IIOKTK^ULTUKK. 139 



niul plant in.i: practices, cultivation, met hods of lii.-inciiin.u, fiatlicriu!;, shipping 

 and varieties. 



Onion culture, W. 11. Bkattik ( T. »s'. Dcpt. .Ir/r., I'liniicrs' liitl. So.'i, pp. 36, 

 fiys.20). — In tills Farmers' Ilnlletin which supersedes Farmers' lUil. 39 (E. S.R., 

 S, p. 224) information is given relative to areas, climate, and soils adapted to 

 onion culture together with a\\ account of modern cultural practices, harvesting, 

 curing, storage, marketing, important conunei-cial varieties of onions, and onion 

 diseases and insect pests. The history and characteristic features of the Ber- 

 muda onion industry in the Gulf Coast States is also given. Inasmuch as the 

 production -of onion seed and sets is limited to certain localities and conditions, 

 these snl).iects are not discussed. 



The influence of manganese on the growth of pineapples, W. P. Kelley 

 (JIairaii Stu. Press Bui. 23, pp. l.)). — This is a preliminary report on an ex- 

 tended investigation being conducted by the station to determine why pine- 

 apples do not grow successfully on certain types of soil which sometimes occur 

 in pineapple fields. The work and conclusions thus far reached are summarized 

 as follows : 



" Some of the pineapple soils of Hawaii contain black spots on which pine- 

 apples do not grow successfully. 



" The application of fertilizers and lime in conjunction with good tillage and 

 drainage has not resulted in effectually overcoming the yellow appearance of 

 the pines on black soil. 



"The black soils contain less acidity than the red soils. 



" There is but one important difference in the chemical composition of these 

 soils, viz, in regard to the manganese content. The black soil contains many 

 times as much manganese as the red soil. 



" The black color of these areas may in pail be attributed to the presence of 

 higher oxids of manganese. 



" There is a close correlation between the degree of yellowing of the pines 

 and the percentage of manganese In the soil. 



" Yellow pines from soils containing a liigh percentage of manganese are more 

 active oxidizing agents than green i)laiits from red soil. 



"The yellow pines have a poor root system and contain but little cliloro- 

 I'liyll. 



"xVs yet no positive remedy for tliis condition has been worked out. It seems 

 wise to try other crops on the black soil, especially since sugar cane grows well 

 on the black soil." 



Strawberry growing in Colorado, P.. (). Longyear {Colorado »S7«. Bill. L'/O, 

 pp. 3-12). — This bulletin discusses cultural methods practiced by commercial 

 strawberry growers in Colorado, the following phase.s being considered : Soils, 

 location, preparation of land, fertilizers, planting operations, cultivation and 

 irrigation, mulching, picking, packing, marketing, renewal of old beds, rotation, 

 growing a second c^op in one season, varieties, cost of growing, yields and 

 profits, insects and diseases. 



The role of hybridization in the reconstruction of vineyards, P. Gervais 

 and L. Weigert (S. Iiitcnint. Landw. Kong. ir/c;(. .'/ (I!)07), t^cct. X, Rap. 1, pp. 

 17; Rcf. I, pp. 6). — This consists of 2 papers on the above sub.iect presented by 

 the authors respectively before the lOighth International Congress of Agriculture 

 at Vienna in 1907. 



Anatomical studies of the union between stock and scion in grafted grapes, 

 G. DE IstVANFFi (8. Intcvnat. Landw. Kong. Wien, // {liUn), Hcct. X, Rap. J/, pp. 

 8). — A resume of the author's investigations along this line presented before 

 the Eighth International Congress of Agriculture at Vienna in 1907. 

 732— No. 2—09 4 



