HOETICULTURE. 665 



As a result of a number of experiments, it was found that in October from 50 to 

 60 gm. of ether per hectoliter of space was found very beneficial in hastening growth. 

 In November the normal dose is 40 gm. of ether; toward the end of November, 

 however, even this amount may be somewhat harmful. In October the plants may 

 be subjected to ether fumes for 48 hours. Toward the close of the rest period 24 

 hours may be sufficient. When ether is used it is not essential that the plants be 

 previously subjected to cold. Experiments show that it is not necessary to place the 

 plants immediately after etherization in the forcing house. Plants left exposed in 

 the open 10 days or more lost none of the effects of the ether; in fact, they forced 

 more readily and produced bloom in less time than those which were placed in the 

 forcing house immediately after etherization. 



Plants were killed when submitted to 40 gm. of ether per hectoliter for 4 days. 

 When 60 gm. was used the plants were killed after 2 days' etherization. A dose of 

 75 gm. of ether at 10° C. or 23° C. proved deadly. Some data on the forcing effect 

 of ether are as follows: Lilacs etherized October 19 produced bloom November 8. 

 Another season etherized plants bloomed November 13. Etherization does not 

 hasten the blooming period of lilacs if the rest period is completed before etheriza- 

 tion takes place. 



For successful results it has been found that the temperature at which lilacs should 

 be forced must be about the same as for unetherized plants. Etherization is not 

 equally effective for all plants. In the experiments at Dresden it was most beneficial 

 for Syringa vulgaris, Viburnum opulus, and Staphylea colchica. It is less effective on 

 Primus sinensis, Rhododendron sinense, and Viburnum tomentosum. Early blooming 

 shrubs such as Deutzias, Prunus triloba, and Spiraea prunifolia were not benefited at 

 all by etherization during the months of October and November, and were in fact 

 slightly injured, if anything, by etherization. 



The details of the experiments upon which the above conclusions are reached are 

 recorded at some length. 



The fertilizer experiments with lily of the valley and azaleas did not give results 

 from which definite conclusions could be drawn. A number of illustrations are given 

 showing the effect on the blooming period of different plants by etherization. 



Anesthetics in the forcing of plants, J. Aymard, Jr. (Les anesthisiques ft le 

 forqage des plantes. Paris: TAbraire Horticole, 1904, pp. 68, Jigs. 4). — The work of 

 the author on the etherization of a large number of plants, some of which has been 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 16, p. 158), has been incorporated into book form. 



Sweet corn: Breeding, growing, and curing for seed, A. Stabler {Maryland 

 Sta. Bui. 96, pp. 31-43). — This bulletin was written for the purpose of showing that 

 sweet-corn seed equal to that obtained from New England can be grown in Mary- 

 land. The prevailing opinion that northern-grown seed gives a sweeter corn than 

 the home-grown seed has been found by investigations not to hold for Maryland. 



One grower in Carroll County has been planting and saving his own seed of Moore 

 Early Concord sweet corn for 30 consecutive years without change. Its quality is 

 believed to be better now than it was originally. This grower is of the opinion that 

 earliness is secured by planting the sweet corn late, about July 4, while sweetness is 

 not affected by time of planting. "He saves for his early planting the following 

 year corn from the latest planting that will mature and finds that by so doing he is 

 able to keep it small and early." 



It was found that by saving seed from the earliest maturing ears of the early 

 planting the corn became larger and later. In the author's case, however, earliness 

 has been maintained only by saving the earliest ears from the early corn. 



The history of the Roslyn Hybrid sweet corn, developed by the author in Mary- 

 land in 1879, is given. It was obtained by planting alternate rows of Burr Mam- 

 moth and Stowell Evergreen, and removing the tassels and tillers from the Stowell 

 variety before the blossoming period. The hybrid obtained had all the desirable 



