150 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



chemistry of cacao; temperature aud climate; yield, value and prices of cacao; 

 the land available and the value of a cacao estate; production of cacao; food 

 value and manufacture of cacao; transport of cacao plants and seeds; miscel- 

 laneous; the health of the cacao estate; and How Jose Formed his Cocoa 

 Estate, which is a reproduction at length of a little brochure published in 

 Trinidad some years ago by an anonymous author. 



Seport of the coffee expert, J. W. Van Leenhoff {Porto Rico Sta. Rpt. 1909. 

 pp. 32-3Jt, pi. J). — Weather conditions were again unfavorable for securing 

 positive results on the various experiments with coffee (E. S. R., 22, p. 241). 



In the old coffee plantation, which is unprotected by wind-breaks, the size 

 of the berries was small and many ripened prematurely. In the new plantings, 

 which are as yet only slightly protected by shade trees, the size of the berries 

 was nearly normal. Emajagua (Paritimn Uliaceum) and pavonia {Hibiscus 

 rosa sinensis) are to be tried as wind-breaks to surround the coffee on exposed 

 places. New plantings of Porto Rican and foreign coffees are doing well and 

 the quality, especially of the Java coffees, was fine. Leaf weevils are rapidly 

 becoming a serious menace to the coffee plantations located in the higher 

 altitudes, and coffee leaf blight and borers in the shade trees continue on the 

 increase. 



The renovation experiments in the old coft'ee grove and the experiments with 

 the new plantation were continued along the lines iireviously reported. The 

 old grove yielded 2,723 lbs. of coffee as compared with 2,472 lbs. the previous 

 year. The total cost of gi'owing, harvesting, and pre])aring 100 lbs. of coffee 

 for market in 1909 was $5.18, and the average price obtained was $11.98. The 

 total expense per acre for the fifth year in the new 3-acre planting was $12.73. 

 A small crop of 105 lbs. per acre harvested in 1909 was valued at $12.58, leaving 

 a net expense of 15 cts. per acre for the year, and a total net expense per acre 

 for the 5 years of $91.71. 



The pecan and its culture, H. H. Hume {Glen Saint Mary, Fla., 1910, 2. ed., pp. 

 XI +195, figs. 79).— The present edition of this work (E. S. R., 18, p. 339) has 

 been largely rewritten to include the more recent knowledge relative to the 

 general requirements of pecans, the behavior of varieties in different regions, 

 improved methods of culture, and similar topics. 



Ornamental trees and shrubs for Montana, R. W. Fisher {Montana Sta. 

 Bui. 80, pp. ^1-46). — The results of experiments in testing different kinds of 

 ornamental trees and shrubs are reported, together with some general observa- 

 tions on the planting of ornamentals and the success of such plants in various 

 parts of the State. The plants are grouped by genera and the various species 

 are briefly discussed relative to the character of their growth and hardiness as 

 tested on the station grounds. Lists are given of the trees and shrubs which 

 are hardy and of those which are almost hardy aud can be grown at the station. 



Landscape gardening studies, S. Parsons {New York, 1910, pp. 107, pis. 

 82). — A number of landscape gardening pi'oblems undertaken by the author 

 are herein illustrated and described. 



Pollination of Spencer sweet peas, G. M. Tayi^or {Gard. Chron., 3, ser., 

 j^S {1910), No. 1241, pp. 257, 258). — Although it is the general opinion among 

 workers with sweet peas in England that pollination owes little or nothing 

 to insect agencies in the old grandiflora type of sweet peas since fecundation is 

 effected before the blossoms are fully developed, the author points out that the 

 flower structure in the recently introduced Spencer peas is not conducive to 

 self-fertilization, since the stigma protrudes from and rises considerably above 

 the carinal pouch even in the bud stage before the anthers have dehisced, 

 while the carina is open and the stigma unprotected from the weather. It is 

 his opinion that where pollination does take place it is often caused through 



