HORTICULTURE. 753 



Gardener's assistant; a practical and scientific exposition of the art of 

 gardening- in all its branches, K. Thompson {London: (rrenliam Pub. Co., 1900, 

 rev. rd., To/. /, pp. 208, ph. o, fuj^ ..'09). 



Amateur's practical garden book; containing the simplest directions for 

 the growing of the commonest things about the house and garden, C. E. 

 HuNN and L. H. Bailey [Ne^i: York: MacmiUan Co., Gardencraft, ser. 1900, pp. 250, 

 figs. 169). — The topics treated are arranged alphabetically. The more common fruits, 

 nuts, vegetables, flowers, herbs, horticultural operations and tools, insects and dis- 

 eases, etc., are considered in an elementary way. 



Vegetable growing in southern Arizona, A. J. McClatchie {Arizona Sta. Bid. 

 35, pp. 114-14S, figs. 5]. — Cultural directions based on the results of station experi- 

 ence are given for growing all the more common garden vegetables. The region in 

 southern Arizona where the station is located is essentially a desert one, with hot 

 days, cool nights, and rapid changes from winter to summer. Irrigation is essential. 

 The kind of vegetable to be planted each month of the year is specifically noted and 

 directions given for preparation of the soil, cultivation, irrigating, etc. The necessity 

 for planting only good seed is pointed out. 



Vegetables out of season in every garden, E. K. Toogood {Southampton: Too- 

 good & Sons, 1899, pp. 103, figs. 73). — Notes on forcing structures and appliances 

 and directions for forcing a large numlDer of vegetables and small fruits, with data as 

 to time of sowing and date of maturing. 



The formation of fruit buds, G.- H. Powell {Delaware Sia. Rpt. 1899, pp. 1.50- 

 153). — A study is being made of this subject in the laboratory and field, but results thus 

 far obtained are reserved for a future report. Inconclusive data obtained in thinning 

 experiments with Burbank and Poole Pride plums are included. Thinning slightly 

 increased the size of the fruit but reduced the quantity and likewise the profits per 

 tree. The value of thinning in the case of the Burbank it is thought nmst be found 

 in the subsequent Ijehavior of the tree. With Poole Pride the main advantage seemed 

 to be the excellent condition in which the trees were left for future crops. Branches 

 of unthinned trees were bent to the ground with the fruit and so broken that a 

 renewal of the tops will be necessary before further crops can be grown. 



Fruit culture in Queensland, A. H. Benson {Queensland Agr. Jour., 7 {1900), No. 

 6,p)p. 432-438, pis. 11). — A short account of some varieties of citrus fruits of approved 

 merit now fruiting in the colony, with general notes on seedlings. 



The chemical composition of Finnish cranberries, F. Stolle {Ztschr. Deut. 

 Znckennd.,.50 {1900), Xo. -533, pp. 609, 610; ahs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., 19 {1900), No. 

 9, p. 841). — The details of the chemical method employed in isolating the sugar con- 

 tained in the fruit are reported. The sugar in the cranberry was found to be pure 

 invert sugar, and the acid, gloxylie acid. 



Catalogue of fruit trees under test at the experimental farm at Agassiz, 

 British Columbia, ^V. Saunders and T. A. Sharpe {Canada Cent. E.vpt. Farm Bui. 

 3,2. ser.,ijp. 71). — Alphal)etical lists of the apples, crab apples, pears, plums, cherries, 

 peaches, apricots, nectarines, quinces, medlar trees, and mulberries growing at the 

 station with notes and a select list of the varieties suitable for cultivation in British 

 Columbia. 



Root system in the orange orchard as affected by irrigation, cultivation, 

 and fertilization, J. H. Reed {Pacific Enral Press, 61 {1901), No. l,j)p.4,5). — Paper 

 road by th(» author before the University Farmers' Club Institute at Riverside, Cal. 



Messina V. California lemons, J. S. Van Epps {Pacific Fruit World, 10 {1901), 

 No. 15, p). 3). — The total weight and the weight and percentage of the peel, pulp, 

 soluble solids, and free and combined acids of a box of California and a box of 

 Messina lemons each containing 300 lemons are given. The California lemons con- 

 tained al)out one-third more acid than the Messina. 



The California Smyrna fig on a commercial basis, G. C. Roeding ( California 



