440 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Svalofs solhvete (sun wheat), H. Nilsson-Ehle (Sveriges Utsddesfor. 

 Tidskr., 21 (1911), No. 3, pp. 123-126, pi. 1). — A new heavy-yielding winter 

 wheat especially adapted to southern Sweden is described which at Svalof pro- 

 duced 4,5S0 kff. of grain per hectare (G8 bu. per acre), excelling in yield 5 other 

 varieties tested. Siruilar variety tests at 4 other points are reported. 



Eooibloem, H. H. W. Pearson (Agr. Jour. Union So. Africa, 2 (1911), No. S, 

 pp. 266-268). — This is a preliminary report on an investigation of the life 

 history of rooibloem or witchweed, in which the present Imowledge of the eco- 

 nomic and botanical characteristics of the weed is outlined. The experimental 

 work undertaken includes the burial of seeds for the purpose of testing the 

 conditions of germination. 



HORTICITITURE. 



A contribution to the study of the nutrition of cultivated mushrooms, 

 A. HUBERT and F. Heim (Ann. Sci. Agron., 3. ser., 6 (1911), II, No. 5, pp, 

 337-341). — ^A previous study on the nutrition of the mushroom (Agaricus cam- 

 pestris) led the authors to conclude that both lime and potash fertilizers could 

 be used with profit (E. S. R., 22, p. 339). A complementary study was made of 

 the horse manures commonly employed in making mushroom beds to determine 

 to what extent they supply nutrition to the mushroom. 



It is concluded that the manures suitable for the culture of mushrooms are, 

 as compared with fresh manures, poorer in ammonia, fats, and especially 

 cellulose and xylan and richer in nitrogen and in vasculose. The mushrooms 

 find in the manure in readily available form both nitrogenous matter and 

 minerals in sufficient quantity with the exception of sulphuric acid and mag- 

 nesia. For this reason it seems wise to add to the manure a small quantity of 

 magnesia and sulphate fertilizers, such as kainit, which would likewise furnish 

 a certain amount of potash. 



Analyses were made of the manure in a mushroom bed at the beginning of 

 the culture and at the end. Data are given which show the fertilizing elements 

 lost in raising 1 kg. (2.2 lbs.) of mushrooms, for the growing of which it is 

 concluded that 33 kg. of composted manure are necessary. 



Pollination in orchards, F. J. Chittenden (Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc. [London'], 

 73 (1911), No. 2, pp. 350-361).— A brief review of previous experimental work 

 in orchard pollination, including a discussion of the factors influencing pollina- 

 tion. 



In connection with experiments being conducted at Wisley, a list is given 

 showing the varieties of apples growing in the Wisley Garden, arranged in 

 order according to the average date of full flowering for the 4 years over 

 which observations have been made. Tabular data are also given in which 

 the order of flowering of apples at Wisley is compared with that in other 

 localities in England, in Victoria, and in the United States. 



From the data secured at Wisley, it is concluded that although there will 

 be in any one year some deviations from the relative order, these will usually 

 be slight. A comparison of the blooming periods of the same varieties in 

 different localities leads to the conclusion that a list drawn up from a suffi- 

 cient number of observations in one locality will be in general a safe guide for 

 planting in other localities. 



Practical orcharding jon rough lands, S. W. Moore (Akron, Ohio, 1911, 

 pp. 289, figs. SO).— This is a popular treatise on orcharding with special ref- 

 erence to apple growing on the rough hill and mountain lands in the East. 

 Consideration is given to the questions of location, site, preparation of soil, 

 selection of trees, choice of varieties, planting, care and cultivation, pruning, 



