240 



It is only necessary to nvpreniue tL<' (lillieiilliis, (he ihief of whicL ;uo the injurious 

 influences upon plants near the light, the too rapid hastening of matiuity in some 

 species, and in short the whole series of practical adjustmentb of conditions to 

 individual rircuiustances. Thus far, to be snrt-. \\i- havr ]i:';u ued more of the injurious 

 eifects than of the beneficial ones, but this only uiraus that we are acquiring definite 

 facts concerning the whole influence of electric light upon vegetation; and in some 

 cases, notably in our lettuce tests, the light has already been found to lie a useful 

 adjunct to i'orcing estaVilishuK'nts. 



The experiments bring- ont iimmc clcjirly tlir t;ict tliat the growth of 

 plants may be continnoiis, and sliow that the injury to pUtuts lioiii the 

 electric light can not result from any gases arising from the lamp itself. 



It is highly probable that there an- certain times in the life of tlie plant when the 

 electric light will prove to be jiartieuiarly hel]iful. Many experiments show tliat 

 injury follows its use at that critical time when the plantlet is losing its supjuut 

 from tlie seed and is beginning to shift for itself, ami other exjteriments show that 

 good results follow its later use. This latter point appears to be contradicted by 

 Deherain's results, but his ex]»eriiiients were not eoiidneteil under the best normal 

 conditions. 



On the wh(de. I am iiielinrd towards Siemens's view — that there is a future for 

 electro-liorticultiire. 



New York Cornell Station. Bulletin No. 31. September, 1891 fpp. 17). 



The FOKCiNfT of English ciTCirMUERs, L. U. Bailey, ]\l. S. (pp. 

 lL'o-130, tigs. 7). — An account of exjteriments hy tbe author in raising 

 English (MUtimbers in the greenhouse during the winter of 1S'.K»-1»1 

 A\ ith a view to enctturaging th«Mr introduction in this country. The 

 bulletin <'ontains descriptions of the greenhouse used: methods of 

 <iilture and training: and notes on tlu^ a[>i>earance and history of the 

 English varieties, on j>ollination and crossing, aiul on the insect enemies 

 of cucumbers. For details regarding the general retiuirements of houses. 

 temj>eratnre, and moisture for the forcing of cucumbers, the reader is 

 referred to P>idletins Xos. i*.~) and 2S of the station (see Exjieriment 

 Station Kecoi<l. vol. ii, p. TiOT, and vol. in, p. 01), in which experiments 

 with beans and tomatoes are reported. Some attemi)ts were made to 

 obtain a variety of English cucumbers suitable tor out door use bj' 

 crossing the Sion House and Medium Green varieties. 



Fruits of untisnal promise have been obtained, but they have not produced good 

 seeds. Some of the mongrel fruits developed a peculiar weakness in the tendency 

 of the placentie or cell walls to decay. The seeds did not mature and the soft, pulpy 

 tissue about them solidified. Ne.ir the apex of the fruit the i>lacentje tended to 

 break away from the body, and in the cavities decay set in and extended finally to 

 the Itaso of the fruit. All the fruits upon <me of the mongrel ]>lants behaved in this 

 manner. In no ease had the fruit been injured nor was the decay visible upon the 

 exterior until it had extended well down the fruit. I am unable to account for it. 



In most instances the mongrel vines resembled the Mediuui (ireen (the staniinate 

 parent) more than th(> Sion House. The fruits were generally intermediate, although 

 almost every gradation was observed. Sometimes the fruits would vary widely 

 upon the same plant. A number of vines bore beautiful frnit.«. twice as long .is the 

 Medium Green, nearly cylindrical, with very few .spines, and we are looking for good 

 results from this cross. 



