540 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



The future of cacao planting, H. H. Smith (London, 190S, pp. XIII+95, 

 pis. 2). — A paper read at the Colonial Fruit Show of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society, June, 190S, followed by an extensive discussion and supplementary 

 notes on grafting, pruning, and the question of shade in Trinidad. The paper 

 deals with the various branches of the cacao planting industry, including cer- 

 tain phases which have not been generally discussed, such as suggestions rela- 

 tive to the use of vacuum chambers for drying beans, the practice of planting 

 belts of rubber and other economic plants in conjunction with cacao, and re- 

 striction of affected areas in- case of disease. Among other points discussed are 

 grafting, improved pruning methods, and green manuring. 



Street trees, their care and preservation, A. D. Taylor {New Yo)'k Cornell 

 t<t(i. Bui. 256, pp. Jfjl-J/Ol, figs. 37). — In this bulletin the writer points out and 

 shows by means of illustrations and discussion the harm to which trees are 

 subjected through ignorance and neglect, with a view of interesting public 

 spii'ited citizens in the protection of shade trees. Part I deals with the sources 

 of injury to shade trees including public utilities, unintelligent pruning, con- 

 struction work, wind and ice storms, freezing, bites of horses, grazing of wagon 

 wheels, starving of root systems, overcrowding and impi-oper placing, and in- 

 jury from wire labels. Part II deals with methods of protection and the prun- 

 ing of shade trees, and Part III contains a discussion of some of the main points 

 in the municipal control of shade trees with notes on protective measures 

 adopted. in various States. 



The small country place, S. T. Maynard (Philadelphia and London, 190S, 

 pp. 320, figs. 100). — A popular worlc intended for persons seeking country homes 

 and for those already owning small country places who wish to improve them 

 and make them more profitable. In the introductory chapter consideration is 

 given to various economic and social phases of country life. Succeeding chap- 

 ters deal with the remodeling and improving of old buildings, building new 

 houses, the decoration of home grounds, the lawn and flower garden, the family 

 garden, practical suggestions for the growing and handling of the common 

 orchard and small fruits and vegetables, poultry keeping, dairying, the family 

 horse, and bees. The book concludes with a monthly working calendar. 



The preservation of cut flowers, V. Ducomet and L. Fourton (Rev. Hort. 

 [Paris], 80 (190S), No. l.'i, pp. 333-336). — The results are given of experiments 

 conducted in 1906 and 1007 in continuation of the authors' ]n-evious investiga- 

 tion (E. S. R., 18, p. 44), in preserving cut flowers in solutions made by using 

 various mineral and organic acids, bases, salts, antiseptics, and other ma- 

 terials. 



Fully ten thousand experiments were conducted in which flowers of over one 

 hundred species were used. The important fact brought out by the work is 

 that the flowers differ so much in their requirements as to render it impossible 

 to "use similar treatment or a uniform liquid for preserving all plants. In many 

 cases which are noted, however, it is found that by the use of sugar as well as 

 several other substances of which the principal are sodium chlorid, bi-potassium 

 phosphate, chloral and sulphate of maganese, the life of the flowers can be pro- 

 longed sufficiently to warrant the extra expense. 



Exploitation of medicinal plants (Lc Bresil: Scs Richesses XaturcUes; ses 

 Industries. Rio de Janeiro: Centro Indus. Brasil. 1908, French ed., vol. 1. pp. 

 228-238). — Brief notes on the more important medicinal plants of Brazil, 

 including local and botanical names and economic uses, together with sta- 

 tistical data relative to the exports and value of various leaves, roots, and 

 medicinal extracts. 



