HORTICULTURE. 241 



The tabular results are given of a test made to determine the relative value 

 between thick and thin spacing. Plants standing 6 ins. apart in wide matted 

 rows gave the greatest average yield of number one berries. A 2* ft. wide 

 matted row with alleys 18 to 20 ins. is believed to be the best method for com- 

 mercial growers to adopt. 



A study on the quality and production of several red varieties of grapes, 

 II. Faes and F. Forchet (Cliroii. Agr. Vaud, 21 {1008), Xo. 6, pp. 131-139).— 

 Tabulated data relative to a test of several varieties of red and white grapes 

 are reported for the years 1902, 1905, 1906, and 1907, circumstances preventing 

 the collection of similar data for 1903 and 1904. The data show the average 

 fruit production and sugar content in grams per plant, as well as the average 

 percentage of sugar and acid in the must of each variety. The different varieties 

 are discussed and one red variety, the Limberger, is especially recommended 

 for the region of Vaud on account of its great resistance to rot and its satis- 

 factory sugar content. 



A study relative to the accumulation of sug'ar and the decrease of acidity 

 in the fruit of Chasselas Dore grape, G. Riviere and G. Bailhache {Jour. 

 Soc. Xat. Hort. France, 4. ser., 9 (1908), Feb., pp. 125-127).— In continuation of 

 previous investigations by the authors (E. S. R., 19, p. 844), the progres- 

 sive accumulation of sugar and the decrease of acidity in the berries from 

 their formation to the period of maturity was traced with fruit growing on 

 both ringed and unringed shoots. Two bunches of grapes. were grown to a 

 shoot, and analyses were made on August 5 and 10, September 5 and 19, and 

 October 10 and 22. The effect of riuging the shoots was noticeable in the early 

 stages of growth by both the greater increase in sugar content and decrease in 

 acidity. 



Forcing plants with, electricity, H. Bos (Umschau, 12 (1908), No. 12, pp. 

 228-232. figs. 3). — An account, including a description of the apparatus used 

 and the results obtained, is given of experiments conducted by the author in 

 forcing flowering shrubs and bulbs with electricity. The operation consisted in 

 passing a weak current through the plants. In most cases the bulbs were seri- 

 ously damaged by this operation, no positive results being secured. With some 

 of the shrubs a weak current passing through the plant appeared to shorten 

 the resting period of the plant and force it into bloom. In some cases this de- 

 velopment appeared to take place in those branches through which the current 

 did not directly flow. The experiments are not considered extensive enough to 

 warrant any definite conclusion as to the value of this method of forcing plants. 



Roses; their history, development, and cultivation, J. H. Pemberton (Loit- 

 don and New York, 1908, pp. XXIV+336, pis. 11, figs. 32).— In part 1 of this 

 popular work consideration is given to the botany of the rose and to descrip- 

 tions, including notes on the history and development of British wild roses, 

 wild roses of other countries, and summer and autumn flowering roses. Fart 2 

 is devoted to rose cultivation, including the soil and its treatment, manures, 

 planting, pruning, budding, and methods of propagation, together with chap- 

 ters on the culture of roses for exhibition purposes, exhibiting, judging, grow- 

 ing roses under glass, and insect pests and fungus diseases. A descriptive list 

 is given of selected roses recommended for cultivation, together with the method 

 of pruning each type. 



The bibliography of the chrysanthemum, C. H. Payne {Jour. Soc. Nat. 

 Hort. France, 4. ser., 8 {1901), Dec, pp. 738-7.^7).— This bibliography is believed 

 to be the most complete on this subject, and includes over 140 general treatises 

 and society publications of various countries, dealing with the hi.story, culture, 

 and classification of the chrysanthemum. 

 59778— No. 3—08 4 



