1074 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In breeding carnations ttie continuation of a series of experiments was frequently 

 interrupted by the production of plants producing neither pollen nor seed. Again, 

 other plants might produce seed but no pollen, and vice versa. 



The chief advancement in carnation culture during the past 70 years, in the 

 author's opinion, has been in the improvement of cultural methods, and the growing 

 of iinproveil hyl)rid8 and varieties which do not burst the calyx in growing. 



The fertilization of chrysanthemum flowers {Rei: Ilnrt. \_Parh'], 75 {190S), 

 No. 9, p. 195). — It is stated that chrysanthemum flowers with small heads will yield 

 a larger quantity of seed than flowers with large heads. In hyln-idiziiig chrysau- 

 tliemums it is believed that better results will be obtained if the plant employed as 

 a mother has both large and small heads. Pollen should be taken from plants 

 grown naturally, that is, not pruned or disbudded. 



Soil for blue hydrangeas, E. Andke {Rev. Ilort. [Paris'], 75 {1903), No. 3, pp. 

 55-57). — Hydrangeas sometimes produce red and sometimes blue flowers. The rea- 

 sons for this have not been definitely known. The author states that the soil coming 

 from near Anglers and composed of granite, schist, sand, and considerable quantities 

 of iron, and covered with a thick turf formed of decomposed vegetable matter, always 

 produces blue hydrangeas. This soil is sold to horticulturists in different parts of France 

 as a blue hydrangea soil. If, however, the roots of hydrangeas potted in this soil are 

 permitted to permeate ordinary soil the flowers produced are likely to be of a red or 

 dirty violet color. The author analyzed this soil, obtaining the following results: 



Andhjses of .wil jii^ed for yfoirhuj l/lne In/drangras. 



Physical analysis. 



Percent. 



Chemical anAly.sis. 



Pebbly 



Black silicious 



Clay 



Calcareous 



Organic matter 



Humus 



Water 



21. 00 



(11. SO 



2. 16 



.09 



7. .55 



.91 



3.49 



100.00 



Nitrogen 



Phosphoric acid 



Lime 



Magnesia 



Potash 



Soda 



Iron o.xid 



Sulphuric acid . 



0. 4103 

 .1168 

 . 0504 

 .2000 

 .08.50 

 .0043 



3. 4100 

 .0857 



It is seen that this soil is essentially silicious, very rich in organic matter and in 

 humus, quite poor in nitrogen and phosphoric acid, and excessively poor in lime and 

 I)otash. This analysis is believed to demonstrate that the presence of iron in the soil 

 is not the only unique factor in the production of blue hydrangeas, but that there 

 should be in addition an exclusion of lime. With the knowledge of the composition 

 of soil in which blue hydrangeas flourish, it is now believed that it will be possible to 

 syntheti(>ally produce a soil that will grow blue hydrangeas. 



Blue hydrangeas {Rev. HoH. [Paris], 75 {1903), No. 5, pp. 114, 17.5).— Observa- 

 tions are given which show that when debris from a slate roof was mixed with the 

 soil, the color of the hydrangeas grown in such soil was blue. Where the broken 

 slate was al)sent the color was red. 



Nicotiana hybrids of the second generation, G. Bellair {Rer. Hart. [Paris], 

 75 {1903), No. 3, pp. 54, 55, Jigs. 4)- — The author jxjllenized Nicotiana si/lvestris by N. 

 tabacum in 1901. The hybrids obtained were all similar in character. Seed obtained 

 from these plants was planted in 1902. The resulting crop varied greatly resembling 

 neither t'lie original parents nor the hybrids of the first generation. Four distinc- 

 tive types obtained are described. One type resembled N. virginica, two were pro- 

 fusely flowering sorts, and the fourth type was noticeable on account of the color 

 and unusual proportions of the flowers. 



Etherization and chloroforming of dormant plant parts, W. Johannsen 

 {Norsk llaretidende, 18 {1902), No. 12, pp. 194-203, figs. 5). — The method of etlieriza- 



