C78 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



iiiiilcr llic l>a<l iiiiil not iit the sides. Jf the Imd is still green 2 weeks after budding 

 tlie whtilc (if the stocic ul)ove tlie hud may ])e cut off. 



The Georgia fig; its possibilities and promise, II. N. Starnes {Proc. Georgia 

 Slate Iloii. Soc, 27 {I90.>),pp. 4G-5S). — Thi.s is a jjopular account of the possibilities 

 of the fig industry in the South, with a discussion of the different classes of figs, 

 method of propagation, pruning and training, winter i)rotection, diseases, varieties, 

 etc. 



Irrigation in small fruit growing, C. Deckner {Proc. Georgia State Ilort. Soc, 

 21 {1903), jtp. 34-3S). — The method followed by the author in irrigating 20 acres of 

 orchard and gardens in Georgia is described. On light, loose, sandy soil the appli- 

 cation of the water by sprinkling is advocated, but where the soil is lieavy and 

 inclined to l)ake it is held that the water should be applied in narrow furrows between 

 the rows of the crop. 



In the plant described the water is delivered to the field direct from the pump in 

 a 2-in. iron i)ipe. In the case of straw l^erries, holes are made in the i>ii)e at proper 

 intervals so that 10 or 12 rows can be irrigated at one time. The water is kept run- 

 ning slowly until the ground is thoroughly saturated. 



Growing fancy strawberries, F. E. Beatty {West. Fruit Grower, 13 {1903), No. 3, 

 pp. 1, 2, fig. 1). — The 5 jirincipal varieties grown by the author are Warfield for the 

 early sort, fertilized by Michel Early and Lovett Early— 1 row on each side with 3 

 rows of Warfield between — followed by Clyde and in turn by Gandy. The 3 varieties — 

 Warfield, Michel Early, and Lovett Early — are grown jsreferably on rich, sandy loam 

 with a southern exposure. All these varieties are inclined to run to vine, and to pre- 

 vent this as much as possible plants are selected that show a tendency of strong fruit- 

 ing-bud power. The largest crowned plants which stool low to the ground are 

 selecte J. The fertilizers used for these sorts are much richer in phosphoric acid and 

 potash than in nitrogen. 



In the case of Clyde, which has a fault of producing more fruit than foliage, plants 

 are selected which show a disposition to run to plant and runners, rather than those 

 showing a tall upright position. In setting out plants of this variety the soil is first 

 heavily fertilized with composted manure, which is then plowed under and a crop of 

 cowpeas grown. The jaeas are turned under in the fall and the ground dressed with 

 about 50 bu. of wood ashes per acre. The plants are kept thoroughly cultivated 

 throughout the summer, and the following spring are fertilized with about 75 lbs. of 

 nitrate of soda per acre when the straw is taken off them. With the Gandy variety, 

 low heavy-crowned plants are used and a much more sparing application of nitrogen- 

 ous fertilizers made. Instead, larger quantities of bone meal and muriate of potash 

 are used. 



In picking for market the berries are graded in the field. The picker is furnished 

 with a stand with 4 boxes, 3 of which receive the first-grade fruit as picked, and the 

 other the second-grade fruit. 



Ringing the currant vine, T. Hardy {Jour. Dept. Agr. Victoria, 2 {1903), No. 

 2, pp. 147, 14s). — The author states that in South Australia it has been definitely 

 proved that not only larger crops but also larger-sized berries are obtained as a 

 result of ringing the currant grape. In some instances the crop has been increased 

 one-half by ringing. On the other hand, the ripening of the fruit has been retarded 

 from 10 days to 2 weeks, and the grapes from ringed vines are distinctly less sweet 

 and lighter in color. The weakening effect of ringing on the life of the vine is 

 discussed. 



Definite experiments on this phase of the problem appear to be wanting. The 

 author has found, however, that a simple incision without removing any of the 

 bark has proved as effective in increasing the yield as when a ring of bark was 

 removed, and caused considerably less injury to the vines. In whatever manner 

 the ringing is done it is held that it should be made when the vine is in bloom, as 



