58() EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Tlu' work suiiiiiiarizeH Frencli eyperience in reestaljli^hin^ tlieir vineyards on 

 American stocks. It diseupses in detail the value of the different American species 

 of jrrapes and hyhrids as stocks for vinifera varieties on different soils and in different 

 localities. An estimate is also given of the character and value of many vinifera 

 hybrids. The concluding chapters deal with methods of culture, grafting, and nursery 

 management. A bibliography of the writings of 72 authors is contained in the appen- 

 dix. It is V)elieved this book will be found especially useful to California vineyardists, 

 as it shows the early mistakes of the French in the use of miscellaneous American 

 stocks in reestal)lishing their vineyards destroyed by the Phylloxera, and clearly 

 indicates the best methods, so far as known at present, in building up Phylloxera 

 resistant vineyards. 



On the budding- of cacao, T. J. Harris {Bui. Dept. Agr. Jamaica, 1 {1903), No. 11, 

 pp. 'j.'>')-,:!57). — Detailed directions are given for budding cacao trees. 



The Leeming system {Planting Opinion, 8 {1003), No. 4S, pp. 753-755). — Under 

 this heading a successful method of coffee culture observed in India is described. 

 The chief characteristics of the system are a thinning out of the trees so that not 

 more than 300 are grown per acre, and a total neglect of pruning and handling the 

 trees. By preventing the trees from overcrowding the leaf disease, drying up at the 

 end of the branches or ripe fruit, and inability to ripen crops are laigely eliminated. 

 The trees are not cultivated at all. Drains are dug to a depth of 3 ft. and at intervals 

 of about 20 ft. throughout the orchard. For shade and fertilizer Erythrina is grown. 

 Under this system a heavy crop of berries is secured only every other year; but the 

 amount of fruit is stated to average up heavier than where a small crop is produced 

 every year. 



The culture of the Central American rubber tree, O. F. Cook ( JJ. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Bureau of Plant Industry Bui. 49, pp. 86, i^h. 18^).- — A discussion is given of the 

 status, botany, and culture of Castilla rul)l)er in Central America, with an account of 

 methods of coagulating the latex, productiveness of Castilla, and the profits and pros- 

 pects of Castilla culture. 



It is shown that "a continuously humid climate is not necessary to the growtli and 

 productiveness of Castilla; the indications are rather that the quantity of milk and 

 the percentage of rubber are both increased by an alternation of wet and dry seasons." 

 Shade does not appear to be essential in Castilla rubber culture, plants thriving better 

 in the open than in the dense forest. Experimental plantings of Castilla in Porto 

 Rico and the Philippines are recommended. Gathering rubber from trees less than 

 8 years old is believed to be undesirable. Profits in rubber culture are not believed 

 to be anywhere near as large as prospective investors have been led to believe. The 

 indications are that Castilla is likely to produce rubber in paying (luantities only at 

 low elevations. 



Castilla rather than the usual spelling Castilloa is believed to be the correct sjielling 

 for this species of rubber. 



New caoutchouc from New Caledonia, R. Schlechter {Tropenpflanzer, 7 

 {1903), No. 11, pp. 526-530, fig. 1). — The author describes a new caoutchouc tree 

 {Ahtinua durckheimiana), which he found during a botanical trip in New Caledonia. 



India-rubber and gutta-percha, T. Seeligmann et al., trans, by J. G. McIntosh 

 {Neiv York: D. Van Nosirand Co., 1903, pp. 412, pU. 3, figs. 86).— This book treats 

 very fully of the botany, culture, and preparation of these substances. 



New species of gutta-percha from New^ Guinea, R. Schlechter ( Tropenpflan- 

 zer, 7 {190.3), No. 10, pp. 467-471, fig. 7).— The author discovered a tree in New 

 Guinea from which a very satisfactory quality of gutta-percha was secured. German 

 cable manufacturers believe that the material is suitable for their purposes and for 

 other manufacturing uses. A botanical description is given of the plant, which has 

 been given the species name of Palaquium supfiannni, and illustrations of the differ- 

 ent parts of fruit, flower, and leaves. 



