254 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



f^atisfaotory results follow the adoptioiutf both branch and body Iniddingon the same 

 tree when one is needed to suiiplenient the other." 



It is not beli<n'i^d i)roiital)le to topwork trees (wer 25 or 30 years old. Only a i>art 

 of the tops of trees tliis old should be removed in any one year. The article, while 

 applirable to all orchard fruits, deals more i)articularly with apples and i)eaches. 



Suggestions concerning apple culture, W. J. (jkebn {Ohio Sin. linl. 1.17, pp. 

 25-38). — Popular directions are "iven for planting, manuring, cultivating, and spray- 

 ing apple orchards. Considerable space is given to a discussion of the grass-nmlch 

 method of cultivating orchards advocated by Grant Hitchings, of New York, and 

 Y. P. Yergou, of Ohio. In 1900 an orchard was i)lanted at the station to test the grass- 

 mulch method in comparison with the usual method of cultivation. 8o far the 

 results have l)een very favoral)le to the grass-nudch theory. 



Apple growing in Missouri, J. C. Whitten {Missouri Sia. Bui. 61, pp. l<)f>-130, 

 Hgs. 6). — Concise i)oi)ular directions are given for the planting and care of orchards 

 in Missouri, and marketing fruit, with notes on the varieties most suitable for com- 

 mercial planting. It is stated that Ben Davis and Gano are grown to a greater 

 extent in ]\Iissouri than all other varieties put together. 



Manuring the banana, M. A. Couturier {Jour. Agr. Trap., 2 {1902), No. L3,pp. 

 195-1!>7; trans, in Jour. Jamaica Agr. Soc, 7 {IMS), No. 5, pp. 175-178). — A sununary 

 of the practices of manuring bananas in different countries. It is stated that the ash 

 of "the stems of the banana contains about 55 per cent of potash, while the ash of the 

 fingers contains about 73 percent of potash. While tropical soils usually show high 

 percentages of potash, the soils of Central America, IMadeira, and Guinea are quite 

 deficient in this element. Soils on which bananas are grown continuously for a 

 series of years are exhausted in the same manner as when other crops are grown and 

 should therefore be given a complete fertilizer containing relatively large amounts 

 of potash. 



In Madeira, on volcanic soil, poor in potash and phosphoric acid and rich in nitro- 

 gen, a complete fertilizer analyzing 13 per cent of nitrogen, 20 per cent potash, and 

 16 per cent phosphoric acid has been used with good results. The manure was 

 applied at the rate of about 1| oz. per plant in a trench made about 18 in. around the 

 stem of the plant. This application is made twice a year. Instead of this fertilizer 

 the author reconunends the trial of a manure testing 20 per cent potash and 10 per 

 cent phosphoric acid, iising .sulphate of potash and mineral superphosphate for the 

 mixture. To reduce the expense of trans])ortation, superphosphate containing 45 

 per cent phosphoric acid instead of a mineral superphosphate might be used. These 

 should be mixed in the proportion of 844 lbs. of sulphate of potash and 530 lbs. of 

 mineral superphosphate, or 211.2 lbs. of double phosphate per acre. With about 600 

 plants per acre each plant should receive from 14 oz. to 1 lb. 5 oz., care being taken 

 to place the manure in a trench made around the stem. 



In commenting upon this paper Mr. James Neish, translator, states that in growing 

 a few specimens (jf the Chinese banana ( Musa cavendish II), he sets out 2 closely-planted 

 circles of the cowbean { VI gna sinensis) around each banana, for tbe purpose of fur- 

 nishing nitrates to the bananas. The beans are dug into the soil at the period of 

 flowering. 



Cultivation and fertilization of peach, orchards, M. B. Waite ( U. S. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook 1902, pp. 607-626, pis. 6). — Popular directions for the cultivation and manur- 

 ing of peach orchards in different sections of the country. 



The nursery, C. Baltet {La peplnlPre. Paris: 3fasson d: Co., 1903, pp. X-{-841, 

 figs. 286). — This book deals comprehensively with the culture and practices observed 

 in the nursery growing of fruits, forest trees, shrubs, vines, and many tropical plants. 

 Cold storage, with special reference to the pear and peach, G. H. Powell 

 and 8. H. Fulton ( T\ S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Plant Industrg Bui. 40, pp. 28, pis. 7).— 

 Besides a general discussion of the subject of cold storage, particularly as applied to 



