1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

The general health and vigor of the 1995 trial is good to excellent depending on cultivar and rootstock.
Trees on Mark
TMrootstock are showing swelling at the graft union and are beginning to decline in vigor.

1999 was an unusually hot and dry year. We feel the weather conditions correlate directly with higher

than normal pre-harvest drop counts and a larger than normal observance of flesh corking on many of

the cultivars.


Cultivar performances of the 1995 trial through year five at the Pittstown, NJ site:


Breaburn: A perennial producer of high quality fruit; although fruit load management in the early years

may be key to attaining adequate canopy volume to produce the quality annually. Burrknots

were discovered on the scion of this cultivar. Variety is sensitive to powdery mildew and mites.


Golden Delicious: Moderate to heavy drop in '99. Good color has been achieved, but tree vigor is high

on the M9's.


Yataka: Variable ripening between years has been documented. Poor fruit quality in '99 with low

soluble solids and predominately green color. Tree vigor is weak to moderate, with some trees

on Mark showing decline. Spring nitrogen application may have contributed top poor fruit

quality.


Arlet: Although fruit finish was off the mark this year with heavy surface russet and reduced red color,

this cultivar's eating quality has been outstanding every year. Tree vigor is moderate with a tree

structure similar to Gala.


Creston (BC8M15-10): Develops a rough finish similar to Honeycrisp, but lacking suitable red color.

Cork and bitter pit have occurred. Tree growth has been weak with poor lateral branching.

Harbors high populations of leafminers. The soil and climatic conditions of our region may limit

its potential in our area.


Cameo: Variety has been a perennial front runner. Possible sensitivity to excessive nitrogen? Fruit color

was off this year, and tree vigor is excessive.


Enterprise: Trees vigor is high seasonal growth with the addition of Nitrogen is excessive. Fruit is

annually large and of high quality. Suffers from calcium related spotting on skin, "Mystery Spot",

more noticeable this year due to the drought.


Fuji (RedSport #2): High vigor and possesses nitrogen sensitivity. This strain had trouble with fruit

color in our trial.


Gala Supreme: Moderately vigorous cultivar that lacks precocity. This was the first year a measurable

yield was harvested. Fruit finish was russeted.


Gingergold: Large size and high quality annually. Tree is highly vigorous with excessive growth

produced. Heavy cork spotting has been observed annually.


Golden Supreme: Highly vigorous cultivar that lacks precocity. Fruit quality was outstanding in '99,

the first year a measurable harvest was produced.


Goldrush: Precocious cultivar that tends to overcrop itself. Extremely difficult to thin, tends to be bi-
annual. It is borderline whether this cultivar will mature in NJ. 1998 was the 1
stseason we were

able to harvest a mature crop. The fruit quality is excellent when mature.


Honeycrisp: Outstanding eating qualities, but fruit finish is unattractive. Severe drop occurred in '99.

Mite and powdery mildew problems, and cork is an annual occurrence.
1999 North Jersey Tree Fruit Annual Report20