HORTICULTURE. 637 



out the need of a study of the uiutuiil atfiuities of apples that are likely to be 

 planted together, and for the purpose of throwing some light on this question, 

 a list is given of a large number of successful crosses made during two years' 

 work. 



In cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry of this Department a record 

 was kept for the past 2 years of the blooming periods of the fruits grown in the 

 college orchard, and tables are given showing the blooming periods of 95 varie- 

 ties of apples, 31 varieties of pears, and 17 varieties of cherries, p'or the 

 locality in which the observations were made, it was foinid that apples re- 

 mained in blossom 13 days, jiears 11 days, and cherries 10 days. The varieties 

 are grouped as early and late bloomers. A study of the table shows a varia- 

 tion of several days in the appearance of the first blossom of the several 

 varieties. The possibility of selecting varieties with reference to their time of 

 blooming, thereby partially eliminating the failure to set fruit, is pointed out. 



Pollen was found to be capable of maintaining its viability for 3 weeks pro- 

 vided it was not allowed to ferment. As a solution to the problem of collecting 

 an adequate supply of pollen for pollination experiments, the forcing house was 

 resorted to where pollen can be riiiened quite rapidly. 



The culture of the pear, G. T. Powell {Mass. Crop Rpt., 22 (IDO!)), No. 5, 

 pp. 2S-36). — This is a popular bulletin on pear culture discussing soils, prepara- 

 tion of the land, planting operations, varieties, plant distances, cultivation, 

 pruning, diseases and insects and their control, and marketing. 



Protecting' fruits from late frost, Lancaster and Skeggs (West. Fruit 

 Grower, 20 {1909), Xo. 10, pp. 5, 6, fig. 1).—A brief account is given of the ex- 

 perience of Grand Junction fruit growers in protecting their orchards from un- 

 timely frost by the use of smudges of various kinds. The results secured in 

 1908 indicate that the use of smudges is both efficient and practical. 



On the grafting of American grapes, von Jablanczy {Osterr. (}art. Ztg., 

 'i (1909), Xo. 10, pp. 3.')9-.}ii.'i, pjjs. .{). — An account is given of the mechanism 

 and use of a recently invented machine for grafting grapes, which is being 

 enqdoyed to a certain extent in European practice. The style of graft made by 

 this machine is known as the tap graft, being a modification of an older form 

 known as the peg graft. The machine cuts a hole in the end of the stock, and 

 a corresponding plug or tap on the end of the scion. 



Beport of the technical division of the grape-improving station, Geisen- 

 heim-Eibingen, Flscheu {Her. K. Lcliraiist. Wcin. Ohst ii. (luricitbau (Icisvn- 

 licim, 1908, pp. lS'i-192). — Data are given on the condition and character of 

 i)oth grafted and hybrid grapes under test at the station. 



Culture of small fruits, C. I. I^ewis and C. A. Cole {Oregon t^ia. Bui. t05, 

 lip. 3-29, figs. 13). — A popular bulletin containing suggestions for growing, 

 harvesting, and marketing strawberries, rasjjberries, blackberries, Logan and 

 l)henonienaI berries, gooseberries, currants, and cranberries. 



The coffee plantations of Tonkin, P. .T. S. Ckamek {Bui. I'Jcon. /ndo-Cliiitr, 

 II. ser., 12 (1909), Xo. 7H, pp. 171-177). — In the cour.se of a visit to tlie coftce 

 plantations of Tonkin a study was made of the virescence of the flowers of 

 Coffrn arahicn. This trouble manifests itself in two forms. In one the flower 

 is greatly reduced in size, and the petals are entirely green. In the other 

 form the flowers are nearly white, the petals are twisted, and the pistils and 

 anthers are aborted. 



TJje conclusion is reached that the virescence of the flowers is a physiological 

 phenomenon caused by whatever affects the nutrition of the plant, whether 

 climatological, pathological, or agrological. The author suggests that condi- 

 tions other than climate can be ameliorated I)y removing all excresceuc«'s 

 which develop on the trees and by adopting ;i method of pruning which i)ro- 



