HOBTICULTUBE. 641 



seed houses, and hothouses. Directions are also given for the treatment of 

 underground pests, together with general instructions for spraying apples, 

 peaches, plums, shade trees, field crops, weeds, and ornamentals. 



The requirements of the Kentucky nursery and orchard insi)ection law are 

 also included. 



The new Arkansas law with, reference to the inspection of nurseries and 

 the transportation of nursery stock {Arkansas Sta. Circ. 11, pp. 6). — The text 

 is given of an act. approved April 2, 1913, to prevent the introduction and 

 dissemination of insect i>ests and plant diseases on nursei-y stock in Arkansas. 



Storage of apples in peat dust, E. Nysteom (Svenska MosskuUurfdr. Tidskr., 

 21 (1913), lYo. 4-5, PI). 315-380, pis. 5).— In experiments conducted with 3 

 varieties of apples it was found that the losses from evaporation and decay were 

 greatly reduced when the apples were stored in peat dust. This material may 

 advantageously be used for storage of apples on a small scale where no good 

 fruit storage building is available. The peat must be rather dry and a cool, 

 fairly insulated room used for storing the fruit. 



Grape breeding, F. Muth (Ztschr. Pflanzenzucht., 1 (1913), No. 3, pp. 341- 

 393, figs. 2). — This comprises a resume of investigations dealing with the 

 improvement of grapes, including references to cited literature. 



Sugar and acid in oranges and grapefruit, S. E. Collison (Florida Sta. Bui. 

 115, tw. 3-23). — This comprises a study of the chemical changes which take 

 place in the ripening of citrus fruits, the work being carried on by the station 

 in cooperation with the Florida Citrus Exchange. Analyses of over 500 lots 

 of oranges and grapefruit, extending from October 1, 1912, to May 2, 1913, 

 are reported. The samples of fruit analyzed were obtained from over 20 

 different localities, and fruits grown on a great variety of soils and with various 

 kinds of fertilizers are represented. 



The data secured for oranges show in geuer; 1 that there is a gradual increase 

 of total sugar and a gradual decrease of acidity toward maturity. Both sucrose 

 and reducing sugars increase at about the same rate, but with the former aver- 

 aging higher than the latter. Apparently all the acid of the fruit is formed 

 early in the season, while sugar continues to be formed until maturity. The 

 increase of sugar and decrease of acid is also apparent in grapefruit, but not 

 nearly in so marked a degree as in the orange. After grapefruit reach ma- 

 turity there is a noticeable increase in reducing sugar with a corresponding 

 decrease in sucrose, pointing to a breaking down of sucrose into dextrose and 

 fructose. 



The demarcation between fruit classified as sour and that classified as sweet 

 lies near the ratio of 1 of acid (anhydrous) to 7 of sugar in the grade here 

 calletl tart. The demarcation between fruit classified as very sour and that 

 classified as sour lies near the ratio of 1 of acid (anhydrous) to 4 of sugar. 

 The 2 methods of sampling employed, 12 fruits from 1 tree and 1 fruit from 

 each of 12 trees, showed no essential differences in the results. 



Report of the assistant horticulturist, T. Bi McClelland (Porto Rico Sta. 

 Rpt. 1912, pp. 28-30, pis. 4). — A progress report on the station's work with 

 coffee, vanilla, rubber, and cacao (B. S. R., 27, p. 844). 



In the fertilizer and cultural experiments with coffee the differences after 

 2 years' treatment appeared to be small in comparison to the differences caused 

 by the position of the tree, that is, generally speaking, whether the tree is on 

 the upper or lower part of a slope. On many slopes in the station's plantings 

 the trees below are in fine condition and those above ix)or. Cultivation and 

 the application of complete fertilizers have so far failed to overcome these 

 unfavorable conditions. Among the plantings of foreign coffee (Coffea araUca) 



