HORTICULTURE. 815 



Fruit and fruit soils in arid and humid regions, E. W. Hilgard 



{California 8ta. Bpt. 1893 and 1894, pp. 337-334}.— A discussion of tlie 

 results of analyses of a number of soils from arid and humid regions 

 and of fruits grown on these diflerent soils. Tables are given showing 

 the average of analyses of iGQ humid and 313 arid soils, and the albu- 

 minoids, sugar, acid, and ash of various California fruits. In all the 

 fruits examined, except the orange, the nutritive value is greater than 

 in the analyses of the like European fruits, the increase in some 

 instances being as much as 50 per cent. More extended and careful 

 study of the subject is urged. 



Analyses of bananas and banana soils from the Sandwich 

 Islands, G. E. Colby ( California Sta. Rpt. 1893 and 1894, pp. 275-279).— 

 Tabulated results of the analyses of 2 samjiles of soils from Honolulu, 

 made to determine their requirements in the way of fertilizers for 

 bananas. In addition, leaves and fresh fruit of the banana were 

 analyzed to learn the ingredients drawn by them from the soil. It is 

 calculated that an average 80-lb. bunch of bananas extracts 0.55 lb. of 

 muriate of potash. Potash salts or kainit, and Chile saltpeter, dried 

 blood, or some other nitrogenous fertilizer, and lime in the shape of 

 coral sand, are recommended. As chlorin is needed a dressing of salt 

 is also suggested. 



Analyses of California oranges and lemons, G. E. Colby {Cali- 

 fornia Sta. Rpt. 1893 and 1894, pp. 240-256). — This comprises descriptive 

 notes upon citrus fruits, tabulated proximate analyses of 32 samples of 

 oranges, 18 of lemons, and 1 of pomelo, and is a continuation of the 

 work presented in Bulletin 93 of the station (E. S. 11., 3, p. 78). Tables 

 are given showing the results of analyses in detail. 



The Navel orange was found to be the largest, but the large propor- 

 tion of rind, 28 per cent, gave it little if any advantage on account of its 

 size over smaller oranges with thinner rinds. The varieties St. Michael 

 and Taidive possessed only 20 per cent of rind. The Navel was also 

 the driest orange, and the two others mentioned the juiciest, though 

 closely followed by Medium Sweet, Malta Blood, and some seedlings. 

 The King orange, of which but 3 specimens were analyzed, contained 

 the most sugar, 13.17 per cent, being followed closely by seedlings and 

 Navels. The largest amount of acid was found in a sample of Malta 

 Blood, 2.04 per cent, and least in the Mandarin. The Navel also pos- 

 sessed little acid. 



The lemons analyzed showed an average of 2-4.8 per cent rind, which 

 is lower than was found the two years previous. The highest per cent 

 of acid was 8.40 in Eoyal Messina, in which the juice was 55 per cent 

 of the whole. The highest sugar content was 3.40 per cent, also in. 

 Eoyal Messina. 



Analyses of the pomelo gave 2.7 ])er cent of citric acid and 9.5 per 

 cent of sugar, cane sugar comprising 5 per cent. 



