36 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



lu the investigations with tree fruits, commenced about 10 years ago. apples 

 appear to have stood the adverse conditions better than most of the other fruits, 

 all of which suffered more or less in the severe winter of 1903^. Notes are 

 given on the varieties of apples, pears, plums, and cherries being grown in the 

 orchard. Pears are considered more or less a failure, and only the hardiest 

 varieties of cherries of the sour ty])e have withstood the climate. 



An extensive variety test w^as conducted with raspberries. blackl)erries. cur- 

 rants, gooseberries, and strawberries. With red raspberries Marlboro is consid- 

 ered the best early variety in the trials thus far. and Cuthbert the best late 

 A-ariety. Ilerliert. a new variety originated with R. P>. Whyte. is said to rank 

 first among the red varieties this year; Columbian is considered the best purple 

 variety ; Older and Smith Giant the best blacks, and Golden Queen the best yel- 

 low variety. In regard to blackberries, the conclusion is reached, after 10 or 12 

 years' testing of 23 varieties, that they can not be satisfactorily grown. Eldorado 

 and Agawam have proved the hai'diest. Of the currants, the White Grape has 

 usually been the most productive of the 40 varieties grown. During the i)ast 

 .season Climax, a new black variety, gave the largest yield. The other leading 

 varieties of currants are similar to those previously noted (E. S. R., 17, t). 802). 

 Forty-five varieties of gooseberries were tested, of which .30 have fruited. The 

 most productive varieties have been those of American origin, such as Pearl 

 and Downing. Lady Leicester, a new variety, has given the heaviest crop for the 

 l^ast 3 years. The fruit, however, is small and is not recommended for general 

 planting. Of the large fruit varieties. Red Jacket and Whitesmith are consid- 

 ered the best, although not nearly so productive as I'earl or Downing. Among 

 the strawberries, of which over 400 varieties have been carefully tested, the fol- 

 lowing are recommended to give a constant supply of l)erries from early to lat<? 

 season : Early varieties. Splendid. Wariield. and Haverland : midseason. Wil- 

 liams, Ruby, Clyde, and Parson Beauty; late. Buster. I'he last variety, although 

 .•I heavy yielder and valued for home use or market, is considered undesirable 

 for canning on account of its light color. 



The plant-breeding work of previous years has been continued and a great 

 number of crosses of various kinds have been made. A large number of berries 

 were produced as the result of using i)ollen of Falstaft", a European raspberry, 

 on Herbert and Cuthbert rasi)beri-ies, fron: which it is hoped to obtain the 

 (luality and size of the European berry and the hardiness of the native species. 

 Columbian was successfully crossed with the strawberry-rasi)i»erry. An attempt 

 h: being made to improve the common chokecherry l)y the selection of pits from 

 large fruit found to be much less astringent than the average. 



Practical treatise on horticulture for Northern Africa, L. Guillochon 

 (Traite Pratique iV Horticulture pour le Nord de VAfrique. Tunis: 8. Pere tt- 

 8oiis, 1901, pp. Ill + -'i90, figs. 30). — This work is introduced with some general 

 considerations oti garden making, necessary equipment and tools, and various 

 methods of propagation. Part 1 deals with the vegetable garden, the culti- 

 vated .species being arranged in alphabetical order and classed as herbaceous, 

 bulb, fruit, and seed croi)s. Part 2 treats of the cultivation of fruit trees, 

 including the various phases from the orchard nursery to the storage of the fruil. 

 and concludes with a list of species suitable for cultivation in Algeria and Tunis. 

 Part 3 discusses ornamental arboriculture, with suggestions on the subject of 

 reafforestation and various forms of planting. Part 4 is devoted to ornamental 

 and connuercial tloriculture, nil the varietii's of fiowcrs suited for Northern 

 .Vfrica Iieiiig <-onsidered. Part o treats of the cultivation of the agave fiber 

 l)lants. The book is concluded with a working schedule for each mouth of the 

 year. 



