238 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



on the acidity of the soil of different plats, and data are given showing the 

 comparative acidity of a number of the plats. One of the points to be noted 

 is the alkalinity of those plats receiving lime in some form. Lime as ground 

 limestone, air-slaked lime, er hardwood ashes has proved equally effective in 

 neutralizing the acid effect of the fertilizers. 



Late pruning, L. Ravaz {Prog. Agr. et Vit. {Ed. I'Est-Centre), 34 {1913), 

 No. 17, pp. 517, 518). — Data secured in an examination, subsequent to the 

 severe spring frosts of the past season, of the experimental vineyard at Mont- 

 pellier in which various rows had been pruned at different times of the year 

 appear to confirm the author's conclusions (B. S. R., 27, p. 540) that pruning 

 after the terminal shoots have started serves as a partial protection against 

 spring frosts and increases production without materially affecting the vigor of 

 the vine. 



Experience on the reconstitution of vineyards with American stocks, E. 

 Pantanelli {Stas. Sper. Agr. Ital., 45 {1912), No. 10, pp. 753-807).— A review 

 of the literature of the subject, with special reference to investigations of the 

 adaptability of various American stocks in Italian vineyards. 



The Muscadine grapes, G. C. Husmann and C. Bearing {U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 273, pp. 6-'/, pis. 11, figs. 26). — This bulletin comprises as 

 a whole a report of the viticultural investigations of the Bureau of Plant In- 

 dustry in the Muscadine regions from 1905 to 1911. It discusses the present 

 status of the Muscadine grape industry, the cooperative experimental work in 

 progress on the Pender Test Farm of the North Carolina Department of Agri- 

 culture, botanical relationship, classification, distribution, and propagation of 

 Muscadines, soils, preparation of the land, planting, cultivation, fertilization, 

 pruning and training, harvesting and handling, yields and returns, relation of 

 wine making to the Rotundifolia grape industry, unfermented grape juice, other 

 uses of Muscadine grapes, Brix readings and acid content of Muscadine grapes, 

 and insects and diseases. The results to date of researches in self-fertility, 

 sterility, and breeding are given and the important varieties of Muscadines 

 are described. 



In the experiments in testing the self-fertility of varieties, both Rotundifolia 

 and Munsoniana varieties have been included. Varieties of the latter species 

 have been found to set naturally a higher percentage of fruit than those of 

 the former. All tests so far made show that the Scuppernong, James, Thomas, 

 Flowers, Mish, Eden, Memory, and Hopkins varieties are practically incapable 

 of fertilizing themselves or each other. Natural pollination is found to be 

 influenced by weather conditions, the proximity of male vines, and the presence 

 of insects, especially a small bee-like fly and a small long-horned beetle 

 {Copidita thoracica). It is recommended that provision be made in large 

 Muscadine vineyards to protect the wild male vines growing In nearby woods 

 and fence corners, either by planting them in or around the vineyard or by 

 grafting the male scions into the tops of a number of the fruiting vines. In 

 this connection, however, it has also been found that the congeniality of fertile 

 pollen varies with different varieties and that there is a great variation among 

 male vines relative to size of bloom cluster, date of blooming, length of bloom- 

 ing period, and profuseuess of bloom. Care should be taken to select only those 

 male vines that bloom at the same time as the vines they are intended to 

 pollinate. The yield may be materially increased both by artificial hand cross- 

 pollination in bags and by the daily hand pollinating of unbagged blossoms. 

 Two Muscadine vines with perfect flowers have been grown from seed. They 

 appear to be self-fertile and other varieties have been successfully fertilized 

 with each of them. 



