HOETICULTUKE. 143 



The Thays process for germinating seeds of mate, C. Tiiays (Jour. Agr. 

 Trop., 6 (l!Ki(!\. \o. 67. />/>. 2ll.i-2<l't). — The autlior has iiiot with considerable 

 success in germinating seeds of Paraguay tea (Ilc.r ixtraf/iKii/ciisis) hy soal<ing 

 in hot water, and gives residls of a iiuiiibei- of experimenters wlio have used 

 this method. One man reporting on the subject states tliat wlien the seeds were 

 j)hiced iu water at 80° C. and soaked for 6 hours, then tlie hot water renewed 

 for a period of 4 days, a germination of .57 to G3 per cent was obtained. 



The chemical composition of fruits, E. Hotter (Ztschr. Lamlw. Versuchsw 

 f"}!itcn:, I) (HXKi). Xo. 7. itp. 7.'i7-8(l(l). — Food constituents (»f tlie fruit and ash 

 analyses are given for a large number of orchard and small rr\iits, including 

 such fruits as elderberry, .Japanese wineberry. mulberry, numntaiu ash, medlar, 

 and all the usual fruits cultivated in garden and orchard. The article con- 

 stitutes part 3 of an invt'stigation on the marmalade industry, jireviously noted 

 (E. S. K.. IG, p. OS!)). 



Specific requirements of new varieties in California fruit growing, E. .J. 

 WicKSox {Pacific Rural I'rcxs. 72 (I'.IOG). Xo. 3. iip. ■?'»'. .f7).— The text of a 

 Iiaper presented at the convention of the American Association of Nurserymen 

 :it Dallas, Texas, is given. 



California growers, shiiipers. .-ind canners were consulted by means of circular 

 letter, and the replies from l.fJttl of these were used as a basis for the ])aper. 

 It appears that 5 varieties of apples lead all others iu California. These are 

 the Yellow Newtown IMppin. Yellow Bellefleur, AYhite Winter Pearmain, Grav- 

 enstein, and Red Astrachan. Of apricots Royal is decidedly in the lead. The 

 same is true in the case of the Napoleon Bigarreau, a cherry locally known 

 as Royal Ann. The Bartlett is of greater importance among the pears than 

 all (itlier varieties in C;ilif(irnia combined. The foremost of the California 

 I'lums is \Yiekson. Eureka is the best variety of lemons grown, while Wash- 

 ington navel and Yalencia are the best oranges. 



The specific needs of fruit growers in the way of new varieties of each of 

 these fruits, as well as of prunes, grapes, etc.. are considered in detail. 



Fruit division ( 7.'/*^ Miii. Ai/r. Canada, I'JOo. pi'- X} 11 1-X XI). —The text 

 of the act i-elative to the i)acking and sale of Canadian fruits, with an account 

 of the administration of the law during the year. The fruit of 811 packers, 

 containing L'li'..348 packages, was inspected. Of this number 10,708 packages 

 ^\•ere actually ins]»ccte(l. 



Dependable fruits, W. .1. (Jhkkx and F. II. Ballot [Ohio Shi. ('ire. ■'>.',. iip. 

 .'/). — A list is given of vario\is orchard and snjall fruits wiiicli are most likely 

 to succeed in different sections of the 8tate. 



Orcliard culture, W. J. Green and F. H. Ballou (Ohio Sla. I!iil. HI. pii. 18!)- 

 215, fg.'i. 18). — Results are given of a comparative test, extending over a period 

 of G years, of different methods of cultivating apple orchards. 



On one plat of 40 Jonathan and Grimes trees the usual method of clean culti- 

 vation early in the season, folh)wed by a fall cover crop, was observed. On a 

 second plat clean cultivation was given throughout the season. On a third the 

 trees were set in sod and the gi-ound kept cultivated in a circular area 3 to 4 

 ft. in diameter about each tree. The grass between the trees was cut 3 or 4 

 times during the season and allowed to lie in place. On a fourth plat the trees 

 were likewise set in sod. but were not cultivated. At the time of planting they 

 were heavily mulched with straw. The grass between the trees was cut 2 or 3 

 times (hiring the seas )n, raked uji and distributed around each ti'ee as a undch. 



The ]il:it which was giv(Mi clean cidtivation throughout the entire season 

 washed so ii.-idly that this part of llie e\|ieriiiient Ii;h1 to be discontinued at the 

 end of the fourth season. Hence this method of cultivation Is not recommended 



