642 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



accounts of German fruits. It was issued for the first time in 1905, and con- 

 sists of annual sets of 3 parts eacia, witli descriptions of 4 varieties of fruit 

 in each part. Under each variety is given its ripening period, name, history, 

 a technical description of the fruit, the important characteristics of the fruit 

 'and tree, and the commercial importance and uses of the fruit, together with 

 any unfavorable qualities. 



The annual sets thus far noted take up varieties of apples and pears. The 

 full page color plates showing the twig and fruit, including transverse and 

 radial sections, together with the half-tone plates showing the character of 

 the ti*ee growth, are important features of the worli. 



The apple in Pennsylvania: Varieties, planting, and general care, J. P. 

 Stewart {PeniisyUania Sta. Bui. 106, pp. 3-20, figs. 3). — This bulletin com- 

 prises a resume of observations on apple culture in Pennsylvania made by the 

 author in connection with the orcharding investigations being conducted by 

 the station in cooperation with apple growers in different parts of the State, 

 a report on which progress has been noted (B. S. R., 23, p. 341). 



The following phases are discussed : Securing early returns, cultural methods 

 and fertilization, purchase and planting of trees, forming the heads and prun- 

 ing, protection of trees, spraying, thinning, picking, handling, and packing of 

 apples, soils, and varieties. In the descriptive list of varieties the relative 

 commercial importance is indicated, and the varieties are further grouped 

 according to their value in different sections of I'ennsylvania and according to 

 their period of maturity. 



The avocado in southern California, P. W. Popenoe {Pomona Col. Jour. 

 Econ. Bot., 1 (1911), No. 1, pp. 3-24, flffS- 13).— With the view of eliminating 

 the loss which frequently occurs in the establishment of a new industry from 

 the planting of useless varieties, the author has brought together notes on the 

 culture and varieties of avocados in southern California. A list is given of the 

 varieties known in California arranged according to general characters and 

 possible usage, together with a provisional key and descriptions of practically 

 all the varieties in cultivation in California and elsewhere. 



A new plum from the lake region of Florida, R. M. Harper {Torrcya, 

 11 (1911). No. 3, pp. 6.'/-67). — The author describes a dwarf plum discovered in 

 the vicinity of Tavares, Fla., in 1909, and for which he proposes the name 

 Prumis gcniculata. 



Contributions to the history and bibliography of the roselle, P. J. Wester 

 (Bui. Torrey Bot. Clul), 38 (1911), No. 2, pp. 91-98, figs. 2).— This consists of 

 notes on references to the roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in early botanical 

 literature. 



Tea culture in the Preanger Regency, Lovink (De Thcccuitiire in de 

 Preangcr RcgenUchappen. Buitcnzorg : Govt., 1910, pp. li'h P^s. 5, dgm. 1, map 

 1). — This embraces the results of an investigation by the Department of Agri- 

 culture of the Dutch East Indies relative to the native tea industry in the 

 Preanger Regency. It briefly reviews the history of tea culture and experi- 

 ments conducted to improve the industry, describes and studies the native 

 methods of culture, and suggests methods for improving the industry from an 

 economic and cultural standpoint. 



A handbook of tropical gardening and planting with special reference to 

 Ceylon, H. F. Macmillan (Colombo, Ceylon, 1910, pp. X//+52//+Zy/, figs. 

 151). — This work includes practically all commercial and ornamental cultures 

 in the Tropics. 



Section 1, which deals with the principles of gardening, discusses in detail 

 climate, soils, plant life and nutrition, plant food, soil bacteria, etc., manui'es, 

 green manuring, soil operations, propagation, cultural operations, garden and 



