HOETICULTURE. 643 



cabbag^e and the artichoke and nightshade gave good unions on account 

 of their herbaceous nature and rapid growth, while astor and phlox, 

 somewhat advanced in growth, and year-old maple and lilac united 

 with difficulty except on very young shoots. 



The success of these experiments leads the author to conclude that 

 the old idea that only plants belonging to the same family can be 

 grafted on each other does not apply to grafting by approach. 



Preventing frost injuries by -whitening {Pacific Rural Press^ 60 

 (WOO), JVo. 1<S\ p. 276). — The text is here given of a paper prepared 

 by J. C. Whitten for the American Pomological Society. The earlier 

 work of the author along this line is reviewed (E. S. R., 9, p. 835), 

 and results secured in 1898-09 added. In order to measure the differ- 

 ence in temperature between the whitened and natural colored buds, 

 fruit twigs of the summer's growth were bored out for about ■4 in. 

 of their length and slender thermometers inserted. The twigs were 

 tied so they would all stand vertically and thus receive the sun's rays 

 at the same angle. 



"During stormy weather the natural twigs registered a higher temperature than 

 the whitened ones. During very bright sunlight in midday the natural twigs were 

 15° warmer than the whitened ones. The whitened twigs were nearly of the same 

 temperature as the atmosphere. When the sun came out suddenly bright, however, 

 the whitened twigs did not warm up so rapidly as did the atmosphere. The differ- 

 ence of 15° in temperature explains why whitened twigs do not swell enough to 

 endanger themselves to subsequent injury from cold." 



Report on the condition of olive culture in California, A. P. 

 Hayne {Calif Oimia Sta. Bui. 139, j)j). 34, l^ls. 5). — The generally 

 unsatisfactor}^ state of the olive industry in California induced the sta- 

 tion to make investigations as to the causes of the depression. Grow- 

 ers and manufacturers in all parts of the State were visited and the 

 culture and commercial status of the olive studied. 



The causes of failure in olive culture were found to l)e improper 

 selection of soil, neglect of tillage, irrigation, proper pruning, and of 

 controlling insect pests. Commercial conditions tending to harm the 

 industry were competition with cotton-seed oil and other oils sold as 

 olive oil, poor harvesting and manufacturing methods, and the selec- 

 tion of unsuitable varieties. Each of these factors is taken up and 

 discussed, and suggestions offered regarding the principles, and, in 

 many instances, the details to be observed in the different operations 

 of successful culture and maiuifacture. In pruning, care should be 

 taken to have plenty of one-year-old wood on the tree. Vertical 

 branches should be deflected to induce fruiting, and feeble trees renewed 

 by pruning for wood branches. Low pruning is generall}^ advised, 

 except in low, frosty land. The use of about a dozen stands of bees 

 in each 20 acres of orchard at blooming time has proven practical in 

 insuring a good "set" of fruit. 

 15440— No. 7 4 



