAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 9 INCHES 220 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 20. No. 2235: GRIMES FROM BUD FROM SHORT INTERIOR BRANCH HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 1 INCH BULLETIN No. 211 221- FIG. 21. No. 2247 : GRIMES PROM BUD FROM WATER SPROUT HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 11 INCHES .222 APPLE-BUD SELECTION : SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 22. No. 2009: BEN DAVIS FROM TOP TERMINAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET, 6 INCHES 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 223 FIG. 23. No. 2016: BEN DAVIS FROM SOUTH LATERAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 11 FEET, 2 INCHES 224 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 24. No. 2109: OLDENBURG FROM TOP TERMINAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 8 FEET, 3 INCHES FIG. 25. No. 2111: OLDENBURG FROM SOUTH LATERAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 8 FEET 7.97,?] BULLETIN No. 211 225 FIG. 26. No. 2122: OLDENBURG FROM NORTH LATERAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET, 5 INCHES 226 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 27. No. 2137: OLDENBURG FROM BUD FROM SHORT INTERIOR BRANCH HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET, 9 INCHES 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 227 FIG. 28. No. 2052: WINESAP FROM TOP TERMINAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 11 INCHES 228 APPLE-BUD SELECTION": SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 29. No. 2363: WINESAP FROM SOUTH LATERAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 8 FEET, 8 INCHES 1918] BULLETIN Xo. 211 229 FIG. 30. No. 2078: WINESAP FROM NORTH LATERAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 8 FEET, 5 INCHES 230 APPLE-BUD SELECTION : SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [ June, FIG. 31. No. 2087: WINESAP PROM BUD FROM SHORT INTERIOR BRANCH HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 9 INCHES 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 231 FIG. 32. No. 2393 : WINKSAP FROM BUD FROM: WATER SPROUT HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET, 7 INCHES 232 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, COMPARATIVE VALUE OF BUDS FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON SHOOT The third division of* the Bud-selection project is a test for differ- ences in value, for purposes of propagation, of buds from different locations on the same shoot. Four) locations are represented ; namely, terminal buds, lateral buds at distal end of shoot, buds from middle of shoot, and buds from near the base of the shoot. As in the other divisions of the project, selections were made in series, extending over the four years 1908 to 1911. In three of the series propagation was by grafting. The. 8,000 series of 1909 was propagated by budding in August of that year. The number of buds selected and their distribu- tion as to location are given in Table 15. TABLE 15. LOCATION OF BUD ON SHOOT: SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF BUDS SELECTED Series Year Number of buds Terminal Lateral at distal end Middle Near base Total 3000 8000 10000 13000 1908 1909 1910 1911 80 10 iio 80 60 150 80 60 150 110 80 60 150 110 320 190 450 330 Total 200 290 400 400 1 290 Fifteen varieties were represented. Ben Davis, Winesap, Olden- burg, Yellow Transparent, and Grimes appeared in all series ; the other ten varieties appeared in one or both of the 10,000 and the 13,000 series. Here, as in the test of location of buds on trees, many chosen buds failed to grow and some of those starting were lost thru accidents, so that the number of trees living in the fall of 1915 was much below the number of buds selected. Living trees classified according to the locations from which buds were taken for each series are given in Table 16. TABLE 16. LOCATION OF BUD ON SHOOT: SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF TREES LIVING IN 1915 Series Number of trees Age of trees (years) Terminal Lateral at distal end Middle Near base 3000 8000 10000 13000 23 36 29 10 64 17 12 74 24 26 6 48 15 8 6 6 5 Of the 384 trees living in 1915, about 25 percent were eight years old, nearly 56 percent were six years old, and about 20 percent were five years old. Of the five varieties represented in all series, Ben Davis stood first in percentage of living trees with a percentage of 41. Grimes followed with 32.5 percent, Winesap with 29 percent, Oldenburg with 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 233 20 percent, and Yellow Transparent with a little less