HORTICULTUEE. 45 



ning December 1 and extending generally to the dates at which buds were 

 killed in February when such killing occurred. Maximum and minimum tem- 

 perature curves for Geneva, N. Y., covering a similar period from January, 

 1908, to February, 1910, are also given. 



Multiplicity of crops as a means of increasing the future food supply, 

 U. P. Hedrick (Science, n. set., 40 (1914), No. 1035, pp. 611-620).— A presi- 

 dential address delivered before the Society for Horticultural Science at 

 Washington, D. C, in 1913. The author calls attention to the possibility of 

 domesticating and improving through hybridization many native fruit and other 

 plants not now cultivated, but which might be made important contributions to 

 the future food supply. 



[Horticultural investigations in Alaska], C. C. Georgeson et al. (Alaska 

 Stas. Rpt. 1913, pp. 7-9, 11-13, 33-35, 46-48, pis. .2).— The horticultural work at 

 the Sitka Station and at the branch stations was continued along the lines 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 29, p. 742). 



At the Sitka Station the best of the hybrid strawberry seedlings are being 

 tested further and a few of the varieties are soon to be propagated for distri- 

 bution. Several hundred new seedlings were raised during the year and it is 

 planned to continue the hybridization work. The hill system of culture has 

 proved to be superior to the matted row system in the moist climate at Sitka. 



An abundance of fruit was set in the test fruit orchard, but owing to some 

 undetermined cause the fruit all dropped off in late summer. Apples and sour 

 cherries were both subject to this trouble. The work with apples thus far 

 indicates the superiority of dwarf trees over standards, and the native crab 

 apple (Pyrus rivularis) is being tested as a stock for dwarfing cultivated va- 

 rieties. Some crosses have been made between cultivated varieties and the 

 native crab. 



The usual variety tests with vegetables were continued. 



Operating costs of a well-established New York apple orchard, G. H. 

 Miller (U. 8. Dept. Agr. Bui. 130 (1914), PP- 16, figs. 3).— In this bulletin the 

 author presents a plan of cost accounting for orchard operations which is 

 based upon cost data secured on a mature orchard operated in connection with 

 a general farm in western New York and presented in detail. 



Plum and piame culture, W. J. Allen (Dept. Agr. N. S. Wales, Farmers' 

 Bui. 86 (1914), PP- 31, figs. ^i). — ^A popular treatise on the culture of plums and 

 prunes. 



Prune culture, F. Peneveyre (Le Prunier. Paris and Villefranche {1914^, 

 pp. 57, figs. 27). — A brief practical treatise on the culture and preparation of 

 prunes. 



A handbook of tropical gardening and planting, with special reference to 

 Ceylon, H. F. Macmillan (Colombo, Ceylon, 1914, 2. ed., pp. X-\-662+XXXV, 

 pi. 1, figs. 258).— The present edition of this handbook (E. S. R., 24, p. 642) has 

 been fully revised and enlarged to include a number of additional subjects. 



New method of growing bananas, M. S. Bertoni (Bol. Min. Fomento [Vene- 

 zuela], 9 (1914), -Vo. 9, pp. 660-677).— The principal feature of the method here 

 described consists in allowing all prunings and mowings, with the exception of 

 certain harmful weeds and grasses, to rot on the ground, thus forming a 

 mulch and adding to the organic material in the soil. By adopting this form 

 of mulching the author claims that the life of a banana plantation may be 

 extended for several years. 



[Cacao manurial plats in Dominica] (Imp. Dept. Agr. West Indies, Rpt. 

 Agr. Dept. Dominica, 1913-14, pp. 40-47). — A progress report on the manurial 

 experiments with cacao. The results secured are similar to those previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 30, p. 741). 



