478 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The pcridi'iiii ot'tcii failed to develop in the unripe jiorlioii of the shoots. The 

 periderm was found essential to the protection of tlie shoots over winter. Whenever 

 it failed the shoots died, whether tliey contained starch or not. Poorly ripened 

 ■wood having an imperfect ])eriderm may withstand mild winters, but not a rigorous 

 one. The secondary bast tissue appeared to play no important role in t he wood-ripening 

 process. Starch, on the other hand, appeared as the factor of importance in determin- 

 ing the quality of the ripe wood. The periderm was found to develop earlier with 

 grapes grown on a south wall than on a west wall or on the north side of a large post. 



The specific gravity of one-year grape shoots and its relation to the ripe- 

 ness of the wood, Zeissk; {Bit. K. Jjchrand. Wr'm, OliM u. (iniiinlxni, (,'ciscnhri)ii, 1902, 

 pp. (;4-(jS, Jig- !)■ — A review is given of the work of (Jouin and Andouard, in which 

 it is shown that they found the specific gravity of rijje grape w(jod lighter than unripe 

 wood. Kavaz and Bonnet, on the other hand, ])y first eliminating the air from the 

 wood by soaking in water or alcohol, found the ripe wood the heavier. 



In the author's investigations along the same lines he found that the specific 

 gravity of grape shoots decreased from the ripe into the unripe wood toward the end 

 of the shoots. This was true, however, only when the whole round cutting was 

 taken. When the shoot was split and the pith removed, then there was but little 

 difference in the specific gravity of the ripe and unripe wood. 



Sportiveness of grapevines, J. C. Tallack [Gard. CJirou., 3. ser., 34(1903), No. 

 S80, p. o2o) . — The autlior states that of 2 stems taken from a single Muscat of Alex- 

 andria vine one stem produced normal Muscat of Alexandria grapes with typical 

 berries, while "the other stem developed into Canon Hall Muscat, with all that 

 variety's characteristics as regards bad setting, form of bunch, and of berry." In 

 another instance a vine of Black Hamburgh produced a bunch with berries double 

 the normal size, and different in form to all the rest of the vine. "The spur which 

 produced this carried 2 laterals, each of which bore a bunch, one being aVjsolutely 

 normal." 



Cross-fertilizing experiment with grapes {Ber. K. Lehraust. Wein, Obst u. 

 Gufienbuu, Geisenheim, 190.:!, pp. 58, 59) . — In some cross-fertilizing experiments with 

 grapes it was found that pollen of several varieties was capable of germinating and 

 fertilizing grape blossoms after being preserved a year. It is noted, however, that 

 the berries obtained from blossoms fertilized with this pollen were poorly developed. 

 Very satisfactory results were secured when the pollen was preserved only a month 

 or so. 



Concentrated must from frozen grapes {Ber. K. LeJiranst. Weill, Obst u. Garten- 

 bau, Geisenhrhii, 1902, pp. 14S, 149). — It is noted that in the season of 1902 a portion 

 of grapes late in the season were frozen on the vines. These were gathered in the 

 morning and quickly pressed before they thawed out; as a result a concentrated must 

 was secured. Analyses are given of this must and of must obtained from the grapes 

 afttr they had thawed out, a nuxture of the 2 musts, and of the must obtained 

 from the second pressing, i. e., after the frozen grapes had been once pressed and 

 then allowed to thaw out and pressed again. 



Tea cultivation and curing in India, E. E. Osgood ( U. S. Consular Rpts., 73 

 {1903), No. 278, pp. 554-558). — This article discusses briefly the methods observed 

 in India in planting, pruning, plucking, withering, rolling, fermenting, sorting, and 

 packing tea. 



Report on the cultivation of rubber, cacao, and other agricultural products 

 in Ceylon, W. H. Johnson {London: Wntcrlow <i- Sons, Ltd., 1903, pp. .9).— The 

 author states that Para ruliber grows most 'Successfully in Ceylon at about 100 ft. 

 above sea level, where the annual average rainfall is over 100 in. Para trees in Cey- 

 lon are ready for tapping after the seventh year from seed. About 1 lb. of rubber is 

 obtained per tree annually. 



