140 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



practice employed at the Cuba Experiment Station of grafting eggplants on a 

 Avild species of Solanom. This is said to be the only practical way in which 

 eggplants may be grown during the rainy season in Cuba. 



Tomatoes for North Dakota, H. O. Wernee (North Dakota Sta. Bui. Ill 

 (1915), pp. 209-232, figs. 3). — This bulletin reports the first season's results of 

 a variety and strain test of tomatoes, in which 87 varieties, comprising 122 

 strains, were used. Certain cultural tests conducted in connection with the 

 variety tests are also reported, and directions are given for growing and can- 

 ning tomatoes. 



A comparison of the various strains tested showed as great a variation in 

 earliness, total yields size of fruit, etc., within a variety as between varieties. 

 The plants were grown from seed secured from a number of localities. The 

 more northern grown seed generally gave the best results. It was noticed, 

 however, that in many cases some of the more southern grown seed produced 

 better results, indicating that a northern location can not be substituted for 

 good breeding in tomatoes. The varieties best adapted to the section were the 

 Earliana, Bonny Best, Chalk Jewel, June Pink, and a few other early varieties. 



A test of various planting times showed that to secure the maximum crop 

 the seed must be sown late in March, either in the hotbed and then transplanted 

 into pots or cans, or must be sown about the same time directly in the pots, 

 in which the plants may be grown until set in the fields during the latter part 

 of May. 



An experiment was conducted in root pruning tomatoes by pulling the plants 

 so as to. loosen the main roots and disturb the root system to a considerable 

 extent. This was done on July 23, August 17, and September 1. The results 

 indicate that the roots should not be disturbed too early in the summer, but 

 that when done toward the end of the season the total yield will be increased, 

 as the root injury tends to check vegetative growth and cause the ripening of 

 all fruit that has already been set. Pruning the top appears to stimulate the 

 production of early and large fruit, although the total production may be 

 somewhat decreased. 



The pollination and fertilization of fruit trees, E. E. Pescott (Fruit 

 World Austral., 16 (1915), No. 2, pp. 33-35). — A brief review of the literature 

 of the subject. 



Fruits for Minnesota planting (Minn. Hort., 43 (1915), No. Jf, p. 187). — A 

 list is given of orchard and small fruits and nuts adopted by the Minnesota 

 State Horticultural Society in 1914. 



An orchard survey of Jefferson County, R. R. Jeffries (West Yirginia 

 Sta. Bui. 147 (1914), pp. 3-31, pi. 1, figs. 5). — Results are here given of an 

 orchard survey of JefCerson County, W. Ya., conducted during the summer of 

 1913. The survey was limited to orchards over four or five acres in extent and 

 reports were secured on 181 orchards. 



The county has approximately 195.524 apple trees, of which 52.3 per cent 

 are of bearing age. The size of the orchards is as high at 320 acres, the typical 

 size being 10 acres. The larger orchards as a rule show a greater yield and 

 income per acre than the smaller orchards. The square system of planting is 

 generally used, the typical distance being 30 by 30 ft. The chief commercial 

 varieties are York Imperial, Ben Davis, Grimes, Arkansas, Stayman Wine- 

 sap, and Winesap. Many of the recent plantings are of Jonathan, Winesap, 

 Delicious, and Gano. Plantings of Ben Davis have decreased during the last 

 few years. 



As to soil management the young orchards are generally planted to a hoed 

 or cultivated crop in rotation with a grass or grain crop. Sod culture is gen- 

 erally practiced in bearing orchai-ds, although cultivated orchards are more 



