HOETICULTURE. 641 



tion of hotbeds, management of young plants, and transplanting the plants to 

 the field. Data are given on variety tests conducted in 1901 and from 1909 to 

 1911, together with descriptive notes on varieties tested in 1911. A study of 

 blossom-end rot is elsewhere noted (p. 64S). 



Summarizing the data on varieties, the authors find that no one variety 

 maintains its position at the head of the list from one season to another. The 

 terms " early " and " extra early " often bear little relation to the period of 

 ripening of the fruit. 



In 1911 vines which were pruned to 1, 2, and 3 stems, resi^ectively, and staked 

 were compared with vines receiving no pruning and staking. All the pruned 

 and staked plats gave a much higher yield than the unpruned and unstaked 

 plat. Vines pruned to 3 stems gave the highest yield and vines pruned to 1 

 stem gave the least yield. The bearing season of the pruned and staked plats 

 was twice as long as that of the unpruned and unstaked plat, and the fruit was 

 larger and freer from defects, except blossom-end rot. Pruning and staking is 

 not recommended unreservedly, however, since in experiments previously re- 

 ported (E. S. R., 20. p. 1036) the poorest yields were secured from the staked 

 plat, which likewise showed a greater percentage of disease. In 1911 also a 

 staked and an unstaked plat in an area for the control of blossom-end rot gave 

 results in favor of the unstaked plat. 



Data are given showing the iiercentage of loss from different varieties in the 

 process of canning. Notes are also given on the use of a home canning outfit. 

 The varieties found to be particularly adapted for canning were Paragon, Chalk 

 Early Jewel, Maryland, Beauty, and Acme. 



A preliminary study of the forced curing of lemons as practiced in Cali- 

 fornia, A. F. Silvers and R. H. True (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. BuJ. 

 232, pp. 38, figs. 4)- — This comprises a progress report on a study conducted 

 cooperatively by the Bureau of Plant Industry and various lemon organizations 

 iu California to determine the effective factors involved in the process of hasten- 

 ing the coloring of lemons known as forced curing or sweating. The methods 

 used in both curing and the forced-curing processes are described and the 

 experiments thus far conducted are reported in detail. 



Experiments have shown that heat and humidity are, contrary to common 

 oi)inion, of minor importance iu coloring lemons and that the pungent, gaseous 

 combustion products given off by the oil stoves used produce the desired effects. 

 The effectiveness of these gaseous products was unimpaired even when conducted 

 to distant rooms by means of pijies. which fact suggests the possibility of using 

 a central generating plant and thereby reducing the risk of fire iu the curing 

 rooms. The coloring of lemons was noticeably hastened when confined in spaces 

 constructed of materials of a porous nature, such as earth, brick, or concrete. 



A common result of the sweating process is the loss of stems from the fruit. 

 The available evidence, however, does not indicate that the loss of stems increases 

 the amount of decayed fruit, although it may mar the appearance of the fruit. 

 The experiments indicate that the gaseous products applied alone will cause the 

 stems to drop and that humidity and heat are less important factors. 



The investigation is to be continued. 



The cultivation and manufacture of tea in the United States, G. F. 

 Mitchell (C7. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 234, PP- W, j)ls. 2, figs. 11).— 

 This bulletin brings together the most important results of experiments in 

 commercial tea culture begun a number of years ago by C. U. Shepard and later 

 continued by him cooperatively with the Bureau of Plant Industry at Summer- 

 ville, S. C. The various phases discussed include history of tea growing in 

 America ; description, commerce, and statistics of the tea plant ; the details of 

 establishing and maintaining a tea plantation ; curing or manufacture ; finishing 



