238 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOKD. [Vol. 41 



Experiments covering several years liave demonstrated tliat the canker on 

 limbs and trunks of apple trees of bearing age, which is known as Illinois blis- 

 ter canker and is prevalent in orchards in western and southwestern Iowa, may 

 be checked by chiseling out the infected wood and painting the entire wound 

 with an antiseptic paint. Experiments dealing with the prevention of crown 

 gall of nursery stock are yielding promising results although no definite methods 

 of treatment are recommended at this time. 



[Report on horticultural investigations], N. E. Hansen (South Dakota Sta. 

 lipt. 1918, pp. 22-2Jf). — Work in the breeding and selection of hardy fruits Avas 

 continued (E. S. R., 39, p. 346). The Tecumseh, a line extra large plum of 

 ShiroX Surprise pedigree was sent out for tlie first time. Eight seedling 

 apples on Siberian Crab stock were sent out for trial because they appear 

 promising after three years of very severe invasion from blight. The quality 

 of the fruit is unknown. 



In the work of breeding blight-resistant pears Japan pear seedlings have 

 not been successful as stocks, since they winterkill. After extensive test two 

 species of Siberian pear [Pyrus iissurknsis and P. ovoidca) appear to be re- 

 sistant both to the blight and tlie rigorous climate of the Northwest. Seedlings 

 of these species are to be used as stocks. ' A number of hybrids of J', ovoidca 

 with the standard cultivate<l pear (F. communis) of western Europe have 

 already been bred and dlstrl!)uted. 



Fruit growing' in the semiarid Northwest, I\I. I'lAENObTt {Minn. Hort., Jf7 

 (UUD), Xo. 5, pp. l[).'f-2(),i, piis. o). — A paper with discussion following, in which 

 the author briefly notes the results secured with various orchard and small 

 fruits at the Northern Great Plains Field Station, Mandan, N. Dak., and else- 

 where in the Northern Great Plains area, and describes experimental methods 

 of growing fruit trees being tested at the station. 



The Aiistralian fruit industry. — ^Its development and importance, W. J. 

 Allen (Frnit World Austral, 20 (1919), No. /,, pp. 80-83).— A report on the ex- 

 tent and value of the fruit Industry in Australia, including suggestions rela- 

 tive to organization, standardization, and cooperation. 



The Lorette system of pruning, H. E. Durham {Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc, J/S 

 {1919), No. 2-3, pp. 261-211, pis. J,, fig. i).— The author describes a " spriug- 

 summer-autumn " jnethod of pruning and training fruit trees employed by 

 L. Lorette, chief of practical horticulture at the Wagnonville school near 

 Douai, France, which has for its set purpose sthnulation of growth in certain 

 dormant eyes, whose productions are apt to possess fruit-bearing proclivities. 

 A note on the nomenclature of fruit-tree parts, together with a bibliography 

 of related literature, is appended. 



The healing of pruning wounds, W. G. Bkieeley {Miun. Hort., Jfi {1919), No. 

 7f. pp. 1//5-152, fi()s. 7). — An extensive study wa»s made of pruning w^ounds on 

 ajiple trees in the Minnesota P^xperiment Station orchards and in several other 

 orchards, Including young and old trees as well as neglected and well-kept trees. 

 Data are given showing the relation of size and treatment of wounds to healing 

 and the causes of failure to heal in well-made wounds. 



The results of the study show that there Is very little variation in the per- 

 centage of wounds healing on a basis of size of wounds, although larger wounds 

 heal more slowly. The rate of wound healing was directly proportionate to the 

 vigor of the tree. For all wounds examined, a general average^ of 93.7 per cent 

 wei'e healing. Of the wounds not healing, poor pruning accounted for the failure 

 of nearly 9 out of every 10. Out of 2,2.")0 well-made wounds, only 17 failed to 

 start healing. These failed chiefly from tire blight infection. Previous decay in 

 wood and drying back of the bark caused a few failures. 



