HORTICULTURE. 53 



fill value, as is shown in both experiments; also, that pinching the lateral shoots is 

 not beneficial to the yield, and that pinching increases the growth of superfluous 

 shoots, and, in the Cuthbert variety, of suckers. Pinching also increases the cost of 

 covering for winter protection." 



Preserving fruit for exhibition, F. Cranefield ( Wlsco?isin Sta. 

 Bj>f. 1809, pp. 309-311., jigs. 2).- — Trials were made with a view to 

 fiiuling- a method of preserving fruit for exhibition purposes that 

 would preserve the color of the fruit as far as possible and at the same 

 time the form. Sulphur fumes, corrosive sublimate, salicylic acid, and 

 solutions of formalin in Avater were tried and found to be of little value. 

 Mixtures of formalin and alcohol were tried, however, as prescr^a- 

 tives for plums Avith considerable success. A formula containing- 2 

 per cent of formalin, 20 per cent of alcohol, and 78 per cent of water 

 was found to l)e l)est suited to the purpose. 



"Plums put in the above mixture one year ago are at jiresentwell preserved. The 

 fruit remains firm, and in the case of the lighter colored varieties the color is well 

 preserved and the liquid remains clear. The color was not so well preserved in the 

 case of the dark-pur])le varieties. The Jaj^an plums are especially well preserved 

 both in color and form. . . . Plums that were put in the mixture slightly immature 

 cracked badly in every case, while those put in fully ripe remained without crack- 

 ing. Currants, raspberries, and blackberries placed in the formalin and alcohol 

 mixture mentioned above remained firm, but the color was not well preserved." 



Rose grooving with chemical fertilizers, W. Stuart {Indiana Sta. 

 Rpt. 1S99, pp. 10-35., pis. Jf). — Extensive pot experiments covering a. 

 period of 3 years were made in fertilizing Kaiserin Augusta Victoria 

 and Perle des Jardins roses with dissolved boneblack, rock phosphate, 

 raw l)one meal, acidulated ground bone, superphosphate, nitrate of 

 soda, and muriate of potash, for the purpose of studying the relative 

 effects of different forms of phosphoric acid alone and conjointly with 

 nitrate of soda and muriate of potash, on growing roses. A cla3'ey 

 soil was generally employed. In some instances black loam was used 

 for comparison. The detailed results obtained with the different fer- 

 tilizers and soils are reported exhaustively in a series of 20 tables. 

 The author summarizes his conclusions as regards the results obtained 

 as follows: 



" There is every reason to believe from the results obtained in the several experi- 

 ments, that chemical fertilizers when jjroperly used may be made to serve every need 

 of the rose plant so far as food is concerned. 



' ' The use of raw bone meal in every instance gave an increased yield over that of 

 the control plants, as well as giving a greater percentage of gain than did those 

 receiving other forms of phosjjhoric acid. 



" Pure bone meal is not injurious to rose plants, even when applied in amounts 

 largely in excess of the requirements of the plant. 



"The acidulated bone meal, which has been used by florists and suj^posed to be 

 harmful, did not produce any noticeable injury, even when used in large amounts. 



"As a rule, a coml)ination of phosphoric acid and nitrate of soda gave better results 

 than one of phosphoric acid and muriate of potash. 



