HORTICULTURE. 835 



As a result of the breeding investigations already conducted by the Depart- 

 ment some valuable seedlings have been secured. One lot of 49 seedlings has 

 been produced in which over 50 per cent are perfect flowered and self-fertile, 

 there being no sterile male seedling in this lot. The progress thus far made with 

 this lot suggests that it is only a matter of time when self-fertile varieties with 

 greater yields than the present varieties will lie produced. A number of prom- 

 ising hybrids between Muscadine and American Euvitis and between Muscadine 

 and Vinifera grapes have also been produced. 



The raisin industry, G. C. Husmann (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bid. 3^9 (1916), pp. 

 15, pis. 9, figs. 3). — An account of the raisin industry in the United States, in 

 which consideration is given to the origin, growth, and fluctuations in the in- 

 dustry, soils adapted for raisins, preparation of soils, pruning methods, raisin 

 varieties, climatic conditions, harvesting and preparing the crop, dipping and 

 scalding raisins, pacliing raisins, and classes of raisins. 



[Varieties of the avocado], F. O. Popenoe {Cal. Citrogr., 1 (1915), No. 3, 

 pp. 14, 33; 1 (1916), Nos. 4, pp. 12, 13, 2^, figs. 3; 5, pp. S-10, figs. 4).— An ex- 

 position on the varieties of the avocado, including a descriptive list of the 

 varieties which was prepared for the California Avocado Association. 



Study on the chayote (Sechium edule), D. A. Herkera (Bol. Dir. Gen. Agr. 

 [Mexico], 5 (1915), No. 2, pp. 135-1^3). — In this article the author discusses the 

 chayote with reference to its botany, chemical composition, culture, and uses. 



Features of the grapefruit in California, A. D. Shamel (Cal. Citrogr., 1 

 (1916), Nos. 5, pp. 19, 20, figs. 2; 6, pp. 3, 13, fig. 1).—A paper on this subject 

 in which the author reviews the grapefruit situation in California. Informa- 

 tion is given relative to varieties, distribution of plantings, relation of composi- 

 tion and other characteristics to the quality, comparative analyses of Florida 

 and California grapefruit, and analyses of representative types of California- 

 grown Marsh Seedless grapefruit during the ripe period. 



The consumer's dollar working backwards, G. H. Powell (Ann. Conv. Nat. 

 League Com. Merchants U. S., 24 (1916), pp. 80-91, figs. 5). — An economic 

 discussion of the methods and cost of distributing citrus fruit, with special 

 reference to the California citrus fruit crop. 



Seed gardens (Dept. Landb., Nijv. en Handel [Dutch East Indies], Meded. 

 Proefstat. Thee, No. 39 (1915), pp. 24, pis. 3).— This pamphlet contains the 

 following articles : Report on a Study of the Tea Seed Gardens in Cachar and 

 Sylhet, by A. S. Tunstall, translated by C. Bernard (pp. 1-14), and Some Ob- 

 servations on Tea Gardens in Java, by C. Bernard (pp. 1.5-24). These 

 articles contain information relative to the care and management of the tea 

 seed gardens with special reference to the pruning and training of seed trees 

 and insect pests and diseases and their control. 



Fertilizer experiments at Malabar, II, K. A. R. Bosscha (Dept. Landb., 

 Nijv. en Handel [Dutch East Indies], Meded. Proefstat. Thee, No. 37 (1915), 

 pp. 13). — A further report on fertilizer experiments with tea plants conducted 

 at Malabar (E. S. R., 32, p. 46). A brief note on the productive possibilities 

 of the tea plant, by A. E. Reijnst (pp. 11-13), is also included. 



The production and commerce of nuts in Asia, M. and L. Rigotabd (Vie 

 Agr. et Rurale, 6 (1916), No. 10, pp. 175-178, figs. 2).— This article is essentially 

 a comparative study of French and Asiatic varieties of walnuts with special 

 reference to their commercial importance. 



Experiments in forcing the lily-of-the-valley by means of the warm 

 water process, G. A. Langer (Moller's Deut. Gdrt. Ztg., 30 (1915). No. 50, pp. 

 398-401, figs. 7). — In 1914 experiments were conducted with a large number of 

 lily-of-the-valley plants which were treated by the warm bath process (E. S. R., 



