HORTTCULTURE. 945 



ail outline of the iiiethods ouiployed, tojietlier with the results secured, and is 

 presented as an aid lo future eftt)rts in cantahjuiie l)reediiif?. The worlv through 

 <he season of 1905 has been previously noted (K. S. II., 17, p. 705 ). 



Systematic seed selection has been practiced and the melons grown on the 

 same infected plat for 5 consecutive years. With the exception of a few in- 

 dividual plants the plat was practically free from disease during the past 

 season. Keports from commercial growers in the vicinity of Rocky Ford as 

 well as from the Illinois and Indiana stations, where the rust-resistant seed 

 was tested, indicate the iiossibility of conti'olliug to a considerable extent the 

 injuries from rust fungus by systematic seed selection and breeding. 



The work at the station indicates the advisability of making individual as 

 well as plant selections. Although a general unifoi'niity prevailed in the plats 

 from seed having a common parentage a year or two previous, irregularities 

 were constantly appearing among the products of some of the selections, while 

 the tendency to breed true seemed equally characteristic of others. In one case 

 the color of the flesh and the solidly filled seed cavity were uniformly repro- 

 duced for 4 succeeding years. The general results secured appeared to have fol- 

 lowed Mendel's law. The conclusion is reached that systematic seed breeding 

 will intensify any desired qualities found in cantaloupes as well as in other 

 crops. 



Attempts are to be made at the station to combine the rust-resistant char- 

 acter with earlier maturity by means of hybridization. INIethods necessary for 

 the artificial cross-fertilization of cantaloupe flowers are briefly discussed, 

 and a summary is given combining the essential points for bi-eeding cantaloupes. 



The tree doctor, J. Davey (New York and Chicago [1907], pp. 235, pi. 1, 

 figs. 217). — A popular work embracing a variety of subjects relating to the cul- 

 ture of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers, with a large number of illustrations. 

 Special features of the work include a description of tree surgery, a discussion 

 of pear blight and other blights, the cause of peach yellows and their treat- 

 ment, grape culture made simple, the destruction of native forests and remedies 

 suggested, and the relation between trees, bix'ds, and insects. The work con- 

 cludes with a calendar for the treatment of plant diseases and insect pests, 

 prepared by W. J. Green and A. D. Selby. 



The water evaporation of fruit trees at the blooming' period, A. Oster- 

 WALDER (LantUr. Jalirh. ^chweiz, 21 (1907), No. 7, pp. 287-297). — An account 

 is given of the author's investigation at the Wiideuswil experiment station 

 with regard to the effect of water evaporation during the blooming period on 

 the fertilization and setting of fruit. An examination was made of a large 

 number of apple and pear trees both under laboratory and outdoor conditions, 

 the results of which are given and explained in detail. 



The principal inference drawn from this study is that the evaporation of 

 water from the flower petals is insignificant as compared with the evaporation 

 from the leaves, and that the diying out and withering of the flowers in 

 periods of excessive drought and heat more probably results from the ex- 

 cessive transpiration of the leaves than from the great number of blossoms or 

 their delicate structure. 



The fruit industry in England, R. Skalweit (Ber. Land u. Forstw. Aus- 

 htndc, 1907, No. I'), pp. 2.i, map /). — This is a general report on the fruit in- 

 dustry in England, including data with I'egard to areas and varieties under cul- 

 tivation, notes on fruit culture in the various counties in Great Rritain and 

 !i discussion of the influences affecting it, and a description of methods of har- 

 vesting, packing, and marketing. 



According to data collected from official sources the annual increase in or- 

 chard planting during the past 10 years is about 2,500 acres and for small 



