HOKTICULTDEE. 761 



These experiments indicate that purjile twigs on trees not only al)sor]) more heat 

 in sunshine, but also transpire a greater amount of water than green twigs and of 

 course more than whitewashed twigs. Relative to the application of whitewash, the 

 author states that it should be put on before the swelling of the buds begins. In 

 Missouri peach buds one season began swelling in January. Toward the latter part 

 of the resting period the buds start into growth much easier than earlier in the win- 

 ter. The trees should l)e thoroughly whitewashed with 2 or more applications. 

 The whitewash sticks ])etter if made with 5 per cent skim milk. 



The date-palm orchard, R. H. Forbes {Arizona Sta. Rpt. 1902, -pp. 240-246). — 

 The date-palm orchard now at the station comprises 556 trees, made up of 81 different 

 varieties obtained from the Sahara, Egypt, Arabia, and Beluchistan. In addition 

 there are 64 local 5-year-old seedlings. There are 327 suckers on the young trees, 

 but it is thought that these can not be advantageously removed for 2 or 3 years. 

 During the year 16 trees of the Rhars and 1 of the Deglet Noor varieties blossomed 

 and produced a small crop of fruit. Tlie date-i^alm scale has been brought under 

 control by the use of hydrocyanic-acid gas fumigations. 



Dates, A. J. McClatchie {Arizona Sta. Rpt. 1902, p. 252). — Tests of date seed 

 j)lanted during the year indicate that these should be placed in the ground l)efore 

 the warm weather of spring, preferably some time between October and Feliruary. 

 Late planted seed do not make as vigorous growth as seed planted earlier in the 

 season. It has been found desirable in transplanting to keep a ball of earth around 

 the roots and cut the leaves back to within a few inches of the ground. 



Variety test of strawberries, O. M. Taylor {Neiv York State Sta. Bxd. 2 IS, 2)p. 

 179-202, pi. 1). — Data are given showing the date of coming into bloom, date of first 

 and last pickings, and total yield for 20-ft. rows of 56 varieties of strawberries. 

 INIost of the sorts grown were of quite recent introduction. Brief descriptions are 

 given of all the varieties tested. A series of early spring frosts considerably reduced 

 the yields of a number of varieties. The best yielding varieties were Crescent, 

 Riehl No. 29, Monitor, Manokin, Beder Wood, Howard No. 2, and Riehl No. 26, 

 ranking in the order named. Of these varieties, Riehl No. 29 produced too many 

 light-colored and small berries to be highly recommended. The fruits of l)oth Mano- 

 kin and Howard No. 2 were too soft and of rather poor quality. Among the newer 

 varieties tliought worthy of trial are Bennett, Henry, Joe, Kansas, Monitor, Prof. 

 Fisher, Riehl No. 26, Riehl No. 31, and Rough Rider. The largest early yields were 

 given by Beder Wood and Crescent. Johnson Late was the latest variety to ripen, 

 but lacks color and fii'mness. Prof. Fisher makes but few runners, and should there- 

 fore be planted closer than other varieties. Henry and Sample should be sprayed, 

 since they are especially subject to leaf blight. 



Strawberries in 1902, F. H. Hall and O. M. Taylor {Neiv York State Sta. Bui. 

 218, popular ed., pp. 4, fig- 1) ■ — A popular summary of the above bulletin. 



Strawberries, A. J. McClatchie {Arizona Sta. Rpt. 1902, pp. 253, 254).— The 

 varieties Excelsior and Texas, both early varieties, have proved very satisfactory at 

 the station, enduring the sunnuer heat as well as any varieties ever tried there. It 

 has been found that plants grown along shallow, open furrows do better than those 

 grown on the sides of endless ditches. " Mulching with fine straw early in June 

 has proved of value in enabling plants to endure the heat and drought of summer, 

 especially during the first season after setting. Plants kept clean, and thus left 

 exposed to the rays of the sun, make better growth than those where weeds are left 

 to grow for shade." 



New methods of grafting and budding vines, E. H. Twight ( California Sta. 

 Bui. 146, pp. IS, figs. 10). — Details are given for making the green cleft graft, Horwath 

 graft, Salgues graft, Besson graft, Clarac graft, Massabie graft, and Vouzou graft. 

 The author states that in vineyard work the Salgues graft is coming to be quite gen- 

 erally used. It is simple, forms a perfect union, and is of great value in reestablish- 



