HORTICULTURE. 837 



thus protected were uninjured, while only about 20 per cent of the 

 unprotected buds came through tbe winter without injury. The cov- 

 ered trees blossomed 2 days later and remained in bloom several days 

 longer than the others. Some of the trees were uncovered at blossom- 

 ing time and others later, one tree being left until nearly 3 weeks after 

 blossoming. Fruit had set well under tbe cover except near the top, 

 where the limbs were bound closely together. With young trees the 

 protection is about as easily and cheaply applied and about as effective 

 as whitening, but can not be used as readily with old trees. 



Shading 4 trees with canvas hay caps proved about as effective as 

 whitening or covering with cornstalks. For young trees the expense 

 is about equal to whitening, but for old trees the canvas would be too 

 expensive. 



Covering the trees with board sheds was tried during 2 winters. 

 Posts were set at the outer euds of the branches, rafters placed on 

 them to meet over the center of the tree, and fence boards fastened an 

 inch a part on the top and part way down the sides. These sheds 

 furnished by far the most effective protection to the trees. Trees thus 

 protected set fruit very well in the spring of 1896 and were not severely 

 injured by either the cold of winter or the hot, dry winds of spring. 

 In the spring of 1S97 the buds did not start until the normal blossom- 

 ing time, the trees blossoming 4 to 5 days later than unprotected 

 trees and 1 day later than whitened ones. They remained in blossom 

 longer and set much more fruit than any other trees of the same varie- 

 ties in the orchard. The sheds were left over the trees until the middle 

 of May. Almost no fruit dropped from the protected trees, while a 

 good deal dropped from the unprotected ones. Though this method 

 was the most effective one tried, it is considered too expensive for use 

 except in rare instances. The coat for lumber was about $2 per tree 

 and the cost of building and taking down the sheds 80 cts., making the 

 cost about $1 per tree each year. 



The cultivation and management of the peach, J. C. Whitten 

 (Missouri Sta. Bid. 38, pp. 159-104). — !Nbtes are given on location, ferti- 

 lizers, soil, planting, cultivation, pruning, thinning fruit, spraying, 

 varieties, etc., the directions given being based on experiments at the 

 station and observations throughout the State. The author recom- 

 mends the following varieties, named in the order of ripening: Southern 

 Early, Mountain Rose, St. John, Reeves Favorite, Champion, Family 

 Favorite, Foster, Elberta, Mrs. Brett,. Wheatland, Oldmixon Free, Old- 

 mixon Cling, Gaylord, Crawford Late, Stump, Smock, Piquette Late, 

 and Sal way. 



Problems in plum pollination, F. A. Waugh ( Vermont Sta. Rpt. 

 1896- , 97, pp. 87-98, 124-133, figs. 6).— This is a continuation of work 

 reported in Bulletin 53 of the station (E. S. R., 8, p. 598). 



Self-sterility (pp. 87-89, 124-125).— In 1897 a large number of blos- 

 soms of 56 varieties of various classes of plums in orchards at Denton, 

 Maryland, were protected from cross-pollination by inclosing them in 



