HORTICULTURE. 641 



in full loaf aiul flower, whereas the hiuls on an untreated bush were just hef^in- 

 ning to ()i)en. A portion of the young catkins on a hazel stem with many 

 branches was immersed in hot water for a period of 12 hours while the 

 remaining catkins remained diy. Six days later the bathetl catkins attained 

 their full development while tlic iiiibathed catkins showed no perceptible 

 change. A similar experiment with Forsythia emithasized the local character 

 of the inlluence of the warm bath. 



It was also found that if the bathed brandies or plants are not placed at 

 once in the forcing house, but are tirst exposed to the oi)en air for 2, 3 or 4 

 weeks, under ordinary autumn or winter conditions, and are then cultivate*! 

 in the hothouse, the bathed portions show the same advance over the unbathed 

 lM»rtions as though they were placed in the hothouse immediately after the bath. 

 This process is api)lical)le to the hazel, lilac, dogwood, gooseberry, larch, black 

 alder, horse chestnut, willow and other plants and inunersion from G to 12 hoiu's 

 is generally sutlicient. I'lants bathed beyond 12 hours are likely to suffer 

 from lack of oxygen. 



The tenii)erature of the bath varies with different plants. Hazel, Forsythia, 

 gooseberry, and lilac are sufhciently stimulated by ;i bath at 8(5° F., whereas a 

 temiH'rature of 95 to 104° F. is better for the horse chestnut and appears to be 

 n(>cessary for the black alder and birch. Some plants appear to be influenced 

 by the warm liatli immediately after the leaves fall; other plants must first 

 go Ibrongh a period of rest. On the other hand, the effect of the bath gradu- 

 ally diminishes toward the end of the winter rest period. A warm bath in 

 autunm was found to produce innnetliate effect on the male catkins of the 

 hazel, whereas the leaf buds could not be stimulated by a warm bath until 

 •January. It is believed (bat this method will i)rove of i)ractical value to florists 

 in forcing shrubs. 



Distribution of seeds and plants, E. J. Wickson and R. E. Mansell {Cali- 

 fornia Stu. .S'cfv/ Jiiil. lUOH-i), lip. 6). — A tabulated statement on the distributioji 

 of seed made by the station from 1902 to 1908 is given, the aims and methods 

 of the work are pointed out. and a number of garden vegetables and fruits 

 are described. 



Ginseng and other medicinal plants, A. R. Harding (Coltonbiis, O.. J'J08, 

 I'll- -in. Ills. .i. Jills. Hi, (li/in. I). — This popular work contains a considerable 

 ainionnt of information compiled from various sources relative to the technical 

 and common names, habitat, I'ange, botanical characteristics, collection, prices, 

 and uses of a large nuniber of medicinal roots, barks, and leaves. Particular 

 attention is paid to the culture of ginseng and (!olden Seal. Illustrations are 

 given of the plants under discussion. 



Orchard fruits in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge regions of Virginia and 

 the South Atlantic States, II. P. (Jorr.n iU. N. Dcitt. .\(;r.. litir. PUtut Indus. 

 Hill. I.i.'i, lip. 10^, Ills. ',). — This is tlie. first report on a series of fruit district 

 Invest igaf ions which the Hureau of Plant Industry is conducting. It discusses 

 till' physical and climatic conditions of the Piedmont and Hlue Ridge regions 

 mid contains notes on the range and behavior of a large number of varieties of 

 apples, iiears, peaches and plums grown therein. The vari»'ties of aiiples and 

 Ix'acLes are also grouped according to their beluivior at different altitudes In 

 difTereiit latitudes, and iihenological records compiled from the ol)servati(»ns 

 niade of some of the more impm-fant vjirieties of fruits by a large nninlier of 

 fruit growers are given. The lext is accompanied with a map showing the 

 I>oinol(»gical regions of (he South Atlaii(i<' States. 



-Mthougli the study has not been continued sufliciently long to warrant many 

 dflbiite dediietions, it is lielieved thai the information presen(cd will iirove of 

 vahii- to prospective orchard planters, 



