HORTICULTUKE. 41 



to the influence which external conditions, such as rainfall, temperature, ma- 

 uurial experiments, etc., exert on the quality of tea leaf. Part 2 describes in 

 detail attempts to follow the loss of essential oil during the process of firing in 

 tea, in order eventually to determine methods by which this loss may be mini- 

 mized. 



Germination and selection experiments with tea seed, C. Bebnaed (Bui. 

 Dept. Agr. Indes y^crland., 1910, No. 1,0, pp. 11-2S, pi. i).— This consists of 

 notes on the selection, tesring, and germination of tea seed, carried on pi-elimi- 

 nary to the development through selection of a race of tea better adapted to 

 conditions in Java than the present forms. 



The author found that selection by size of seed has little value but that the 

 heaviest seeds produce the most vigorous seedlings. Where seeds were im- 

 mersed in solutions of different density, those immersed in the heaviest solu- 

 tions gave the best and most uniform seedlings. The density of the seed was 

 not an index to the rapidity of germination, and the failure to sink in the solu- 

 tion is not always an indication that the seeds will not germinate. More regu- 

 lar and uniform germination was secured when the seeds were planted in the 

 ground with the eye downward than when planted with the eye on top. 



A report on raspberry manuring experiments, Brehmee (Gartenwelt, 14 

 (1910), No. 2, pp. 15-17, fig. 1). — In some fertilizer experiments conducted with 

 raspberries for a period of 3 years in the experimental fields of the Altona 

 Industrial School a complete commercial fertilizer with a high content of solu- 

 ble salts and from which the harmful salts had been removed gave much better 

 results as to yield than either the ordinary commercial fertilizer or stable 

 manure. The use of lime in connection with the various combinations appears 

 to have increased the yield. 



Beginning' and progress in the development of American grapes, T. V. 

 MUNSON (Trans. Kans. State Hort. Soc, 30 (1908-9), pp. 19o-20J,).—A brief 

 survey of the history and progress of grape culture in the United States. 



Viticulture in Auvergne, F. Christophle (Assoc. Franc. Avang. Sci., Compt. 

 Rend., 37 (1908), pp. 1151-1161): — A report on the viticultural industry in the 

 Department of Puy de Dome, France, relative to its history and extent, climatic 

 conditions, methods of culture, varieties, wine making, and marketing. 



Greenhouse cultures, P. Pacottet and J. Daieat (Cultures de Sevres. Paris, 

 1910, pp. 540, figs. 178). — This book, which is one of the agricultural series 

 published under the direction of G. Wery, is essentially a treatise on grape cul- 

 ture under glass, although some attention is given to the culture of other fruits. 



The successive chapters discuss the general factors involved in greenhouse 

 cultures, greenhouse construction, management, and heating, propagation, plant- 

 ing, pruning, forcing operations, various methods of conservhig fruit previous 

 to marketing, packing, transjwrtation, and diseases, insect pests, and other 

 hindrances in the greenhouse. The book concludes with a study of greenhouse 

 varieties of grapes. 



Town gardening, B. C. Ravensceoft (London, 1910, 2. ed., rev. and enl., pp. 

 XlI-^337).—X revised and enlarged edition of this handbook of trees, shrubs, 

 and plants suitable for culture in the outdoor garden, window garden, and 

 greenhouse, originally issued in 1882. 



Rock and water gardens, F. W. Meyee (London, 1910, pp. XII-\-227, pis. 

 50).— This work embodies a series of popular articles by the late author which 

 have appeared from time to time in The Garden, to which additions have been 

 made by the editor, E. T. Cook, with a view to increasing the usefulness of 

 the work. It contains detailed instructions for making and planting rock and 

 water gardens, including suggestions as to plant material. Chapters on wall 

 and heath gardening are also included. 



