HORTICULTURE. 239 



New opportunities in subtropical fruit growing, P. II. Rolfs (U. <S'. Dcpt. 

 Af/r. Yearhodl: I !><)■',. jtp. 'i.VJ-'i~>'i. pis. ,1, pt/s. J). — The author discusses the uses 

 and culture of the avocado, iiiaiipt. su^,'ar apple, cerimau, and guava. , 



The handling of fruit for transportation, G. II. Powell (U. H. Dc/iI. Af/r. 

 Yearbook JOU.j, jiji. 3'i!)-.3ili, pis. .'i). — A discussion is given of tlie requirements 

 of fresh fruits as regards harvesting, i)aclving. cooling, and transportation to 

 l)revent molds, rots, and deca.v. 



Owing to improvements in transportation facilities, liuits grown in California 

 and the Southern States are shipped to Eastern and XoiMheiii markets in a 

 fresh condition. Frequentl.v large lo.sses occur, dne to sliiii|iin.i; Iriiit too warm 

 or in rough handling, lioth of which .greatl.v favor llie (Icvelopnient of fungus 

 diseases. 



Mechanical injuries to the Iruit may lie caused h.v the puncture of insects, hy 

 the stem of one penetrating the other, tinger-nail cuts, dropping the fruit on 

 sharp siu'faces, cli])per cuts, etc. Some pickers ma.v injure only 1 per cent of 

 the fruit in gathering, while others may injure as much as .50 to T.j per ceut. 

 Any ahrasion of the skin forms a lodging i)lace for si)ores, which rapidly develoj) 

 in w^arm, moist air, resulting in decay. 



Factors which favor long keeping qualities are cold, dry, pure air, sound 

 fruit, wrapping, cooling after it is picked, and shipping in comparatively small 

 packages which cool quickly throughout. A free circulation of air should he main- 

 tained about the packages. Where possible fruits should be cooled before put- 

 ting into refrigerating cars for shipment. Fruit allowed to stand until morning 

 may be 20 to 40° cooler than when picked in the afternoon. The use of salt and 

 ice in refrigerator cars will i)roduce a lower temperature than the iise of large 

 cakes of ice alone. 



It i-e(juires from 4 to 7 days for fruit In barrels held at 32° F. to cool down to 

 a uniform temperature of .32° F. A longer time is required where the fruit is 

 wrapped. The protection of the wrapped fruit, however, against bruising usually 

 outweighs the disadvantage of slower cooling. While immediate cooling after 

 ]>icking and transportation in refrigerator cars will prevent the development of 

 rots during transportation, such fruits if roughly handled, bruised, or cut in any 

 way in harvesting will decay very promptly when offered on the market. 



Small fruits in 1904, .1. P. Pilisdury (Pennftylvania Sta. Rpt. 1905, pp. 

 198-206). — Tal)les are given showing the usual annual data (E. S. R., 17, p. 254) 

 relative to the date of flowering, ripening, rust resistance, vigor, yield, and size 

 of a large number of strawberries grown in 1904, and the average weight of 

 the berries during a period of years. Similar data are given for a lai'ge num- 

 ber of vai'ieties of raspberries, blackberries, currants, and gooseberries grown at 

 the station. 



Cranberry investigations, A. R. Whitsox, L. I'. IIaskixs, and O. G. Malde 

 {Wiscoiisiii Kid. I\pl. J 905, pp. 282-299). — An account is given of further progress 

 in the cranberry work at the station previously noted (E. S. R.. 16, p. 778). 

 In the experiments of IDO.'i the holding of the winter's flood on the plants up 

 till May 21, instead of A[)ril 21. resulted in later bloonung and later harvests. 

 Improving the soil by weeding, sanding, and drainage has resulted in warmer 

 soils and less danger from frosts. 



A table is given showing the jiiaximnm and mininnnn temperatures on different 

 Itlats, from ,Tul.v 22 to Sejjti'inber KJ. It is shown that low temperature of the 

 marshes is "due to radiation from the surface through the air above, producing 

 lower temperatures than that of the general mass of the atmosphere a short 

 distance above." The difference in temperature in the vines at the ground sur- 

 face and o ft, above averaged .5.22° over a period of .58 days. 



In the experiments in draining the marsh to different depths ])ractically the 



