HORTICULTURE. 539 



A descriptiou is given of a seedliug i)oar of the russet type which has fruited 

 at the station for the past two seasons and promises to be one of the most 

 valuable pears for the entire South. 



The Chinese wood oil tree, which was received from llio V. S. Department 

 of Agriculture for testing puri)oses, fruited heavily during the past season and 

 gives promise of being adapted for successful growth at the station. 



Experiments have been conducted during the past three years to determine 

 the best variety of Irish potato for a second crop. Of the varieties tested 

 Lookout Mountain has given the best results. The tubers of this variety sprout 

 very readily and an average stand of over 90 per cent can be secured, as com- 

 pared with 40 to 60 per cent for other varieties. The tubers keep perfectly from 

 November until planting time in July under ordinary storage. 



A study of methods of proiiagating the scuppernong and other varieties of 

 Rotundifolia grapes indicates that the best time for making cuttings of the 

 Rotundifolia grapes is during the montlis of May. June, and July. Only about 

 15 per cent of dormant cuttings placed in the open ground during the fall will 

 root. The green wood cuttings appeared to root much more readily than cut- 

 tings taken later on in the season. 



Horticultural experiments at the San Antonio field station, southern 

 Texas, S. H. Hastings and R. E. Blair (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 162 {1915), pp. 

 26, flos. 8). — This bulletin gives the results of experiments conducted for a 

 number of years (E. S. R., 32, p. 337) to determine the varieties of fruits best 

 adapted to conditions in the San Antonio region, and also to find out what 

 varieties or species may be used as stocks upon which desirable but less 

 resistant varieties may be grafted. Suggestions are also given on cultural 

 methods best adapted to the region. 



The tests as a whole show that the climate is too sevei'e for such fruits as 

 oranges and olives and too mild for apples and cherries. Among the fruits 

 which are considered more or less promising for the region are varieties of 

 the South China race of peaches, a numl)er of the American and Japanese 

 plums, pears on the higher lands, figs, persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and 

 dewberries. Cultivated varieties of grapes related to the native grapes may 

 be grown but are not valuable as table grapes. The Rusk variety of citrange 

 was hardy and made good growth. 



Of the nuts tested, the native pecan does well as a lowland tree but has 

 given poor results even under irrigation on the uplands. The Persian walnut 

 makes good growth when worked on either Juglnii.s rupestrli or J. nigra. 

 Almonds flowered so early as to be injured by frost. Pistache trees were 

 found to be quite susceptible to root rot. Canada peas have proved to be the 

 most satisfactory green manure crop. 



Division of horticulture.^ — Summary of results, 1913, W. T. Macoun et al. 

 (Canada Expt. Farms Bid. 77 {I'JlJf), pp. 68). — This comprises a summary of 

 results securetl in 1913 in the breeding and cultural experiments with fruits, 

 vegetables, forest and ornamental trees, and herbaceous i)lants conducted at 

 the Central Farm, Ottawa, and at the various branch experimental farms 

 and stations in Canada. The details of the work are to appear as usual in the 

 annual report at a later date. 



As result of long continued variety tests at Ottawa a list of the varieties 

 of fruits is here given that are considered best for eastern and central Ontario 

 and a considerable portion of the Province of Quebec, together with a list of 

 the 25 best seedling apples originated at the farm. Since 1903 some 1,214 new 

 varieties have been fruited. 

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