than 18 percent. Arranging the trees of these five varieties according to the locations from which the buds were taken, it appears that, with Ben Davis and Winesap, the highest percentage of trees surviving was with those from lateral buds from the distal ends of shoots ; with Oldenburg and Yellow Transparent the highest percentage was with those from buds from the middle of shoots; while with Grimes the trees from termi- nal buds survived in greatest numbers. In general, the losses of trees from selected buds were greater with terminal buds and those near the base than with buds taken from cen- tral and distal portions of shoots. There appears no evident reason why losses should be greater with terminal buds than with central buds or lateral buds from the distal end ; they were, in general, larger than buds from other situations, and so far as could be judged from external appearances, perfectly sound and healthy. It is possible that winter injury occurred sufficient to prevent growth, but insufficient to be externally apparent ; this does not seem probable, however, because no general failure of terminal buds on trees from which buds were selected was observed. No wholly satisfactory reason for the failures that occurred suggests itself, but it is a fact that an unexpectedly large percentage of terminal buds failed to grow. In selecting buds near the bases of shoots, effort was made to take them from as near the base as possible and yet to preserve sufficient scion length for grafting. Scions were made as short as possible, vary- ing from two to four inches according to the length of the shoot. These basal scions were often of greater diameter than is desirable in scions. They were short, rigid, and often curved, and were adjusted to stocks with difficulty, and were easily displaced. It is probable, therefore, that a considerable portion of the losses in this group of buds should be ascribed to imperfections in the mechanical operations of grafting. However, observations upon the starting of grafts representing the four groups of buds convince the writer that buds near the bases of shoots do not start as readily nor as vigorously as do buds from the central portion of the shoot; neither do they equal. in vigor of initial growth those lateral buds situated just below the terminal, altho this tardy and often weak start is in no sense a measure of subsequent growth. GROWTH OF TREES Measurements of growth of trees in this test of buds from different locations on the shoot were taken in the same manner and on the same dates as were those in the test of buds from different locations on the tree. Comparing the measurements made in 1915, there appear the same irregularities in sequence of groups, when arranged in order of merit, and the same close approximations between the different groups under test, as were found in the groups from buds from different loca- tions on the tree. 234 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, Examining the measurements by series and considering first the 3,000 series, trees eight years old, it appears that trees from buds from middle of shoot and from near the basal end were equal in height and stood first, followed in order by trees from lateral buds at distal end and trees from terminal buds. The '8,000 series, witty trees six years old, had no trees from ter- minal buds. Trees from buds near the base took precedence in height, followed by trees from buds near distal end, and then by trees from buds from middle of shoot. In the 10,000 series, also with six-year-old trees, and also with no trees representing terminal buds, trees from buds from distal end took the lead in height, while those from buds near base and from middle of shoot were of equal height. In the 13,000 series, with five-year-old trees, trees from buds near the basal end stood first in height, followed by trees from buds from middle of shoot and then by trees from terminal buds. But in all of the four series no group of trees representing any one of the four locations had sufficient advantage in growth over other groups to make it stand out in any distinctive way. The differences were so insignificant as to encourage the belief that repetition of the work, or any moderate addition to the numbers of trees involved, would be quite likely to change or even to reverse entirely the sequence of greatest height. In Tables 17 to 20 are shown, by series, the averages of total growth by years for trees from buds from each location. In Figs. 33 to 36 these data are presented in graphic form. Figs. 37 to 43 show individual trees of the 3,000 series testing buds from different locations on the shoot. All are from photographs made in July, 1915. TABLE 17.