2<U EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



2 of the bell jars a small stream of air was circulated through; in the other 2 bell 

 jars air containing 5 times the usual amount of carbonic add was forced through. 

 At the end of 24 days the 4 plants in each of the pots in which air only had been ad- 

 mitted weighed 21 and 24 gm., respectively, while the 4 plants in each of the pots to 

 which carbonic acid had been added weighed 50 and 60 gm., respectively. The 

 author believes that carbonic acid may be valuable as an aerial fertilizer for market 

 gardeners in intensive culture. 



Edible fungi, 0. II. Peck [New York State Mus. Bui. 7-',, pp. 27-34, pis. 3).— Tech- 

 nical descriptions are given of a number of species of edible fungi, together with 

 notes on their distribution, habits, and uses. 



The fruit trade with foreign countries ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Statistics Crop 

 Reporter, 6 (1904), No. 5, pp. 38-40). — Statistics are given of the imports and exports < >f 

 fruit for the United States during the years 1903 and 1904. For the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1904, the fruit exported from the United States was valued at $20,348,299. 

 The fruit imported during the same period had a value of $18,964,930.' Bananas 

 were the largest item of importation, being valued at the ports of the producing 

 countries at $7,000,000 to $8,500,000. Next in importance to bananas in the import 

 fruit trade are lemons, at the value of $3,000,000. Apples and prunes are the fruits 

 most extensively exported.- The value of the apples exported in 1903-4 amounted to 

 $8,*237,894. The value of prunes was $3,410,497. Together these 2 items make up 

 more than half the value of the fruits exported from the United States. Consider- 

 able information is given as to the countries from which the various fruits are 

 imported and to which domestic fruits are sent. 



Report of the fruit experiment stations of Ontario, L. Woolverton et al. 

 (Ontario Fruit Expt. Stas. Rpt. 1903, pp. S3, Jigs. 33). — In addition to an account of a 

 visit of inspection to the numerous fruit experiment stations established throughout 

 Ontario and reports by a large number of growers on the success which they have 

 obtained with different fruits in their respective localities, original descriptions and 

 illustrations are given of 7 varieties of apples, 4 of grapes, 1 of peaches, 3 of pears, 6 

 of plums, and 1 of raspberries. An effort is being made to identify all of the varieties 

 of fruits now grown in the Province, and these illustrations and descriptions are 

 contributions to that end. An account of other work along the same line may be 

 found in E. S. R., 15, p. 473. 



Apple growing in Tasmania, J. Knight (Jour. Dept. Agr. Victoria, 2 (1904), 

 No. 8, pp. 744-748). — An account of the methods of planting, cultivating, and han- 

 dling apples in Tasmania. « 



The avocado in Florida; its propagation, cultivation, and marketing, P. 

 H. Rolfs ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Plant Industry Bui. 61, pj).36,pls. 4, figs. 9). — 

 The author presents a summary of present knowledge of the avocado and indicates 

 lines of improvement. The word avocado is preferred for this fruit, which is also 

 known as alligator pear, aguacate, etc. It is at present grown only to a limited 

 extent in southern Florida. It is being shipped to northern markets as a salad fruit 

 and is gaining in popularity. 



Some figures are given showing the great variation in fruit and yields obtained 

 from seedling trees. Of an orchard of 160 trees, 5 years old, 47 trees bore no fruit at 

 all; 41 trees bore from 1 to 12 fruits; 22 bore a crop of more than 12 fruits, 9 of which 

 bore a total of 595 fruits, or slightly over half the crop. Of the 63 trees that have 

 fruited in the orchard only 2 combined good qualities in such a way as to be of 

 special merit. 



In order to avoid this great variation in quality of fruit and yield the use of budded 

 and grafted trees is advocated, and these methods of propagating are described. The 

 bulletin contains directions for marketing the fruit and an account of the diseases 

 affecting it. Budding is considered the most desirable way of propagating, and crown 

 working is preferable to top working. Pear and oblong shaped fruits are most desir- 



