19161 HORTICULTURE. 837 



Notes on Argentine fruit culture, C. D. Gikola (Bol. Min. Agr. [Bueno$ 

 Aires], 20 (1916), No. 5-6, pp. S6-'f-311, pis. 6).— This comprises descriptive 

 notes on a number of fruits commonly grown in Argentina. 



[Progress report on horticultural investigations] (Missouri Sta. Bui. Ht 

 (1916), pp. 32, 33, 34-36). — This comprises concise statements of progress made 

 along various lines of horticultural work during the year ended June 30, 1915. 



In the orchard nutrition studies by J. C. Whitten and C. C. Wiggaus no data 

 were secured on peaches, spring frosts having killed the buds. In a part of 

 the work, which was conducted in pots containing south Missouri soil, nitrogen 

 applied as a fertilizer seemed to increase the number of apples on young trees 

 just beginning to bear. At the same time apple blight attacked more severely 

 the trees fertilized with nitrogen. No appreciable results were secured with 

 potash or phosphoric acid, either alone or in combination with nitrogen, the 

 complete mixture being somewhat better than the single elements, except 

 nitrogen. 



The results of the cooperative spraying experiments have been previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 33, p. 45). 



In the work of breeding peaches for hardy sorts by J. C. Whitten a few of 

 the earlier crosses came into bearing. During the past winter a self-fertilized 

 Lewis tree was able to bring 16 per cent of its buds through a temperature of 

 — 12.8°, whereas on all of the leading commercial varieties at least 98 per cent 

 were killed and in most cases 100 per cent. 



Observations on the self-fertility and self-sterility of fruits by J. C Whitten 

 and C. C. Wiggans indicate, as previously noted, that the commercial varieties 

 of apples show a tendency to self-sterility, especially in certain years. 



Studies on fruit bud development of fruit trees as influenced by treatments 

 and previous crops by C. C. Wiggans were started in 1913 on the varieties Gano, 

 Rome, and Jonathan, the spurs which set fruit being labeled in July. A record 

 of these spurs taken in 1914 shows that a great majority of the spurs on trees 

 of these varieties are not able to bear fruit two years in succession. The work 

 was extended to additional varieties in 1915. During the winter and early 

 spring of 1915 several freezing point determinations of sap from spurs bearing 

 fruit in 1914 and also from spurs not bearing in 1914 were made. In every case 

 the sap from bearing twigs froze at a lower point than from nonbearing twigs. 

 At the same time the variety and the kind of soil seemed to have considerable 

 influence. The sap studies were continued throughout 1915. Some young Jona- 

 than apple trees were etherized at various times to determine the effect on fruit 

 bud formation, but up to June 30, 1915, etherization had not resulted in any 

 increase in sap concentration. 



A test of fall v. spring planting of fruit trees by J. C. Whitten has shown the 

 advantage of fall transplanting over spring transplanting to be more marked In 

 the case of cherries than in any other fruit, although previous results indicating 

 the advantage of fall planting over spring planting for other hardy fruit varie- 

 ties have been confirmed. 



Fruit tree root systems, A. B. Ballantyne (Utah Sta. Bui. US (1916), pp. 

 S-15, figs. 5).— This reports a study of a number of root systems of fruit trees 

 removed from an orchard damaged by seepage conditions in the soil. 



An examination of the root systems indicate that fruit trees may ordinarily 

 be expected to send their roots deeply into the ground if the water supply is 

 not too plentiful, especially near the surface, and the ground water level Is 

 not too high. The natural depth of fruit tree roots as indicated in this study 

 is probably near the height of the tree. The method and amount of watering 

 will alter the general shape of the root system and make it essentially a deep- 



