HORTICULTURE. 159 



40 gm. of ether or 14 gm. of chloroform may he used for 72 hours in the case of sev- 

 eral varieties of lilacs, while late in the season 25 gm. of ether or 8 gm. of chloroform 

 used 48 hours would be sufficient. Commenting on the above paper, M. Bultel 

 claimed to have secured good results in the etherization <>f strawberries. 



Experiments to determine the effect of ether and chloroform on plants, 

 J. Bolle (Ztschr. Landw. Versuchsw. Oesterr., 7 {1904), No. 3, }>/>. 182, 183, figs. 2).— 

 An account of experiments made to determine the forcing effect of ether and chlo- 

 roform on plants, with an announcement of experiments under way to determine the 

 effect of the same agents in forcing grape and rose grafts or cuttings, etc. 



Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) subjected to the fumes of chloroform the last of November 

 were in full bloom by Christmas, while control plants otherwise handled in the same 

 manner had made no development whatever. Like results were secured with A zalea 

 mollis, Hortensia, and roses which were treated after the leaves had fallen. 



The possibilities of the western sand cherry, N. E. Hansen (Proc. Soc. Prom. 

 Agr. Set., 1904, pp- 102-104)-— As a result of fruiting thousands of sand cherries 

 (Prit)ins besseyi) the author is of the opinion that this fruit can be raised to advantage 

 upon the most exposed prairies. Of a hundred selected varieties some have borne 

 fruit | in. in diameter and of good enough quality to eat out of hand. It hybridizes 

 readily with plums and other members of the genus. Seedlings fruit well in 3 years. 

 When worked on native plum stock fruit is obtained in 1 year from the bud or 

 graft; and on heavy soils heavier yields are obtained than on own roots. 



The " Rocky Mountain Dwarf Cherry," introduced to commerce from Colorado, is 

 considered to be a seedling sand cherry. The eastern sand cherry (Primus pumila) 

 is considered far inferior to the western form. The author believes that it will prove 

 valuable as a dwarf stock for peaches, apricots, and Japanese and native plums. 



Experimental forestry: Rubber, C. F. M. Synnerton (Phodesian Ayr. Jour., 1 

 (1903), No. 3, pp. 50-53). — An account of the planting and growth of several rubber- 

 producing trees and plants in Rhodesia. The greatest success in germinating Ceara 

 rubber seed occurred when both edges of the pointed end of each seed were ground 

 down until the kernel was just visible. The point was also ground down slightly, 

 taking care not to injure the germ. Most of the rubber has been planted at an ele- 

 vation of 4,000 ft. Trees planted in 1900 average 13 to 14 ft. in height. 



The most rubber has been obtained from these trees by pricking with an instru- 

 ment resembling a spur, which was run down 3 sides of the tree. "This method 

 produced the greatest flow of latex and damaged the tree least." The largest amount 

 obtained from a tree Avas a ball about | in. in diameter. Landolphia has been planted 

 over 200 acres of virgin forest. This plant makes a slow growth and gives a low yield 

 of rubber of good quality, and is not recommended except under special conditions. 



Formalin in treating Castilloa rubber (Agr. Bui. Straits and Federated Malay 

 States, 2 ( 1903), No. 9, pp. 285, 286). — An account is given of the treatment of latex 

 from mature trees with formalin for the purpose of coagulating the rubber. The 

 quality of rubber obtained was excellent, and it is thought that rubber thus treated 

 may keep much better on account of the intimate mixture of this preservative with 

 the rubber globules. 



Hevea brasiliensis in the Malay Peninsula, S. Aruen (Agr. Prat. Pays 

 < 'hands, 3 (1904), Nos. 16, pp. 404-440, figs. 7; 17, pp. 550-573, figs. 6).—k popular 

 account of the methods observed in the culture of Hevea brasilwnns in the Malay 

 Peninsula. 



Extraction of gutta-percha from the leaves, W. R. Dtjnstan (Agr. Bui. Straits 

 and Federated Malay States, 3 (1904), I, No. 4, pp. 128-130) . — Leaves of Palagmumpus- 

 tulatum (?) were forwarded from the Straits Settlements to London, where they were 

 analyzed and found to contain about 2 per cent of pure gutta and a large amount of res- 

 inous substance. It is believed that had the fresh leaves been analyzed larger amounts 

 of gutta would have been found. 



