HORTICULTURE. 737 



The book is intended as a treatise on the cultivation of tree fruits for botli 

 amateur and i)rt)fessional .s;ro\vers in France. Part 1 is introduced by chapters 

 discussing the iniijortance and distril)uti(in of fruit orchards in France, and a 

 study of the niorpiiology, anatomy, and physiology of fruit trees and their 

 fruits. Succeeding chapters deal with all the important plia.ses of fruit cul- 

 ture, including methods of propagation, the laying out. and management of 

 different forms of fruit gardens and orchards, the preparation and fertilizing 

 of the soil, planting, and subsequent care. This part is concluded I)y an ex- 

 tensive chapter on pruning. 



Part 2 deals with each of the important si>ecies of fruit, treating of their 

 characteristics, processes of multiplication, pi'uning, special reciuirements, har- 

 vesting, an<l utilization of the products. Descriptions are also given of the 

 important varieties of each species. 



Peculiar seedless apple, F. IIkrse {Natunc. Wchn.schr.. 22 {WOl), No. 5, 

 I). 72, ti(jx. .'/). — A description is given of a seedless apple secured at harvest 

 time from a country orchard in (iermany, together with figures representing 

 the external appearance of the apple and vertical and horizontal sections. 



The apple is rather peculiar in appearance, since both halves appear fully and 

 evenly developed from one side, but when turned around it is seen to be much 

 broader at the calyx end than at the stem end. A study of the sections shows 

 that the dividing walls of the core are al)sent. whereas the endocarp is present 

 as in normal apples. 



The alligator pear at Pomona, Los Angeles County, California (Fla. Agr., 

 3'i (19(17). \o. 6. II. 2). — This is a l)ricf note talien from the Pomona Review, 

 which states that an alligator pear (avocado) tree was planted from seed in 

 Pomona some 10 years ago and has continued to thrive without special atten- 

 tion. During the past season 14 large pears were gathered, which sold in the 

 I>os Angeles market for $10. The avocado is not generally considered hardy in 

 that region. 



Standard sizes of fruit boxes {Pacific Rural Press. 73 (1907), Xo. '/. />. .iO).— 

 A list is given of the standard sizes of California fruit packages for shipping 

 purposes, including the dimensions and the amount of fruit contained in each 

 for cherries, peaches, pears, pears for export to Europe, plums, prunes, apricots, 

 nectarines, grajies in single crate, and grapes in double crate. 



The uses of the sakoa, Tkai.boux (Af/r. Prat. Pans Cliands, 7 {1907), No. 

 -'i6. PI). 7!>, 80). — This is a note on the sakoa, a native fruit of Madagascar, the 

 tree of which is said to have the appearance of an api)le tree and to be very 

 prolitic. The fruit is about the size of a plum, yellowish in color, and very acid. 

 The natives gather it from the trees in .January, February, and March. The 

 pulp is chewed by the natives to quench thirst, and is an important source of 

 food in dry seasons when crops fail. The fruit is also utilized in making fer- 

 mented beverages and in dyeing. The bark of the sakoa tree is said to be rich 

 in tannic acid. 



Pineapple culture V. History and bibliography, II. II. Hu.me (Florida 

 Sta. Ri)t. 191)6, pp. XXXIV-LX1\ , fi;/s. 3). — This is the fifth of a series of bul- 

 letins on this subject. In the 4 preceding bulletins (E. S. R., 17, p. ll.")5) soils, 

 varieties, results of fertilizer exiHriments. and the methods of harvesting, grad- 

 ing, packing, and shipping were discussed. 



In this bulletin an account is given of the history and origin of the pineapple, 

 together with its introduction into Europe and its early Florida history. It is 

 said to be a native American fruit. The author mentions numerous early 

 writers on the subject, and gives an extensive bibliography of the books, maga- 

 zine articles, reports, and bulletins dealing with the pineapple. 