- LOCATION OF BUD ON SHOOT: 3,000 SERIES, SHOWING GROWTH OF TREES OF ALL VARIETIES COMBINED (Expressed in inches) Year 1908 1909 | 1910 | 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 Terminal Buds: Average of 23 Trees Height 18 19 10 40 48 60 37 75 49 98 76 Spread Lateral at Distal End: Average of 29 Trees Height 20 17 10 42 52 65 40 78 52 102 79 Spread Middle of Shoot : Average of 17 Trees Height 20 17 10 44 54 68 47 83 56 107 82 Spread Near Basal End: Average of 26 Trees Height 19 18 10 49 59 70 45 82 56 107 83 Spread NOTE. Total growth is recorded for 1908 and 1909, for 1910 length of leader only, and for each succeeding year total height of tree. 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 235 TABLE 18. LOCATION OF BUD ON SHOOT: 8,000 SERIES, SHOWING GROWTH OF TREES OP ALL VARIETIES COMBINED (Expressed in inches) Year 1910 | 1911 | 1912 1913 1914 1915 Lateral at Distal End: Average of 10 Trees Height 25 4 36 37 11 53 23 73 50 Spread Middle of Shoot: Average of 12 Trees Height 18 5 33 39 11 51 24 68 39 Spread Near Basal End : Average of 6 Trees Height 16 . 6 36 45 13 57 27 76 47 Spread ......'.... NOTE. Total growth is recorded for 1910, for 1911 length of leader only, and for each succeeding year total height of tree. TABLE 19. LOCATION OP BUD ON SHOOT: 10,000 SERIES, SHOWING GROWTH OF TREES OP ALL VARIETIES COMBINED (Expressed in inches) Year 1910 | 1911 | 1912 1913 1914 1915 Lateral at Distal End: Average of 64 Trees Height 20 5 39 49 16 60 29 82 57 Spread Middle of Shoot: Average of 74 Trees Height 18 . 7 37 48 14 57 28 78 57 Spread Near Basal End: Average of 48 Trees Height 21 7 37 48 15 57 28 78. 58 Spread NOTE. Total growth is recorded for 1910, for 1911 length of leader only, and for each succeeding year total height of tree. TABLE 20. LOCATION OF BUD ON SHOOT: 13,000 SERIES, SHOWING GROWTH OP TREES OF ALL VARIETIES COMBINED (Expressed in inches) Year 1911 I 1912 1913 1914 1915 Terminal Buds: Average of 36 Trees Height 8 22 27 39 12 57 32 Spread Middle of Shoot: Average of 24 Trees Height 9 20 30 38 12 60 34 Spread Near Basal End: Average of 15 Trees Height 10 20 30 42 13 65 38 Spread NOTE. Length of leader only is recorded for 1911, and for each succeeding year total height of tree. 236 APPLE-BUD SELECTION : SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, / Terminal Lateral at Distal End Middle of Shoot Near Basal End ill i 1 w~ (I/I 1 ^ // '' // / /'/ "/ // '/ / / / / / / //' / / / ' / // / > / /; '7 1 1 '// y / / lit ^ i r I -***1 5& i ^< N \ j Years i9oe 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 FIG. 33. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM BUDS SELECTED FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON THE SHOOT: ALL VARIETIES COMBINED, 3,000 SERIES Growth in 1908 and 1909 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1910 by the length of leader only, and in 1911 to 1915 by the total height. 1918] BULLETIN No. 2 1 L 237 ou 70 8 60 I \ 50 f 1 * \ r ^ 20 IO n Lateral at Distal End Middle of 5hoot Near Basal End / ft ___.. / ' / // 7 j r/ x s / / /, V / / / y i / si 7 / \ V t ! VA j \\ \ '\\ / 5 ft *t Years 1910 1911 191 z i9iz 1914 1915 FIG. 34. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM BUDS SELECTED FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON THE SHOOT: ALL VARIETIES COMBINED, 8,000 SERIES Growth in 1910 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1911 by the length of leader only, and in 1912 to 1915 by the total height. 238 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, 80 70 8 60 1 \ 50 ( 40 ^ 20 /O n / Lateral' at bistal E.r Middle of Shoo t Near Basal End id I '1 / i t fj I /, / /' ''' // ''' t i V 1 i i \\ 1 N \ % 1 */ Years 1910 /9// 1912 1913 1914 /9/S FIG. 35. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM BUDS SELECTED FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON THE SHOOT: ALL VARIETIES COMBINED, 10,000 SERIES Growth in 1910 was measured by the sum of lengths of leader and branches, in 1911 by the length of leader only, and in 1912 to 1915 by the total height. BULLETIN No. 211 239 /tx 6O 2 ^? 50 1 > 40 I * x fc 20 IO n T*. rminal iddle of ?ar Bas Shoot alEnd i - M N i 'I/ / / . 1 // A * ^ / y 2 X ^ Yeans 1911 1912 1915 1914 1915 FIG. 36. SHOWING THE GROWTH OF TREES FROM BUDS SELECTED FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON THE SHOOT: ALL VARIETIES COMBINED, 13,000 SERIES Growth in 1911 was measured by the length of leader only, and in 1912 to 1915 by the total height. 240 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 37. No. 3170: GRIMES FROM TERMINAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 241 Fi3. 