HORTICULTURE. 549 



the fL-ivor \v;is very disnurccililc, tlK.uiili not due to the ordinary i)rocess(>s oT 

 decay. 



A lar^'e luiiubci- of variclics of apples wore successfully kepi for II) weeks in 

 cold storage in a teniperalnre ranging from IVS to 8<)° F. A iiumher of pears 

 kept for the same length of time gave less satisfactory results. It is believed, 

 however, that with proper care in handling the fruit both apples and pears can 

 be kei)t sudiciently well for shipment to English markets. 



Fertilizing forced strawberries, von Brehmer ((Jdrtcinrcll, 11 {11)06), No. 

 7, ;j/>. 7.S, 7.'^). — An account is given of forcing strawberries in pots lilled with 

 the same kind of soil but differently fertilized. Chemical fertilizers were used 

 and applied to the plants once a week in water solutions. There were 2(> plants 

 in 8-in. pots in each series. 



The first ripe fruit in the control pots was secured May 2S and the total 

 yield up to June 12 was :ur> gm. When the plants were fertilized with a mix- 

 ture of phosphoric acid and nitrate of potash the first ripe fruits were secured 

 May 23 and the total yield was 2,050 gm. When to these fertilizers nitrate of 

 lime was added the first ripe fruit was secured May 10 and the total yield was 

 3,950 gm. It is thus seen that by the use of a complete fertilizer plus nitrate 

 of lime the yield was more than 10 times greater than where no fertilizer was 

 used and the fruit ripened nearly 2 weeks earlier in the season. 



Date varieties and date culture in Tunis, T. H. Kearney (U. 8. Dept. Agr., 

 Bur. Plant /*/rf».s'. Bill. i).i, pp. 112, pis. 10, fips. 52). — Descriptions are given 

 of 105 varieties of dates grown in Tunis, with a descriptive key to the char- 

 acters of the fruit and an account of the' characteristics of the principal date 

 regions in Tunis and of the culture of the date palm. The number of varieties 

 described in the bulletin is believed to be only about one-fourth of those in 

 actual cultivation there but includes all of the more important varieties. The 

 author personally visited the different regions described and succeeded in 

 securing about 700 off-shoots representing 56 varieties, which were sent to the 

 TTnited States for trial. The descriptive key which has been worked out the 

 author believes will become useful in identifying the Tunisian varieties. 



Resistant vineyards. Grafting, planting, cultivation, F. T. Bioletti 

 {California Sta. Bui. ISO, pp. 87-l'i-'i, figs. 29). — An extensive account is given 

 of the details of grafting, planting, and nursery management for the establish- 

 ment of resistant vineyards in California. Much of the matter contained has 

 been given in earlier publications of the station (E. S. U.. 12. p. 241). 



Manurial experiments with cacao in Dominica ( ITcs/ Indian Bill.. 7 

 {IDO(i), A'o. ,i. pp. 201-212). — A sununary is given of the fertilizer experiments 

 carried on at the I)ominic;i Botanic Station since 1900, some of the results of 

 which have been previously noted (E. S. R., 17, p. 700). In addition the results 

 secured on exp(>rim(>ntal plats in 7 country districts are noted. 



At the botanic station the use of basic phosphate and i)otnsh without nitro- 

 genous manure has not proved beneficial, but when dried blood has been added 

 there has been a striking increase in the yield per care. A comi)lete fertilizer 

 therefore, is reconnnended. Even the application of dried blood ahme has 

 shown very iieneficial results, there being a gain of .308 lbs. of wet cacao, or 

 4.4 lbs. per tree over the no-manure plat. 



The most interesting results have been obtained on tlie plat mulched with 

 grass and leaves, the sweepings of the lawns at the liotanic station. At first 

 the yields on this plat while in excess of those on the no-manure plat were con- 

 sidei'ably less than on the fertilized plats. During the past 3 years, however, 

 the yields from this plat have greatl.v exceeded those of any other plat in the ex- 

 periment. In 1905 the yield w.-is 38.91 lbs. of wet cacao per tree against 22 lbs. 

 from the uo-mauure plat, or a gain of 77 per cent. It is believed the plat has 



