HORTICULTUKE. 341 



results. If hifrlier temperatures i)revail, the dosage, or the period of treatment, 

 or both, should be reduced accordingly. They should be increased where lower 

 temperatures occur. 



The work as a w'hole is summarized as follows: 



'Anesthetics, when properly applied to plants in a state of complete rest, 

 impart a decided growth impulse. 



" Toxic substances such as alcohol, acetone, and other similar agents, while 

 not causing insensibility unless employed in large amounts, act much the same 

 as do anesthetics and cause a more or less decided growth acceleration. The 

 application of frost and vacuum result in some instances in accelerated growth, 

 while in others negative results are obtained. 



" Ether and chloroform seem to afford the most satisfactory results with 

 lilacs; while ethyl iodid and ethyl broniid yield a better outcome with astilbe 

 and with lily-of-the-valley than do such other materials as have been used. 



" Lilacs are most effectively treated prior to December 1. After this date the 

 growth jicceleration is less marked. Apparently the lily passes from the middle 

 rest to the after rest period during the latter part of November. 



"Astilbe treatments made after January 1 w'ere much less effective in accele- 

 rating growth than those made prior to this date. The time of passage to the 

 after rest period is assumed to be in the latter part of December. 



" The effect of anesthetics and other substances upon bulbous plants was not 

 sufficiently definite to warrant deduction. 



" The desiccating effect of ether and chloroform upon bulbs was more marked 

 than that secured with methyl alcohol and acetone." 



Frequent reference Is made to the results of other investigators and a partial 

 bibliography on the use of anesthetics in plant forcing is appended. 



Smudge pots for the prevention of frosts, Wichita, Kans., R. II. Sullivan 

 (Mo. Weather Her., 38 ( 19 JO). No. J. i>i>. -',12. .',13. figx. 2).—K brief account is 

 here given oi tests of smudge pots in two apple orchards near Wichita, Kans., 

 during the spring of 1910. 



In one case 79 pots and in another 50 pots were used per acre. " The figures 

 show that with from 70 to 80 pots to the acre a fruit crop can be saved w'hen 

 the temperature falls to 25°, or even to 22°, if the work is done thoroughly and 

 systematically." Observations showed that the most damaging temperatures 

 occurred after the wind had died down. The author is of the opinion that 

 " artificial preventive methods can be used effectively despite the oft-repeated 

 arguments that it is too windy in Kansas." 



[Keeping tests of onions], J. W. Crow {Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and 

 Expt. Farm, 35 (lOOi)), yp. l.'fS, l'i9). — A number of varieties of onions were 

 stored for a period of 206 days, beginning October 3, 1908. The majority of the 

 varieties kept in nearly sound condition, the exceptions being the Early Rose, 

 Red Tripoli, Giant Brown Rocca. and Gibraltar, of which only 12, 14, 22, and 

 63 per cent resiteetively were good. 



The fertilization of apple orchards, J. P. Stewart (Pennsylvania 8ta. Bui. 

 100, pp. 3-28, pis. 6). — This bulletin contains the results for the third season 

 of the orchard experiments started by the station in 1907 (E. S. R., 21. p. 237), 

 reviews the experiments as a whole, and offers practical suggestions relative to 

 orchard management in Pennsylvania. 



In the orchards where the fertilizer experiments are being conducted alone, 

 nitrogenous manures continue to show beneficial effecls on yield and growth 

 with the usual harmful infiuence on color. Raw i)hosphate and lime are still 

 l)roving unsatisfactory, except as to color for the i)hosphate and as to growth 

 for the lime. As a general thing the plats making the best yield have also 

 made the best growth. 



