HORTICULTURE. 235 



Pruning the vines after the terminal buds have started was found to delay the 

 starting of the buds near the base of the canes. Delayed pruning in one in- 

 stance saved the crop from a subsequent frost. Whitewashing the vines after 

 pruning delayed the starting slightly. Late pruning, after the starting of the 

 buds, w'as found to delay blossoming, but when early pruning resulted in frost 

 injury to the buds the late pruned vines blossomed first. Frost injury in spring 

 diminished the crop of early pruned vines, whereas pruning after the terminal 

 buds had started seemed to increase the crop irrespective of frost injury. 

 Pruning after the shoots had grown several inches seemed to diminish the crop. 

 Late pruning delayed the ripening of the grapes, and pruning as late as May 

 decreased the quality of the grapes. 



A test of hot water as a means of disinfecting cuttings and rooted vines indi- 

 cates that either cuttings or roots may be safely disinfected from phylloxera by 

 immersion in water at .55° C. for five minutes. Some data are given on a study 

 of the relation of the degree of ripeness of the Muscat grapes to the quality and 

 quantity of the crop of raisins. The evidence obtained shows the advisability 

 of allowing Muscat grapes to become very thoroughly ripe before gathering for 

 raisins. The gain is sufficiently marked to cover the added expense of protect- 

 ing the raisins from rains during early rainy seasons. In a study of the process 

 of cap-stemming Sultanina raisins, it was found that much of the failure to cap- 

 stem readily is due to an excess of moisture in the raisins. 



Data are reported on some tests which were made to determine a practicable 

 method of eliminating bad olive seed and of hastening the germination of good 

 olive seed. In 16 samples examined the proportion of bad seed varied from none 

 to 46 per cent. It was found possible to separate bad seed by using a salt 

 solution, the best concentration of the solution depending on the condition of 

 the seeds. Seeds freshly separated from the pulp gave the best separation in 

 a solution containing 25 parts of salt to 100 parts of water by weight, the good 

 seed sinking to the bottom. Dried seeds gave the best separation in a 10 per 

 cent salt solution. After soaking dried seeds for two days in water, satisfac- 

 tory separation was obtained, as with fresh seed, in a 25 per cent salt .solution. 

 Cutting off the apex of the seed was found the most effective aid to germination. 

 Seeds of naturally poor germinating powers gave better results when the apex 

 was cut than seeds of good germinating power when untreated. When planted 

 with the pulp the germination was very slow, none of the seeds starting within 

 five months. 



Cacao, Y. Henry {Le Cacao. Paris, 1913, pp. 105, pi. 1, figs. 13). — A treatise 

 on cacao with reference to its production, commerce, culture, and preparation 

 on the west coast of Africa. 



The development of female sexual organs in Theobroma cacao, J. Kuijper 

 (Rec. Trav. Bot. N^erland., 11 {19U), No. 1, pp. 311-43, pi. 1, figs. 7).— In a 

 study of the development of the female sexual organs of cacao flowers, here 

 illustrated and described, the author finds that the development is entirely 

 normal. 



First report on cacao selection, C. J. J. Van Hall (Meded. Proefstat. Mid- 

 den-Java, No. 10 (1913), pp. 45). — This is the first report on selection studies 

 with cacao trees being conducted under the direction of the Experiment Station 

 for Central Java. Data are given on the work conducted in 1912. 



Second report on cacao selection at Djati E.oeng'go, E. E. L. MacGillavby 

 and C. J. J. Van Hall (Meded. Proefstat. Midden-Java, No. 16 (1914), pp. 10, 

 figs. 3). — A progress report on that part of the above noted selection studies 

 with cacao trees which is being conducted at Djati Roenggo, Java. 



