618 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



in the position of the beds. So far as he knew the results represented the first 

 recorded work along this line designed to secure definite data regarding the best soil 

 temperature at which to grow various greenhouse crops. All that is available at 

 present is the dogmatic assertion of gardeners that this or that plant should have brisk 

 or mild heat or none at all. 



H. P. Gould forwarded a paper on the Significance of Fruit Surveys. He consid- 

 ered a fruit survey as involving "a study of varieties with special reference to their 

 requirements; a study of conditions with special reference to this influence on varie- 

 ties; a correlation of the factors brought out in these two lines of investigation with 

 regard to cause and effect." A commercial fruit grower no longer asks for a best 

 variety, for in its broad sense it is known not to exist, but rather for a variety which 

 will best serve a particular' purpose under definite known conditions. A fruit survey 

 should furnish information along these lines. 



Scientific Problems Confronting the Horticulturists of Louisiana was the title of a 

 paper presented by F. H. Burnette. The desirability of breeding up later and more 

 hardy varieties of fruits was emphasized. Breeding experiments with apples seem 

 to indicate that varieties will be secured by this means which are adapted to the 

 needs of Louisiana growers. More early pecans are needed. The control of fungi 

 is a serious problem in Louisiana and resistant varieties are needed. Some oaks 

 have been found upon which mistletoe has not been able to gain a foothold. Seed- 

 lings of these are being grown to see if this character can be perpetuated. 



A paper by David Fairchild was presented on The Japanese Method of Ripening 

 Persimmons, from which it appears that the ripe persimmons grown according to 

 the Japanese method are as firm in texture as a Northern Spy apple, free from 

 astringency, and of a delicious flavor. Investigations as to methods of curing ripe 

 persimmons show that the Japanese put the persimmons in sake (Japanese beer) 

 casks as soon as the casks are emptied. The heads of the casks are immediately 

 replaced and the package made air-tight. In from 5 to 15 days, according to weather 

 conditions, the persimmons are cured and can be removed and marketed, keeping 

 in a firm, edible condition for a long period. 



It was believed that if Americans wish to cure persimmons according to the 

 superior Japanese method it would be advisable to make casks of southern cypress 

 and saturate them with first-class sake imported from Japan. Casks containing 

 sake which has been fortified with alcohol or other spirits have been found useless 

 for the purpose of curing persimmons. 



A paper entitled Forcing Rhubarb in the Dark was presented by W. R.Tazenby. 

 The main point brought out was the very satisfactory results that may be secured 

 by growing the roots from seed and forcing when 1 year old. Drying the roots was 

 found to have about the same effect as freezing. Either drying or freezing serves 

 the same purpose as a long rest, which is otherwise required, and the growth is more 

 vigorous. When thus grown in darkness the leaf blade is greatly reduced, the green 

 color is wholly absent, the texture is more crisp and delicate, due to a lessened devel- 

 opment of woody fiber, the skin is much thinner than when grown in light, the 

 water content is increased 6 to 10 per cent, and the flavor is generally improved. 



C. B. Smith gave a Review of Horticultural Progress in France, in which he sum- 

 marized the experimental data that have appeared in that country during recent 

 years on such subjects as the etherization of plants, methods of pruning by dis- 

 budding, and the results secured in the culture of the Uruguay potato (Solanum 

 commersonii). 



T. V. Munson presented a paper on Improvement of Quality in Grapes, consider- 

 ing the subject from the standpoint of improvement by cultivation, by selection of 

 kinds, and by breeding or hybridization. Much the larger part of the paper was 

 devoted to the latter phase of the subject. Work of this kind necessitates an accu- 

 rate knowledge of the characteristics of each of the 16 species of grapes and of the 



