No. 3, October, 1921] HORTICULTURE 225 



1399. Church, F. A, Safeguarding the ripe olive. Pharm. Era 53: 293-294. 2 fig. 1920. 

 — An account is given of the laws regulating the packing of ripe olives in California, following 

 several fatal cases of poisoning. — C. M. Sterling. 



1400. Clark, T. W. Methods of testing cacao beans. Agric. News [Barbados] 19: 254- 

 255. 1920. — The article discusses the methods of testing and the demands of buyers, Indicat- 

 ing how a bean best suited to the latter is produced. In this connection information is given 

 enabling the planter to make tests for himself and thus secure an indication of the value of 

 his product. — /. S. Dash. 



1401. Colby, A. S. Pruning notes on blackberry varieties. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. 

 Sci. 17: 241-242. 1920 [1921].' — A brief discussion is given of the general pruning of black- 

 berries in Illinois. Tests were made with 11 varieties in duplicate rows, the laterals in 1 row 

 being headed back severely whereas those in the other were not headed back. The author 

 grouped the varieties as follows; "First, those which carry their cluster-buds well in towards 

 the base of the laterals and well down on the canes; second, those which carry their buds out 

 nearer the tips of the laterals and canes; and, third, those whose buds are scattered fairly 

 well along the production wood." Ward and Lawton, with laterals having from 8 to 14 buds 

 with the outer 5 without fruiting clusters, belong to the 1st class; cutting back the laterals 

 i results in little reduction in the yield. Early King, Taylor, and Wachusett, with an average 

 of 15 buds to the lateral, belong to the 2nd group. Since the first 3 to 5 buds are not fruitful, 

 pruning off more than ^ decreases the yield. Snyder, Ancient Briton, Wilson, Ohmer, Eldor- 

 ado, and Mersereau, the most vigorous and productive domestic varieties, belong to the 3rd 

 group, in which the cluster buds are fairly evenly distributed along the producing wood. 

 Severity of pruning is more necessary in this group, and, as many of the laterals carry as 

 high as 18 buds, they may be cut back |. — H. W. Rickey. 



1402. Colby, G. E. California fruits. Monthly Bull. Dept. Agric. California 10: 35- 

 39. 1921. 



1403. CoNDiT, I.J. Getting the people acquainted with the great American fig. Associated 

 Grower 1*: 11-12. 1920. — TheCalimyrna (the Smyrna of California) has a golden yellow color, 

 thin skin, amber pulp, and a rich flavor. It is an excellent fresh fruit product. Caprifica- 

 tion is emphasized as an essential detail in the culture of this fig. — E. L. Overholser. 



1404. Cooper, J. R. Preliminary report on the effect of fertilizers in apple orchards in 

 the Ozark region. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 17: 190-193. 1920 [1921].— A series of plot 

 fertilizer experiments in bearing apple orchards, with 5 complete series of elements used alone 

 and in combinations, 3 series in young orchards not yet in bearing, 2 in bearing peach orchards, 

 and some in vineyards and strawberry fields are being carried on. Nitrogen has given the 

 greatest promise of direct results. In orchards growing on poor, leachy soils the set of fruit 

 was increased from 1^ to 10 per cent, with 40 per cent of the spurs blooming, and from 1 to 5^ 

 per cent, with 81 per cent of the spurs blooming; a larger percentage of the fruit which set 

 was carried to maturity. In fertile heavy soils, or soils which had previously been manured 

 little or no benefit was noticeable in the set. In 1 orchard which had been nitrated in the pre- 

 vious season, as well as manured, the application of more nitrate the following year seemed 

 to decrease the set over that in the unfertilized plot. No effect on the set of fruit was observed 

 from the use of either phosphorus or potash. — Judicious pruning stimulated the effect of 

 nitrogen for a single season. Continued pruning was inadvisable as a method of procuring a 

 successful set of fruit. The author states "Our observations have led us to believe that the 

 whole tree performs as more or less of a unit and that the difference in performance of different 

 parts is due largely to location with regard to food and water supply and other conditions of 

 environment. Our record of spur growth follows very closely the description given by 

 Roberts. It seems to us, however, that there is more mass than individual action and that 

 the performance of different classes of spurs is due largely to location and finally to the avail- 

 able supply of plant food." — The author finds that it is possible to change the performance 



