HORTICULTURE. 849 



gave the same indications as the peaches though not so marked. The 

 author says: "In both cases it will be observed that the early thinning 

 bore the most profitable results, and it will manifestly pay to commence 

 work of this kind immediately after the fruit sets." A test of thinning 

 apples and plums at the Central Experimental Farm emphasized the 

 results obtained by Mr. Burrell. 



A series of trials of methods of storing apples was conducted during 

 the season of 1896-97, beginning in the fall and continuing until the 

 last of July. The tests included 24 varieties of apples and were planned 

 to test the following points : Wrapped vs. unwrapped fruit, cellar vs. 

 ground floor storage, and close vs. ventilated packages. "Specimens 

 wrapped in paper kept best, there were fewer rotten apples, and they 

 lost least by evaporation. The ground floor storeroom did not preserve 

 them as well as the cellar. . . . The tight package preserved the 

 fruit best in storeroom but not in cellar; per contra the ventilated did 

 better in cellar than in storeroom.' 1 Twenty-six varieties of apples are 

 classified according to their keeping qualities. 



Notes are given on some cover crops for orchards. Mammoth red 

 and common red clover completely winterkilled in January, 1896. 

 Alfalfa fared somewhat better. It was noted that where mammoth red 

 clover and alfalfa plats overlapped, both crops came through the winter 

 better than where growing separately. The next fall plats were sown 

 with clover and alfalfa mixed in equal parts. Of the mixture the author 

 says, " The one formed an appropriate complement to the other, the 

 spreading stools of the mammoth red covering the ground with a thick 

 mat beneath the more slender and taller growing alfalfa." 



Tests of 48 varieties of bush beans, 19 of pole beans, 11 of Lima 

 beans, 25 of celery, 5 of celeriac, 23 of cucumbers, and 23 of onions are 

 reported in tables, accompanied by brief notes. Cultural experiments 

 were also made with a number of vegetables Seed of peas and beans 

 was soaked 1 hour in solutions of nitrate of soda of different strengths, 

 1, 2, and 3 oz. of the salt to 1 gal. of water, to ascertain the effect on 

 germination and yield. With peas the percentage of germination was 

 not affected by the treatment, but with the exception of one variety 

 there was a regular increase in yield with the increased strength of 

 solution used. The results with beans were too variable to justify con- 

 clusions. 



A test of growing a number of varieties of celery in spent hotbed vs. 

 cold frames is reported. The average weight per stalk of the hotbed- 

 grown plants was 11 oz. while that of the cold frame plants was over 

 1 lb. There was little difference as regards quality. 



Sowing onion seed at various dates in the hotbed and transplanting 

 the plants into the field was compared with sowing the seed directly in 

 the field at various dates. Transplanting increased the total yield and 

 decreased the quantity of unmerchantable onions. 



Trial shipments of fruit {Rpt. Comr. Agr. and Dairying, Canada, 

 1897, pt. 7, pp. 20, jigs. /?).— The results of trial shipments of various 

 fruits from Canada to Great Britain are reported. The article gives 



