HORTICULTURE. 749 



bella, require only from J to 1 per cent solutions. As many of the commercial lyes 

 are far from pure, some containing not more than 50 per cent of potash, the number 

 of preliminary tests must usually be at least six, as indicated above. Preliminary 

 tests conducted as described do not rc(]uire an analysis of the lye, though it is prob- 

 able that lyes containing a large amount of connnon salt would act more slowly; and 

 with such lyes a trcatincnt exceeding 48 hours might be necessary." 



Nitrate of soda for oranges {I'dcific Coast Fmit World, 1^ {1001), No. 4, p. 6). — 

 The writer states that from ',i to 5 ll)s. of nitrate of soda per tree, according to size, 

 scattered over the ground in the early spring, while it is moist, and immediately 

 cultivated in, seems to give the best results with oranges. "Too large a dose tends 

 to coarsen the fruit or thicken the rind, while the wood growth and general vigor 

 of the tree is greatly stimulated." 



Pineapple growing-, P. H. Rolfs ( f /. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 140, pp. 47, 

 figs. 4)- — This is a poi)ular article dealing with the outdoor culture of pineapples in 

 Florida, and the diseases and insects affecting the same. Figures are given on the 

 cost of growing pineapples and the possil)le profits in the business. Such matters as 

 harvesting, packing, shipping, and canning the fruit, fertilizing and irrigating the 

 plants, etc., are discussed inconsiderable detail. 



Culture of the Q,ueen pineapple, T. Coo.mber [Gard. Chroji., 3. ser., 30 {1901), 

 No. 772, pj). 26^1, 270, fig. 1). — Methods observed by the author in growing the Queen 

 pinea])ples under glass are given. 



Manures for tea in Assam, H. H. M.\nn ( Tlie tea soih of Assam, and tea manur- 

 ing. Calcutta: Indian Tea Association, 1901, pp. 60-103^ figs. ^).— The chapters of 

 this work included within these pages treat of the general j)rinciples of tea manur- 

 ing and of the materials suitable for this purpose in Assam, and the method of their 

 application. Peat bheel is considered one of the best top-dressings for tea, to 

 increase its luxuriance, in Assam. In one experiment the use of this material 

 increased the yield of tea about 25 per cent. The tea from the dressed plat gave a 

 slightly brighter liijuor than that from the undressed jilat, but otherwise did not differ 

 in value from it, thus showing that contrary to the general impression in the province 

 no decrease in quality is likely to result from the use of this material as a top-dress- 

 ing. It is stated that not more than 100 to 120 tons should be used per acre. Peat 

 bheel soil is formed by the decay of many generations of rank growing plants, the 

 principal jiart of the decay taking place under water. This material contained from 

 21 to 30 per cent organic matter and 0.6 to 0.68 per cent nitrogen in the samples 

 reporte<l. The greater use of cattle manure on all Assam tea soils is urged. Mus- 

 tard and the legume "jnati kalai " [Phaseolus aconitifollus) have been most success- 

 fully used as green manures. The "niati kalai" has proved the better of the two. 

 This jdant should be sown in April or INIay. It is urged that some green-manure 

 crop should occupy the ground during the greater period of the rains, and form a 

 normal part of tea culture. 



The use of the leguminous "sau" tree {Albizzia .^tipnlata) in tea gardens is stated 

 to produce undoubted beneficial effects, probably due to the fixation of the nitrogen 

 in the soil by its roots; though some analyses made by the author of .soils under 

 these trees gave (Mily irregular results, and whether or not nitrogen is increased in 

 the soil througli the agency of this tree could not be determined by these analyses. 

 Some objections to these trees are that they induce long, stalky growth and hence a 

 lower (juality of tea, and in addition encourage various insect pests and blights. A 

 rotation of these trees, not to exceed a period of 3 years, is suggested to overcome 

 these objections. 



The use of either mustard or castor cake as a manure gave innnediate and profitable 

 results without decreasing the quality of the tea. The cake is best applied before the 

 first hoeing in spring. It may be applied in a trench around each bush about a foot 

 away from the stem, but broadcasting and hoeing in is considered almost ?« good. 



