344 HORTICULTURE [Bot. Absts... 



zer for apples _n the Hood River valley. Two successive annual applications of 5 to 6 pounds 

 of nitrate of soda per tree in early March resulted in increase in vigor of trees, as expressed by 

 terminal growth and leaf development. Percentage of fruit set doubled and trebled in many 

 instances. Further applications were not proportionately successful, thus bringing to the 

 forefront considerations of the many factors influencing growth and productivity of the 

 trees. Consideration is given to the effects of soil culture, irrigation, cover crops and fer- 

 tilizers upon the blooming habit and yields of apples. No definite conclusions are drawn by 

 the author. — A. E. Murneek. 



2319. Chace, E. M. The detection and elimination of frosted fruit. California Citro- 

 graph 4: 108, 109, 144. 3 jig. 1919. — There are at least three different methods of deter- 

 mining the extent of frost damage to oranges. 1. Estimating the damage by surface indica- 

 tions (not dependable); 2, the hesperidin crystal test (very accurate but hardly suited for 

 commercial work); 3, specific gravity test. This last is the one in most common use. De- 

 scription is given of the water separator specific gravity machine used in most packing houses 

 for segregating fruit frozen in different degrees. Tables are presented giving data on a series 

 of tests of these machines as operated in many packing houses. It is pointed out that some 

 frozen oranges are heavier than some sound oranges and this troublesome variation operates 

 against the accuracy of any device which is based on specific gravity The conclusions are 

 that if all frozen oranges were lighter than all sound oranges and the machine properly oper- 

 ated, 85 per cent efficiency would be shown, whereas with fruit as it is the average efficiency 

 of 5 machines was 74 per cent. — /. E. Coll. 



2320. Charmeaux, Francois. L' ensachage du raisin de table, son origine, ses raisons, 

 ses resultats. [The bagging of grapes, its origin, reasons and results.] Jour. Soc. Nation. 

 Hortic. IV, 20: 52-56, 75-79. March and April, 1919. — The author gives his experience and 

 reviews the work of numerous French viticulturists and investigators on bagging table 

 grapes, and compares the results with spraying. His conclusions are that sprays should not 

 be used for table grapes and that the only practical method of protecting the fruit from dis- 

 eases and insects is to bag the bunches of grapes. No definite reason is given for not using 

 sprays except that discriminating buyers do not buy grapes that have been sprayed. Paper 

 covering is claimed to protect the grapes against injury by birds. Results of use of paper of 

 various colors also given. — //. C. Thompson. 



2321. Childs, Leroy. Some comparative results in controlling codling moth and apple 

 scab with dust, spray gun and rod. Proc. Oregon Hortic. Soc. 1918:112-118. 1919. — See 

 next following Entry, 2322; also Bot, Absts. 3, Entry 2599. 



2322. Childs, Leroy. Comparative results in controling codling moth. Better Fruit 

 13 9 : 5, 41-46. March, 1919.— See Bot. Absts. 3, Entries 2321, 2599. 



2323. Condit, I. J. Proper maturing of avocados. Ann. Rept. California Avocado Assoc. 

 1918-1919: 78-83. — The concensus of opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of some kind of ma- 

 turity standard for avocados. Analyses of the fruit show that the oil increases with ripen- 

 ing, but the correlation between the percentage of oil and the best edible quality has not been 

 determined. Continued sale of immature windfalls is likely to injure the market. Sketches 

 are given of the present legal maturity standards for oranges, grapes, olives, and cantaloupes. 

 It is concluded that on account of the peculiar nature of the avocado, being a salad fruit, none 

 of these maturity standards would be advisable. It is suggested that inasmuch as varieties 

 have already been classified according to season, that the committee on classification and 

 registration of varieties be authorized by the directors to submit rcconunendal ions as to the 

 earliest dates at which the fruit of all commercial varieties can be considered properly mature. 

 Members of the association may he asked to sign an agreement not to pick and ship the fruit 

 of an> - commercial variety before the maturity date specified for that variety. The con- 

 tainers could then be plainly labeled "Mature Avocados, Guaranteed by the California 

 Avocado Association." — ./. E. Coil. 



