HORTICULTURE. 261 



from the older method to the new, until the latter has been further tested, improved, 

 and perfected, except upon plums and cherries." 



The usual descriptive notes and data on yields are given for 16 varieties of rasp- 

 berries, 11 of blackberries, 7 of currants, 9 of gooseberries, 19 of grapes, 23 of cherries, 

 43 of plums, 43 of peaches, 42 of pears, 130 of apples, 9 of crabapples, 5 of quinces, 

 and a number of varieties of chestnuts, filberts, pecans, Japan walnuts, and English 

 walnuts. 



A thinning experiment with plums was made to determine whether regular thin- 

 ning would induce annual crops. In 1902 the fruit of trees of Burbank and Abun- 

 dance were thinned to stand 2 in. apart, and the results compared the following 

 year with trees which had not been thinned. The trees thinned in 1902 showed no 

 more blooms in 1903 and had no more fruit than the trees which had been left 

 unthinned. 



The best results were secured in marketing large fancy plums in 4-basket tomato 

 crates, using the |-bu. basket for the smaller kinds and the 16-quart crate for the 

 blue Damsons. Peach-leaf curl was again entirely controlled at the stations by the 

 use of copper sulphate solution at the rate of 2 lbs. to 50 gals, of water. In this con- 

 nection it is stated that it is essential that the first spraying be given before the buds 

 swell. No difference could be observed in the control of the disease whether Bor- 

 deaux mixture or copper sulphate solution was used. 



In order to determine the effects of heavy rain immediately after applying copper 

 sulphate solution for peach-leaf curl, the trees in one experiment were thoroughly 

 drenched with pure water an hour after the solution was applied. No difference 

 was observable in the amount of leaf curl on trees drenched and on those not 

 drenched. The conclusion is drawn that the action of copper sulphate in destroying 

 the spores of the leaf-curl fungus is almost instantaneous. As a result of tests for a 

 number of varieties of cover crops for orchards, the author states that vetch has 

 proved one of the most valuable plants for cover-crop purposes ever tested at the 

 substation. Clover came next in value. 



Report of the Upper Peninsula Substation for the year 1903 [Horticulture] 

 L. M. Geismar and C. D. Smith (Michigan Sta. Spec. Bui. 28, pp. 20-35). — The horti- 

 cultural work of the season consisted for the most part of tests of a number of varie- 

 ties of carrots, ruta-bagas, turnips, parsnips, beets, peas, beans, sweet corn, squashes, 

 pumpkins, tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, spinach, salsify, kohl-rabi, onions, cabbage, 

 some herbs, and other miscellaneous crops, including strawberries and orchard 

 fruits. Very good yields of strawberries were obtained during the season notwith- 

 standing the occurrence of frosts during the blooming period. Partly grown fruit 

 appeared to be more tender than blossoms. Brief descriptive notes are given of 

 many of the vegetables and fruits grown. 



Horticultural work at the Canadian experiment stations, W. T. Macoun, 

 W. S. Blair, S. A. Bedford, A. Mackay, and T. A. Sharpe {Canada Expt. Farms 

 Rpts. 1903, pp. 89-104, 107-111, 114-121, 299-309, 339-351, 375-384, 389-392, 

 412-427, pis. 5).— The authors give an outline of the horticultural work they have 

 respectively carried on during the year at the Central Farm and the four substations 

 in Canada. As in preceding years (E. S. R., 15, p. 149), extensive trials of varieties 

 of vegetables, fruits, shrubs, and flowers are reported. 



At the Central Farm a shipment of apples in cold storage to Glasgow was made. 

 The shipment consisted of 10 boxes of North Star and 80 boxes of Duchess. The 

 net returns averaged about $1.40 per bbl., which was considered satisfactory. The 

 details of the shipment are recorded at length. Descriptions are given of a number 

 of seedling fruits which growers have sent in to the Central Farm. In order to show 

 the individuality of trees, a table is given showing the production each year for 5 

 years of individual trees of 4 varieties of apples. Some trees yielded 2 to 4 times as 

 much fruit as others. 



