754 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



larger, and better. Besides these there are numerous varieties of the 

 same groups named and recognized but having only local importance. 

 The composition of fresh fruits, A. Girard (Bui. [Min. Agr. 

 France], 17 (1898), No. 7, pp. 1523-1528).— Detailed analyses are reported 

 of fresh strawberries, raspberries, currants (white and red), cherries, 

 figs, apricots, peaches, plums, grapes, pears, apples, and oranges. In 

 nearly every case several varieties were analyzed. The article has a 

 prefatory note by L. Lindet. Several of the analyses follow : 



a Calculated as tartaric acid. 



The protection of orange groves against frost (Florida Agr., 25 

 (1898), No. 10, p. 147; Florida Farmer and Fruit Grower, n. s., 10 

 (1898), No. 10, p. 147; Pacific Rural Press, 55 (1898), No. 11, p. 170).— 

 This is the report of a committee appointed by the Biverside (Califor- 

 nia) Horticultural Club to investigate the various methods suggested 

 for the protection of orange groves against frost. The committee, 

 assisted by some 15 or 20 persons interested, made tests of the numer- 

 ous methods of frost protection and compared protected orchards with 

 neighboring unprotected ones. 



It was found that the temperature in the orchards could be materi- 

 ally raised by the use of dry heat. Burning coal in wire baskets proved 

 the most effective method of warming orchards. Oil pots made a hotter 

 fire, and were neither expensive nor difficult to manage, but the deposit 

 of lampblack upon the fruit made the method unfit for general use. 

 With coal, 20 to 50 fires per acre gave good results. In several cases 

 20 fires per acre raised the temperature 3 to 5°. The expense of keep- 

 ing up coal fires for a few nights during the coldest weather is so small 

 in comparison with the value of an orange crop that the method is 

 considered feasible. The 50 wire baskets cost about $5, and the fuel 

 to run them from $2.50 to $3 a night. 



The possibility of raising the dew point, by means of steam-produc- 

 ing apparatus, sufficiently to prevent injury on dry, cold nights was 

 thought impracticable. It was found that flooding was of considerable 

 value when used in connection with dry heat or smudges. Covering- 

 trees with cloth or matting is considered very effective, but the expense 

 is too great. 



The use of moist smudges, made by burning damp straw, very con- 

 siderably lessened the loss of heat by radiation, especially when they 

 were started early. The results obtained by this means are less 



