1919] EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 147 



HORTICULTURE. 



A nutrition basis for horticultural practice, E. J. Kkaus (Mo. Bui. Cat. 

 Com. Hint., 7 (1918), No. 10, pp. 559-562). — A discussion of the practices of 

 soil fertilization and pruning with special reference to their Influence in main- 

 taining a proper balance between nitrogenous compounds and carbohydrates in 

 the plants with the view of promoting fruitfulness, and based upon the investi- 

 gation with the tomato conducted by the author and H. li. Kraybill previously 

 reported (B. S. R., 40, p. 40). 



Effect of electricity on plants (Missouri Bot. Card. Bui., 6 (1918), No. 8, pp. 

 97-100, pis. 2). — During the three seasons 191G-1918 experiments were con- 

 ducted at the Missouri Botanical Garden with tomatoes, string beans, sweet 

 corn, and Salvia splendens to determine the value of electricity in stimulating 

 plant growth. The de Graffigny " Electrifier," an apparatus secured from 

 France, which was used in this work is illustrated and described, and the re- 

 sults of the experiments as conducted for the three seasons are briefly reported. 



The results indicate that all crops presumably were influenced by the electric 

 current conveyed by the apparatus. As compared with the check plats the 

 electrified plats showed considerable increase in vegetative, as well as repro- 

 ductive, growth, and the date of maturity was hastened. 



It is pointed out, however, that before any definite practical application can 

 be made of the use of electricity in growing plants it is necessary to realize 

 "(1) the need for quantitative measurements of the electric discharge, (2) 

 that a stimulus may act differently on the plant at different stages of its life, 

 (3) that the effect of the stimulus depends upon its intensity, (4) that the effect 

 of the stimulus depends on the time at which it is applied, and (5) that the 

 effect of the stimulus may appear a considerable time after it is applied." 



Effect of low temperatures on greenhouse plants, M. Free (Brooklyn Bot. 

 Card. Rec, 8* (1919), No. 1, pp. 14-17). — A discussion of the behavior of various 

 classes of plants in the greenhouses of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden during 

 the winter of 1917-18, when the shortage of coal necessitated unusually low 

 temperatures. 



[Third annual report of nursery and market garden experimental and re- 

 search station in Hertfordshire in 1917] (Expt. and Research Sta., Walthuni 

 Cross, Ann. Rpt., 3 (1917), pp. 34, figs. 5). — This comprises a report on manurial 

 and cultural experiments with tomatoes and cucumbers grown under glass. 

 Data on a study of physiological conditions in cucumber houses, together with 

 a report on soil sterilization experiments conducted at two trade nurseries, 

 are also given. 



Adaptation of vegetables, W. W. Tract, sr. (Amcr. Florist. 52 (1919), No. 

 1598, pp. 36, 37). — A report of the author's address on Varietal Adaptation of 

 Culinary Vegetables to Local Conditions, delivered before the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society, January 11, 1919. 



As a result of over 50 years' experience in seed breeding and seed growing, 

 the author concludes that many new strains of vegetables and flowers develop 

 from the same original seed stock without crossing or even careful selection, 

 but simply as the result of differing soil and climatic conditions, and that these 

 strains, each adapted to certain cultural conditions or consumers' requirements 

 are often as worthy of distinct varietal names as those already catalogued. 

 The importance of developing strains suited to local conditions is discussed, and 

 suggestions are given on saving different kinds of seed. 



Genetic studies of some characters in Pisum. S. Nohara (Bot. Man. [Tokyo], 

 32 (1918), No. 377, pp. 91-102, figs. 2).— As the result of a cross between a 



