1916] HORTICULTURE. 239 



secured where potash was combined with nitrogen. Records of costs and re- 

 ceipts from the various plats show in brief that the larger the amount of 

 nitrogen used per acre the greater were the financial returns upon the invest- 

 ment. 



The effect of certain mineral fertilizers upon streng-th. of wood in the 

 peach tree, C. A. McCi-e {.Proc. Soc. Hort. ScL, 12 (1915), pp. 113-118).— In 

 connection with the above noted experiment tests were made to determine the 

 effect of certain plant food elements upon strength of wood in peach trees. 



The results thus far secured have failed to throw very much light upon the 

 influence of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid in strengthening or weaken- 

 ing wood structures. Almost as much variation was found in the strength of 

 wood from any one block of trees as in the averages for the different blocks. 

 The author is of the opinion that even greater differences in strength of wood 

 can be obtained by different pruning methods than were obtained by different 

 fertilizer treatments. 



Methods and results in grape breeding-, R. D. Anthony (Proc. Soc. Hort. 

 Sci., 11 (1914), pp. 81-86). — The author discusses some of the points observed in 

 the course of breeding investigations conducted by various investigators during 

 the past 25 years at the New York State Station and summarizes some of the 

 more important results secured in these investigations. The results of the 

 work have been similarly summarized in a paper previously noted (E. S. R., 

 33, p. 641). 



Recent work with Vitis vinifera in New York, U. P. Hedrick (Proc. Soc. 

 Hort. Sci., 11 (1914), PP- 77-Si ) .—Experiments started at the New York State 

 Station in 1911 with 101 varieties of European grapes have shown that many 

 varieties of the European grape can be grown in the eastern United States, 

 providing they are grafted on phylloxera-resistant stocks and given winter pro- 

 tection. 



Two methods have been employed in protecting the grapes. In one the vines 

 have been covered with a few inches of earth ; in the other the vines have been 

 wrapped with straw. The earth covering was the cheapest and most efficient 

 method. 



Of 85 varieties of V. vinifera now fruiting on the station grounds a consid- 

 erable number are here listed as worth trying on a larger scale. In view of the 

 larger yields secured from European grapes as compared with our native grapes, 

 attention is called to the desirability of carrying on experiments with special 

 reference to the cultural requirements of V. vinifera in eastern America. 



Growing and grafting olive seedlings (California Sta. Bui. 268 (1916), pp. 

 303-326, figs, i^).— This bulletin consists of two parts. 



I. Growing olive seedlings, F. T. Bioletti and W. F. Oglesby (pp. 305-321).— 

 The results are given of experiments conducted to determine a method of sepa- 

 rating good seed from poor, the best preliminary treatment of seed to facilitate 

 germination, and the best conditions of planting to promote quick and uniform 

 germination. Most of the germination tests were made with the Redding 

 variety. Based on the results as a whole, a simple and rapid method of raising 

 Redding seedlings for grafting stock is recommended in substance as follows: 



The perfectly ripe fruit should be soaked in a 3 or 4 per cent soda lye for 

 several hours to soften the skin. After washing off the lye the pulp can be re- 

 moved by rubbing through a wire sieve of ^ in. mesh. The clean seed is placed 

 in a 25 per cent brine solution and all floating seed rejected. 



Of various methods tested for facilitating germination clipping the apex 

 or pointed end of the seed has given the best results. This is done with a clipper 

 specially designed to prevent injury to the seed. The clipped seed is planted 



