HORTICULTURE. 637 



vious investigations dealing with the self-sterility of Rotundifolia grapes 

 (E. S. R., 23, p. 734) the results to date are here given of breeding investiga- 

 tions which have been conducted with the view of determining the laws of in- 

 heritance in this species and for the purpose of securing improved varieties. 



An examination of the seedlings procured in the breeding work thus far has 

 shown that the sexes are about equally divided. Colors in Rotundifolia grapes 

 behave as Meudelian characters. By using proper combinations seedlings of 

 either white, red, or black can be produced. Relative to the transmission of 

 color it was found that the Scuppernong and all other white-fruiting varieties, 

 together with all light-coloreil male vines, are pure for the white color and do 

 not carry the dark color as a recessive factor. Such varieties as Flowers, Mish, 

 and Thomas are pure for dark colors and do not carry the white color as a 

 recessive. Other varieties such as James, Memory, and Smith were found to 

 be natural hybrid vines heterozygous for the black and white colors. Latham 

 is a natural hybrid heterozygous for red and white. Many of the dark-colored 

 vines, both male and female, growing wild were heterozygous for the colors 

 black and white, black and red, or red and white. White is recessive to all 

 dark colors. Black is dominant over red. The light and dark colors of the 

 vines are correlated with similar colors in the fruits of those respective vines. 



Within certain limits the average size of the fruit cluster can be enlarged 

 by the judicious selection of very large-sized flower-clustered male vines. The 

 actual size of the flower cluster, however, imder good conditions for cross polli- 

 nation does not determine the actual size of the resulting fruit cluster. Self- 

 sterility alone is not altogether responsible for the small-sized fruit cluster. 

 Considerable variation was observed in the seedlings procured with reference to 

 size of berry, flavoi'S and qualities, thickness of skin, character of pulp, and 

 size of seed. It is believed that by proper combination of parent vines de- 

 sirable seedlings can be produced. The Scuppernong grape does not readily 

 hybridize with Vitis a;stivalis, V. cinerea, nor the Herbemont. Winchell, and 

 Niagara varieties. 



A brief review of earlier attempts to improve Rotundifolia varieties is in- 

 cluded in the bulletin. 



The hybrid direct bearers in the valley of the Rhone in 1913, A. Desmou- 

 LiNs and Y. Villard {Prog. Agr. ct Vit. (Ed. VEst-Centre), 35 (Wl-i), Nos. 28, 

 pp. 52-59; 29, pp. 81-89). — This comprises observations for the fourteenth year 

 (E. S. R., 27, p. 540; see also E. S. R., 30, p. 238) relative to the behavior of a 

 large number of hybrid direct bearing grapes with special reference to their 

 resistance to disease and drought and adaptation to various soil conditions. 



Report of strawberry shipments, season, 1913 {[Springfield, Jio.].* Ozark 

 Fruit Shippers' Assoc. [1913], pp. 19). — This comprises condensed data on the 

 receipts and expenses of marketing 501 cars of strawberries for the season 

 ended June 30, 1913. 



Report of the assistant horticulturist, T. B. McClelland {Porto Rico Sta. 

 Rpt. 1913, pp. 22-25). — A brief progress report of the station's work with coffee, 

 cacao, vanilla, and rubber (E. S. R., 29, p. 641), including a brief statement 

 relative to a study of coffee and cacao plantation practices in Venezuela. 



Plantings of promising foreign varieties of coffee are being made of suffi- 

 cient extent to serve as valuable tests. The cultural, shading, pruning, liming, 

 and fertilizer tests are being continued. Some striking results are being ob- 

 served in the fertilizer work, although no definite conclusions can be drawn at 

 this time. In one planting trees which had received an ample allowance of stable 

 manure gave double the yield obtained from the check plats. A good method 

 of controlling the guama ant which attacks the guamS. tree used as shade in 

 coffee plantations was worked out. This consists of removing and burning the 



