HORTICULTURE. 9D1 



cent greater than that from the mowed portion and 14 jDer cent groater 

 tlinn from that pastured. The moisture content of the soil for the lirst 

 20 in. was 20.4 per cent in that part of the orchard cultivated the entire 

 season, against only 14 per cent in the mowed portion. As a result of 

 the experiments frequent shallow cultivation to provide a mulch layer 

 of loose, mellow soil is urged. 



Protecting fruit from birds, J. Troop {Indiana Sta. Bui. 53, pp. 135, 

 126, pi. 1). — In order to protect cherries from destruction by birds dur- 

 ing the period of ripening, several trees of Eussian varieties were cov- 

 ered with bird netting when the fruit began to ripen. The experiment 

 was found to be successl'ul, completely protecting the fruit, while other 

 trees leit open and uncovered were entirely stripped of their fruit. 

 Two 6-year-old trees of Bessarabian cherries bore one half bushel each 

 of fine fruit, while an unprotected tree of the same variety and age lost 

 every cherry upon it. The advisability of thus protecting rii)ening 

 cherries is believed to be thoroughly established. The expense of net- 

 ting is suiall, 4 cts. per square yard, and soon balanced by the increased 

 crops obtained. About 75 sq. yd. of netting were used on trees 10 ffc. 

 high. 



Relation of blossoms to fruit, J. L. Budd [Trans. lotca Hort. Soc. 

 1893, pp. 444-447). — This paper states that flowers possessing slight 

 staminate development produce better fruit than those more perfect. 

 Becently top-worked apple trees produce earlier and hardier blossoms 

 than do other trees, owing to the fact that the constriction at the point 

 of union between graft and stock assists in the greater storage of 

 starch in the twigs, thus furnishing more nutrition. Einging trees also 

 increases the productiveness and quality of the fruit, and enables the 

 blossoms to withstand a lower temperature, for a similar reason. Drift 

 soils on lower levels were found not to nourish the blossoming branches 

 sufhciently to produce as satisfactory crops as were grown on higher 

 bluff and loess soils. Manuring and irrigating unfruitful trees was 

 found to induce a fair crop of fruit. Culture during the early summer 

 and shading the soil during the hot months by a growth of buckwheat 

 or a mulch of straw or coarse manure improved the general condition 

 of the trees and increased the crops. Varieties produced by crossing 

 native apples on Eussian varieties were found to have the hardiness of 

 the Eussian parent, as well as quality of fruit approaching that of the 

 native i^arent. 



Best ferns for the North and Northwest, G. W. Carver {lotca Sta. 

 Bui. 27, pp. 150-153). — This ccjmprises some notes on various ornamental 

 ferns for decorative purposes, several species of maidenhair ferns 

 {Adiantum spp.), Pteris, Onychium japonicum, words ferns {Nephrolepis), 

 Cheilanthes tomentosa, and SclaginelJa being recommended. Directions 

 are given for propagating and growing ferns, the principal methods of 

 propagation being given as dividing large plants, growing from buds, 

 and groMing from spores. Planting the ferns in a mixture of leaf 