38. No. 3191: GRIMES FEOM BUD FROM DISTAL END OF SHOOT HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 6 INCHES 242 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 39. No. 3177: GRIMES FROM BUD FROM MIDDLE OF SHOOT HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET, 3 INCHES 1918] BULLETIN No. 211 243 FIG. 40. No. 3185: GRIMES FROM BUD NEAR BASE OF SHOOT HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 6 INCHES 244 APPLE-BUD SELECTION; SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 41. No. 3083: OLDENBURG FROM TERMINAL BUD HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 10 FEET, 9 INCHES 1918} BULLETIN No. 211 245 FIG. 42. No. 3106: OLDENBURG _ FROM B'UD NEAR BASE OF SHOOT HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 9 FEET, 8 INCHES 246 APPLE-BUD SELECTION: SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, FIG. 43. No. 3079 : WINESAP FROM BUD AT DISTAL END OF SHOOT HEIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1915, 11 FEET Idl8\ BULLETIN No. 211 247 When the results thus far obtained in this test of buds for pur- poses of propagation are platted, a striking uniformity in the growth curves is shown. The lines are so nearly coincident and indicate such slight departures from absolute uniformity that there remains no basis for any assumed differences in value of the buds tested. Results are negative. As large arid as well-formed trees were grown from small buds as from large. Central terminal buds exhibited no advantages over extreme lateral buds, or over buds from interior branches, or even over buds from water sprouts, and the same results prevailed with reference to location on the shoot. Buds from near the base, from central, and from terminal locations gave equally good trees. These conclusions are based upon comparisons between the dif- ferent lots of trees from buds from the different locations, but they should not convey the idea that there was perfect uniformity* in the trees. Averages for the lots show uniformity, but within the groups "of trees from buds from the same locations or from buds of uniform size, either large or small, there were often striking individual differ- ences. For example, in comparing six trees of Grimes propagated from large buds, and eight years old, with 1 six trees of the same age propa- gated from the smallest buds to be found on the tree, the average growth of the trees from large buds was found to; be almost identical 'with the average of those from small buds, but the range of variation among the individuals of either group was considerable. Of the six trees from, large buds the largest exceeded the smallest by 2 feet in height, 2 feet in spread, and y 2 inch in trunk diameter. Of the six trees from small buds, the largest exceeded the smallest by 2 feet 8 inches in height, 2 feet in spread, and 7 / 8 inch in trunk diameter. These individual differences, sometimes greater, sometimes less, were com- mon to all groups ; they show the necessity of considerable numbers in order to make right comparisons between group averages. Changes in the relative positions of individuals within a group when contrasted as to growth increments were quite common. Of two trees one might exceed the other in growth the first year, fall below it in the second, regain its advance position in the third year, again lose it, and again regain it, and so on for several years. The annual growth of two Winesap trees, which may be distinguished as A and B, illus- trate this variation. Both \vere grafted on the same day in 1908 ; the buds chosen for the two trees were similarly situated near the bases of shoots; and the stocks upon which the scions were grafted were, to all appearances, similar. During the season) of 1908, A made 33 per- cent more growth than B. In 1909, B exceeded A in total growth by 38 percent. In 1910, when the leaders only were measured, the length produced by B was two and one-half times that produced by A. In 1911, when measurements of total height were recorded, A exceeded B by 38 percent ; in the next year, it maintained the lead by about 14 248 APPLE-BUD SELECTION; SEEDLINGS FROM SELECTED TREES [June, m (N 00 TJH SM H- "fc s > . b CO T-H O5 HH 00 O >O 0000 t"* CO t** OO a > 4: c > i IN T-H T 1 T^HCO "<100 COt>- OOO ^3 3 iO O OO tOO O O tOO (NO tOO (NO O(N 1> to g Tt* C^ T}* C^ ^1* T-H IO C^ CO I~H T5 3 tj S ICO OO O iO OO O >O (NO O tO O (N (NO O IN ^ " CO C^ 1C i-H CO i-H COC3 CO T-H 1 - _- ^ ^ . .3 g .315 .Slj .Sis .31s .S'g 3 So' So So So So S_-t^> '?. % t-> -*-> ^ --" ^H-^> *j D I-H co co-* r^ oo co T-H oo >o ' 3 3 IN CO (NCO (N CO