HORTICULTURE. 47 



Varieties ate given in tabular form. The author says : "In some instances 

 the Labrusca stock has shown fairly good yields, as in the Concord and 

 some others, but our complaint rests largely in the fault of uneven 

 ripening, as is the case at the station." 



Hybrid roses, gooseberries, and strawberries, J. L. Btjdd (Iowa 

 Sta. Bui. 36, pp. 868-878, Jigs. 6). — Brief notes are given on the most 

 promising hybrid roses produced at the station, and on the best Rosa 

 rugosa hybrids produced elsewhere and tested at the station. By way 

 of summary the author says: 



"Up to the present, our experience and observation favor the belief that the 

 future favorite roses of the prairie States will be developed from the ironclad Rosa 

 rugosa of east Europe and our native wild roses. It has been fully demonstrated 

 that their hybrids, with our finest half-hardy varieties, follow largely the native 

 species iu hardiness of plant, perfect foliage, and complete unfolding of their 

 llowers. It is also fully demonstrated that fine double varieties can be developed 

 from primitive species in one generation." 



Over 50 hybrids of the wild gooseberry of Manitoba, pollinated by 

 the cultivated variety Champion, have fruited. In regard to this the 

 author says: 



"The leaves of all the hybrids are larger and thicker than those of either parent, 

 and the fruit ranges in size on different plants from that of the Houghcon to that of 

 the Champion and Pearl. As compared with the latter sorts, the plants make fully 

 twice as much annual growth of shoots, the leaves are larger and thicker, the thorns 

 are stronger, but not as numerous, and the fruit has longer stems, favoring more 

 rapid picking. . . . The great surprise of this experiment is the fact that not one of 

 the hybrids follows the wild species in leaf, habit of growth, or fruit. The Cham- 

 pion pollen seems peculiarly prepotent. In all other work we have attempted in 

 crossing on primitive forms, a large percentage of the seedlings have followed the 

 mother very closely, often with very slight variations." 



Crosses of the wild strawberry of Manitoba with pollen of cultivated 

 varieties have not resulted satisfactorily. The author says: "We have 

 secured the needed hardiness and perfection of leaf, but iu no case have 

 we secured the needed size for market or home use." 



The cultivated species of asparagus, W. Watson ( Card. Citron.. 3. ser., 23 (1S9S), 

 Xos. 583, pj). 122-124, figs. ..'; 585, pp. 147, US, figs. 2; 587, pp. 178, 179, figs. 3). 



American ginseng : Its commercial history, protection, and cultivation, G. V. 

 Nash ( U. S. Dept. Ayr., Division of Botany Bui. 16, rev., pp. 32, figs. 5). — This bulletin 

 has been revised by M. G. Kains. 



To keep sweet potatoes (Queensland Agr. Jour., 2 (1898), No. 2, p. 90). — Notes on 

 the storing of sweet potatoes. 



Observations on recent cases of mushroom poisoning in the District of 

 Columbia, F. V. Coville (U. 8. Dent. Agr., Division of Botany Circ. 13, rev., pp. 24, 

 figs. 27). 



Vegetable tests of 1897, L. J>. Taft, H. P. Gladden, and M. L. Dean ( Michigan 

 Sta. Bnl. 153, pp. 230-256). — The bulletin consists of descriptive notes and tabular 

 data on most of the new and many of the standard varieties of beans, cucumbers, 

 lettuce, peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet corn, peas, and potatoes. The varieties 

 that have proved most satisfactory aie as follows: Hush beans — Cylinder Black Wax, 

 Flageolet ( ?), Victoria, Golden Wax, Red Valentine, Cream Valentine, Stringiess Green 

 Pod, Byer One Bean, and Improved Goddard ; encumbers — Russian, Choice, Westerlield 



