2oT> EXPERIMENT STATION "RECORD. 



plat. In addition 1" aboul 60,000 cacao trees, the inventory shows an abundance of 

 cocoanut, arecanut, crotons, pepper, arnatto, coffee, sapan, Ceara and Castilloa rub- 

 ber, cardamoms, castor-oil plants, citrionella, nutmeg, orange, lime, and many other 

 kinds of useful trees growing on the different plats, in all 26,746 trees. 



At the opening of the station the cacao fungus, Nectria sp., had vigorously attacked 

 about. 96 per cent of the trees. This has been combated by clearing out shade trees 

 so that the sunlight may penetrate, by excision of the cankered bark, and by 

 spraying with various combinations of copper sulphate and lime or mud. Excision 

 without first letting in sunlight was only partially successful. Spraying systematically 

 reduced the number of pods affected with fungus, but the number of sprayings and 

 best method of application remains to be determined. 



Favorable results were secured with cacao by heaping together and partially burn- 

 ing a thick coating of leaves, branches, cocoanut husks, and empty cacao fruits. The 

 final product was then buried, with or without a little lime, in trenches about a foot 

 deep. It is believed this work combined the good effects of draining, root pruning, 

 and manuring. An attempt was made to secure a good curing of cacao seeds which 

 had been fermented inside the pod, and also to obtain clean, marketable seed with- 

 out fermenting. ' ' In no case did the results obtained justify the change in our method 

 of fermenting and curing. All the seeds which were fermented inside the fruit had 

 to be placed along with the 'black' cacao, owing to the pliable nature and unequal 

 color of the substance of the seed. The seeds which were cured without washing 

 had likewise to be placed with the 'black' cacao; the finished article had a dirty 

 appearance and was very hygroscopic in consequence of the soft pulp around the 

 seeds not being removed, and this in its turn led to the appearance of mold over the 

 seeds. On the other hand, the unwashed seeds had a sweet taste and showed an 

 increase in weight. ' ' The various varieties of cacao in Ceylon are described and an 

 account is given of cacao selection and hybridization experiments now under way. 



Work in the selection, culture, and curing of cardamoms has been begun, and 

 experimental plats started of a number of fiber plants. 



The food of the gods, B. Head (London: R. Brimley Johnson, 190S, pp. IXA-lli, 

 pis. 22, figs. 40, charts 3). — This is a popular account of the early history and culture 

 of cacao, and present methods of cocoa manufacture. Some statistical matter is given 

 showing the production in different countries of the world. A detailed account is 

 given of the model village of Bournville, England, where cocoa is manufactured on 

 a very large scale. 



History of cocoa, W. G. Mortimer, trans, by H. B. Gausseron (Histoire de la 

 coca. Paris: A. Maloine, 1904, pp. 328; rev. in British Med. Jour., 1904, No. 2267, p. 

 1374). — This volume, which is an abridged translation of the second edition, gives a 

 concise history of the discovery, characteristics, and uses of cocoa, etc. 



Small fruits for 1904, L. R. Taft and M. L. Dean (Michigan Sta. Bui. 213, pp. 

 3-12). — An account of the growth during the season with descriptions of 24 varieties 

 of strawberries, 10 of blackberries, and 3 of cherries. Experiments with cover crops 

 in 1902 indicate that cowpeas have no value as a cover crop in Michigan orchards 

 when sown as late as August 1. Rape and flat turnips proved of doubtful value as 

 cover crops. Crimson clover and mammoth clover were about equally valuable. 

 Both oats and barley proved valuable as cover crops. Both made a rank growth 

 which froze down during the winter and formed a mulch which was of much benefit 

 to the soil. Of these two cereals barley made the stronger growth and is preferred. 



Some strawberry notes, F. W. Card ( West. Fruit Grower, 15 (1904), No. 8, pp. 

 14, 15, fig. 1). — The author states that in the growing of seedlings the Hunn variety 

 has been used extensively in crosses made and is unusually prepotent. With regard 

 to the sex of the seedlings, it has been noted that where both parents are perfect the 

 resulting seedlings are almost wholly of the perfect kind. If one of the parents is 



