444 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol.88 



[Horticultural experiments at the San Antonio experiment farm in 1916], 

 G. R. Letteku (U. 8. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus., Work San AntotUo E^tpt. 

 Farm, 1916, pp. 16-19, fig. 1). — This comprises brief notes on fruits, nuts, and 

 ornamentals being tested at tlie station farm. 



The handling and precooling of Florida lettuce and celery, H. J. Ramsey 

 and E. L. Maekell (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 601 (1911), pp. 28, figs. i9).— During 

 the seasons of 1913-14 and 1914-15 investigations were conducted by the Bureau 

 of Plant Industry for the purpose of ascertaining the causes of losses by decay 

 In lettuce and celery shipped from Florida, and to determine practical means 

 of reducing them. In the work with lettuce precooling and holding experiments 

 were conducted at the shipping point, and the lettuce was examined at the mar- 

 ket, New York City, upon arrival and a few days after arrival. Precooling experi- 

 ments with celery were conducted at the shipping point and storage experi- 

 ments after reaching the market in New York City. The results secured from 

 these experiments are presented in a series of tables and diagrams and fully 

 discussed. 



The decay in lettuce in transit was found to be due largely to lettuce drop, a 

 disease which appears to enter the head mainly through the lower leaves. The 

 experiments have shown that much of tliis decay can be avoided by cutting the 

 heads at a point just above these leaves and discarding the head entirely if 

 very many of the leaves are diseased. Lettuce in cars that were precooled 

 at the shipping point to a temperature of about 40° F. developed considerabfy 

 less decay in transit than that shipped in nonprecooled cars. With careful 

 cutting and precooling the lettuce reached its destination in almost perfect 

 condition and held up much better on the market than lettuce handled in the 

 usual manner, 



Precooled celery arrived on the market in a uniformly fresh condition, with 

 the leaves on the top tier nearly as green as those on the bottom. Nonprecooled 

 celery showed very yellow leaves in the top tier, thus discounting the value of 

 the entire load. Precooled celery was stored successfully for four weeks with 

 little decay, whereas nonprecooled celery developed considerable decay during 

 the same storage period. The work indicates that celery from the lower part 

 of a nonprecooled car can be stored for a short period, but during warm weather 

 that on the top tier should be disposed of as soon as it reaches the market. The 

 cost of precooling and initial icing of a car of celery was less than the usual 

 charge for full refrigeration in transit. In warm weather one icing in transit 

 may be required, thus increasing the cost of precooling to about the usual full 

 refrigeration charges. 



Concerning quality in celery, J. B. Norton {Yermont Sta. Bui. 203 (1917), 

 pp. 10-12). — A summary of experiments dealing with growth and quality in 

 celery. 



In a series of experimental trials wherein plants were grown in water or were 

 given water in amounts ranging downward from 187 cc. to 1 cc. daily, there 

 was no height growth or even shrinkage in height when 15 cc. or less was sup- 

 plied daily, and increasing height growth when from 31 to 187 cc. was given 

 daily. Celery plants treated with 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 gm. of nitrate of soda, 

 respectively, showed increased height growth for a period of 30 days roughly 

 proportional to the amounts of fertilizer used. Similar results were obtained 

 by the use of artificial mixtures of half sand and half humus-rich soil and of 

 one-third sand and two-thirds humus-rich soil. 



Several plants were grown either in full light, in half light, or in darkness. 

 Intense light hindered growth and lack of light caused an abnormal etiolated 

 growth. The full-lighted crop was dwarfed, stringy, and tough. The half- 



