1916] HORTICULTUEE. 539 



lu the work with avocados the Macdonald, the parent tree of many of the 

 round, hard-shelled winter seedlings, has attracted some attention by its 

 remarkable keeping qualities. The fruits were kept in the horticultural labor- 

 atory for 16 days without any refrigeration, being in a perfect state of preserva- 

 tion at tlie end of this time. 



In the work of propagating the avocado, scion budding has given satisfactory 

 results. The scions are inserted in a T-shaped incision similar to that made 

 for shield budding, only much larger. After being tied in place the budded 

 scion is waxed with a firm grafting wax which will not run when heated by the 

 sun. This method is considered to be advantageous as a means of propagating 

 from old bearing trees which frequently do not produce good bud wood unless 

 severely cut back. It may also be used to work branches of considerable size. 

 Observations of apparently multiple-stemmed seedling avocados showed that 

 such seedlings have a single central stem, the other stems arising from buds 

 on this stem beneath the surface of the ground and in many cases within the 

 seed. 



The work of breeding papayas was resumed along lines previously noted. 

 A number of crosses and close pollinations have been made to secure informa- 

 tion on questions arising in earlier work. 



In the citrus orchard many varieties are now in bearing and making a satis- 

 factory growth. Practically all of these varieties have been introduced as bud 

 wood and worked upon home-grown stocks. 



In view of the claim by some manufacturers that a blend of the oil of kukui 

 (Aleurites moluccana) and of the China wood oil (A. fordii) is preferable to 

 either one, some work was undertaken by V. S. Holt in hybridizing these species 

 with the idea that the new forms might combine the desired characters in a 

 way superior to either of the parents. A number of fruits from these cross 

 pollinations have been secured. 



Brief notes are given on the station's distribution of seeds and plants and 

 extension work in horticulture. 



A variety test of tomatoes, C. E. Myeks (Pennsylvania Sta. Rpt. 1914, PP- 

 461-492). — In continuation of a previous report (E. S. R., 34, p. 146) tabular 

 data are given on a test of different strains of a number of varieties of tomatoes. 

 With a few exceptions each variety recorded has been tested for three years. 

 The varieties are classified according to their period of maturity, described, and 

 discussed with reference to their quality and commercial importance. 



Influence of dynamiting on soils, W. R. White (Pennsylvania Sta. Rpt. 

 1914. pp. 445-4.57). — In continuation of a previous report (E. S. R., 34, p. 125) 

 the second year's results are given from those dynamiting experiments, which 

 were conducted in orchards. Although these results are not considered conclu- 

 sive thus far, they indicate, as in the previous year, that the profitable applica- 

 tion of dynamite as a soil improver is limited. In these experiments no im- 

 portant gains have as yet been derived from its use either with newly-planted 

 apple trees or with mature trees. 



Irrigation, R. W. Allen (Oregon Sta., Rpt. Hood River Sta., 1915, pp. 24-26, 

 fig. 1). — Practical suggestions are given for irrigating orchards, both where 

 cover crops are used and where clean tillage is practiced. 



Cover crops, C. I. Lewis and R. W. Allen (Oregon Sta., Rpt. Hood River 

 Sta., 1915, p. 29). — Notes are given of a test of various cover crops on a number 

 of distinct soil types in the fall of 1914. The crops tested include field peas, 

 horse bean, crimson clover, hairy vetch, spring or common vetch, woolly-podded 

 vetch, purple vetch, and bitter vetch. 



As a result of the severe winter only the crimson clover and hairy vetch sur- 

 vived and made satisfactory growth to be of value for green manuring. The 



