HORTICULTURE. 645 



Tcxa?. Creole seed from eitlier Louisiana or Texas lias given good results, but 

 American Bermuda seed has not given nearly as satisfactory results as imported seed. 

 Bermuda onicms grown from American seed do not mature well, have a large, soft 

 stem, and keep but a short time after maturing. Impoi'ted Bernuida seed grow^n on 

 the Teneriffe Islands and along the western coast of Africa is considered best. 



A study of the markets shows that the best market for Texas onions is just before 

 the Southern crop moves (INIay), and again after the Southern crop is marketed and 

 before the Northern crop matures (July and August). The Red Bermuda onions are 

 preferable for the early market, while for the late market the longer-keeping Creole 

 is better suited. 



Alternation in the varietal characters of the tomato, C. A. White ( Gard. 

 Chron., 3. xcr., 30 (inOl), Xu. 7>!3, ji. 105). — The Acme variety of tomato seed was 

 sown by the author in Washington in 1898 and produced plants and fruits similar in 

 character to the authentic Acme variety. Seeds from these were saved and planted 

 the following season, 1899, in the same way. The resulting plants and fruits, while 

 entirely alike as regards each other, differed widely from the original Acme tomatoes 

 of the preceding season. No cross pollination is thought to have taken place. No 

 seed from the plants grown in 1899 was saved, but in 1900, the genuine Acme seed 

 was again obtained from a seed firm and the plants and fruits produced therefrom 

 resembled the true Acme. The seed saved from these, however, and grown in 1901, 

 produced plants and fruits varying much from the mother plants, but entirely similar 

 as regards each other and as regards the tomatoes grown in 1899. From these data 

 the author draws the conclusion that "any lost variety or breed maybe reproduced 

 under the same conditions which originally produced it." 



Tomatoes on trellis {Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, IS {1901), No. 11, x>p- 784, 

 785). — It is especially urged that with tomatoes trained on stakes the fruit clusters 

 should be induced to start fruiting 10 in. or 1 ft. from the surface of the soil instead 

 of higher up. More and better tomatoes are secured. 



Nitrate of soda for market garden crops, W. L. Summers {Jour. Agr. and 

 Ind., South AuHtraUa, 4 (1901), No. 12, pp. 972-974)- — Some data are given showing 

 the increase in the yield of cabbages, lettuce, rhubarb, carrots, spinach, and potatoes 

 fertilized with different amounts of nitrate of soda as compared with the yields 

 obtained with these same crops when fertilized with V2h tons of barnyard manure. 

 In general, the nitrate of soda proved much more effective than the barnyard 

 manure and cost considerably less. 



Report of the floriculturist and gardener, G. Coote {Oregon Ski. Rpt. 1901, 

 lip. 41-4o)- — A brief report on culture tests witli onions, tomatoes, cabbage, Swiss 

 chard, ])eans, vegetable marrow, chicory, radishes, lettuce, peas, kale, tobacco, and 

 hops. The author found that onions started in the greenhouse and transplanted to 

 the field gave a more even crop than when the seed was sown in the open field. 

 The onions also kept better. Chicory made an excellent growth at the station, 

 showing that tlie (;limate is well adapted t(j its culture. 



Horticulture, E. R. L.\ke {Oregon Sta. Rpt. 1901, pp. 36-39). — The horticultural 

 work of the station for the year is outlined. In the test to ascertain the efficiency 

 of basket veneering and yucca fiber as protecting sheaths for fruit trees only 20 per 

 cent of the veneer sheaths remained intact 4 months after putting in place, while 89 

 per cent of the yucca sheaths were in place. Temperature observations made inside 

 the sheaths go to show that during the heated term the temperature is slightly 

 higher inside the sheaths and in cooler weather slightly lower than the outside tem- 

 perature. It is believed that the chief benefits from the sheaths lie in the protection 

 of the trees from the direct rays of the sun, w'luls, and violent changesin temperature. 



As a result of a test of plums it is believe<l that the Japanese varieties of both 

 pears and plums, and also many of the American hybrids, are unsuited for the Wil- 

 lamette Valley conditions. Tests are being carried on with hardy stocks for both 



