HORTICULTURE. 839 



ducted for a number of years. The best results Lave beeu seeuretl by practically 

 an annual renewal of the top. This pruniu^ is done in June very soon after 

 the gathering of the fruit. Although the foliage is almost entirely removed 

 the tree soon sends out many new branches which grow vigorously until 

 winter, when they begin maturing fruit buds. All suckers that are not re- 

 quired to imi)rove the shai>e of the tree are removed. 



In connection witli the top-working of seedling avocado trees the best re- 

 sults have bcHui secured by cutting the trees back to stumps about 1^ or 2 ft. 

 high and budding the vigorous shoots rather than by budding tlie side branches 

 of the original trees. Brief notes are given on the general condition of the ex- 

 perimental orchards. The Feijoa scUoirkina, received from southern California 

 in lOOS, has made a satisfactory growth and fruited during the year for the 

 first time. 



The breetling investigations with ornamental hibiscus plants were continued 

 by \. S. Holt, the important features of the work having been publisher! in 

 bulletin form (E. S. li., 30, p. 445). 



Fertilizer experiments with tomatoes, A. L. Dacy ( West Virginia tita. Bui. 

 142 U913), pp. 3-27, figs. 6).— This bulletin reports the results of cooperative 

 fertilizer experiments with tomatoes grown for the cannery in Morgan County, 

 W. Va., in 1900. 1910, and 1911. 



The fertilizer element most deficient in the soils included in these experi- 

 ments was phosphoric acid. The tests failed to show any material difference 

 between bone meal, basic slag, and acid phosphate as carriers of phosphoric 

 acid. Although the effect of nitrogen was less marked it gave better net re- 

 turns when used in the form of nitrate of soda either alone or in combination 

 than when applied in the form of dried blood or cotton-seed meal. A test 

 was made of quicklime in 1911 applied at the rate of a ton to the acre, both 

 alone and in combination with stable manure, with a detrimental effect on the 

 yield of the tomatoes. On the other hand, the beneficial effect of the lime was 

 quite marked on the clover and vetch sown in the tomatoes at the last cultiva- 

 tion. High-grade commercial fertilizers gave better average net results with 

 one exception than the same amounts of low-grade fertilizers, leased on the re- 

 sults as a whole, the author recommends the application of 400 lbs. to the acre 

 of a commercial fertilizer containing 3 per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent available 

 phosphoric acid, and 10 per cent ])otash, together with the addition of humus 

 or organic matter to the soils by the use of stable manure and various green 

 manures. 



Hardiness of fruit buds and flowers to frost, F. Garcia and J. W. Rigney 

 (New 2Icxico Sta. Bui. 80 {1914), pp. 52, figs. 9).— The authors here report a 

 study of the relative hardiness to frost of fruit buds and flowers at different 

 stages of growth. In the investigation, which was conducted in the station 

 orchard durmg the 5 seasons, 1909 to 1913. special attention was given to peach 

 buds, although some data were also secured with plums, apples, pears, and 

 apricots. In addition to the results of the above investigation, phenological data 

 are given showing the blooming and fruiting period of 2 varieties of apricots 

 and 7 varieties of plums for 7 years and of 6 varieties of peaches for 15 years. 

 A record is also given of killing temperatures during March and April for the 

 years 1S92 to 1913, inclusive. 



The data recorded at the station, esiiecially for peach buds, show that the 

 degree of resistance to frost varies with different stages of growth and that the 

 bloom is not the most tender stage of the grov/th, the newly set peach being 

 more delicate than the newly opened blossom. The peach is least resistant 

 when it is about the size of a pea, when the calyxes are falling off. A tempera- 

 46465°— No. 9—14 4 



