HORTICULTURE. 249 



together with ail extensive list of all the common names used for shade tries and 

 crops grown with coffee in the varimis regions of the world. The conclusions of the 

 author relative to the importance of shade in coffee culture are as follows: 



"A canvass of the subject of shade in coffee culture shcnvs that there is no basis 

 in reason or in observed fact for the belief that shade is a general necessity for the 

 coffee jilant, even when grown at low elevations. On the contrary, it is extremely 

 probable that the beneficial effects resulting from shade are (juite apart from the 

 shadow cast upon the coffee tree. The beneti(;ial effects connected with shade arise 

 from the protection afforded against drought, erosion, and winds. The planting of 

 shade trees for tliese purposes is accordingly determined by local conditions of climate 

 and soil, and furnishes no reason for the general planting of shade trees. In regions not 

 affected by injurious climatic extremes the planting of shade trees is justified from the 

 cultural standi)oint only by the increased fertility imparted to the soil by means of 

 the nitrogen-lixing root tubercles of leguminous species. This view has not been made 

 the subject of experimental demonstration, but it seems to accord with all the facts 

 thus far ascertained. The benefits of leguminous fertilizing are quite apart from the 

 shading of the coffee, and under suitable cultural conditions are also to be secured 

 from shrubs and herbs belonging to the same natural family. The relative utility 

 and availability of the various shade trees and soiling crops is a subject of vast 

 importance in coffee culture and in other agricultural industries of the Tropics. The 

 combinations of such cultures as coffee and cacao with leguminous trees and plants 

 of maximum cultural and commercial value afford many complex, scientific, and prac- 

 tical problems bearing upon the rise of mixed farming in the Tropics, and are thus 

 worthy of serious experimental attention." 



Strawberries, E. W. Wooster ( Trans. Maine State Pomol. Soc. 1897, pp. 88-95). — 

 Methods of strawberry culture in Maine are discussed and some figures given show- 

 ing the cost and profits of growing an acre of berries. The total cost for preparing the 

 ground, setting plants, harvesting, and marketing the crop was $430.50. The prod- 

 uct was 5,000 qts. of l)erries which sold for 12 cts. per quart, or $600 — net gain, $169.50. 



Experiments on the manuring' of vines in the department of Aude, M. G. 

 Barbut {Esmis sur la fumiire des vignea dans le departement de V Aude en 1899. Paris, 

 1900, pp. S2).- — The value of nitrate of soda as a fertilizer for vineyards was compared 

 with sulphate of ammonia, oil cake, dried blood, barnyard manure, and a number of 

 complete commercial fertilizers, omitting in some cases one essential element. The 

 tests were carried out in 3 vine-growing districts and in 12 different vineyards. An 

 analysis is given of the soil in each instance, and the variety of grapes grown noted. 

 The results, which are given in tabular form, show the nitrate generally superior to 

 other forms of nitrogenous fertilizers for grapes. 



The vine in New South Wales {Sci. Amer. Sup., 51 {1901), No. 1323, pp. 21212, 

 21213). — Historical notes on the development of the industry, with some statistical 

 data on its present status. 



Raisin drying [Gard. and Field, 26 {1901), No. 10, p. 185). — Outline of the sun 

 drying and l}e processes. 



Cold storage, L. C. Corbett ( West Virginia Sta. Bui. 74, pp- 51-80, figs. 3). — 

 Be.^iides a discussion of the profits of cold storage, the results of some experiments 

 with apples and chestnuts in cold storage are given, and chapters added on "Mois- 

 ture in cold storage," as stated by J. E. Seibel in his Compend of mechanical refrig- 

 eration; and "Materials of construction," as stated by A. J. Wallace-Taylor in his 

 pu])lication on Refrigerating and ice making. The author outlines a plan for the 

 building of a (;old-storage room, giving methods (jf construction and materials used. 



From a number of calculations which the author makes, it is deduced that cold- 

 storage houses on the farm will pay when they have a capacity of at least a thousand 

 barrels of fruit. The greater the capacity of the storage house the relatively cheaper 

 the cost of construction and of storage jter barrel. 



