HORTICULTURE. 543 



and open lots api>earing to he about that which occurs when fruit is stored for 

 the same length of time in open and closed packages. 



" Strawberries were kept in good condition in cold storage from 1 to 2 weeks ; 

 red raspberries, 2 to 3 days ; black raspberries, 3 to 5 days ; blackberries and 

 dewberries, from a week to 10 days, and currants, 2 to 3 weeks. Cranberries 

 kept all winter. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries which have been 

 stored for several days usually begin to break down within 10 to 12 hours after 

 removal from the storage, while currants and gooseberries hold up fom 12 to 24 

 hours longer." 



The graft-stocks for dry soils, J. Capus {FeiiiUc Yin. Girondc, 32 (1001), 

 Xo. 32, p. 126).— The author discusses the comparative value of American 

 grape stocks for French vineyards. Vines grafted on Riparia are said to have 

 proved unsatisfactory on dry soils both as to the growth of the vine and the 

 quality of the wine. The author is of the opinion, however, that this fact 

 should not lead to the conclusion that vines grafted on American stocks will 

 give wine inferior to French vines and he briefly describes some experiments, 

 the results of which indicate that certain hybrids of Cordifolia are adapted 

 to soils with a high lime content and that the hybrids of Berlandieri are 

 adapted to dry soils whether calcareous or not. 



An account is also given of a test of the wines from S different graft-stocks 

 all grafted with Cabernet-Sauvignon, As a result, Cordifolia X Rupestris 

 produced the highest quality of wine. This test was repeated in 1900 under 

 different weather conditions but with practically the same I'esults. 



Vine culture and wine trade of Germany, C. Niessen (Diplo. and Cons. 

 Rpts. [London]. Misc. ser., 1907, Xo. (idl. pp. 17). — This is a report on the vine 

 culture and wine trade of Germany for the years 1905 and 1900, in which brief 

 notes are given of the condition of the crops throughout these seasons, together 

 with statistics with regard to the area, and the quantity and value of wine pro- 

 duced, the annual production since 1890, and the imports and exports of wine 

 and liquors to and from Germany for the years 1903 to 1905, inclusive. 



The area planted with vines in 1905 is giv^n as 120.090 hectares (296,037 

 acres), from which 3,855.978 hectoliters (101,797.819 gal.) of wine were pro- 

 duced, having a value of 109.170.271 marks ($25,983,952). German wine grow- 

 ing received a severe blow in 1900, owing to the destruction of the crop by va- 

 rious insect and fungus enemies such as the hay and sour worm, Oidium and 

 especially Peronospora, hence the total quantity of wine produced for that year 

 is estimated as only about 1,800.000 hectoliters (47,520,000 gal.). It is rather 

 generally believed among the growers that, although the introduction of Amer- 

 ican vines might be favorable as regards quantity of wine, the quality would 

 be injured. 



Peppermint; a crop for swamp lands (Rural New Yorker, 66 (1907). \o. 

 2988, pp. .373, 37.'/, fips. //).^This is an account of the cultivation, harvesting, 

 and distillation of peppermint in Michigan. It is estimatefl that not more than 

 8,(XK) acres of peppermint were growi) in the United States during the past 

 season, more than 90 per cent of which was within a radius of 90 miles of the 

 city of Kalamazoo. 



Although mint can be grown on any land suitable for the profitable produc- 

 tion of corn, its cultivation is said to be most profitable when grown on soils 

 rich in decayed vegetable matter, commonly known as muck. The estimated 

 average yield of oil per acre, under careful cultivation, is given as 35 lbs. from 

 new mint, about 25 lbs. the second year, and 12 lbs. the third year, or an avei'age 

 of 24 lbs. during a 3-year period. At $2.12 per pound, the average i)rice of mint 

 for the past 10 years, the income per acre is $51.28. Reference is made to one 



