140 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Apple, Sterility and Cross-pollination. By J. Farrell (Jour. Agr. Vict. 

 July 1917, pp. 385-403). — The dates of full bloom of 220 varieties of apple in 

 seven districts of Victoria are given, also diagrams of the structure of the apple 

 flower, and sections of the flowers of different varieties showing the relative 

 position of the stamens to the pistils. 



Medium temperatures, with occasional light showers, afford ideal conditions 

 during the blooming period. 



In orchards it is found advantageous to plant two rows of one variety, say 

 of ' Yates,' then four rows of another variety, say ' Jonathan,' and so on, for 

 inter-pollination. Insufficiency of liquid in the stigmas has been given as one 

 of the probable causes of sterility. As a rule the larger the stigma the more 

 fluid it contains. The late-blooming varieties, such as ' London Pippin ' and 

 ' Rome Beauty,' are often sterile if not inter-planted, but an orchard containing 

 a mixture of these, other conditions being favourable, is usually most fruitful, 

 Bees should be kept in a sheltered, warm corner facing the morning sun. 



C. H. H. 



Apple, Surface Inequalities and Blemish of the Rind. By J. Farrell (Jour. 

 Agr. Vict. Oct. 1917, pp. 577-588). — The 'Jonathan' frequently produces 

 freak-shaped apples due not to frost but abnormal construction of its blossoms. 

 Sections of flowers and fruits are illustrated. Sometimes late blossoms of certain 

 apples give fruits without pips, but with larger ovaries than normal ; the mem- 

 branous ovary walls are thicker and tougher than in normal apples. ' Graven- 

 stein ' often produces flowers with ovaries below the normal size. The author 

 concludes that a coreless apple, if obtained, would be of low commercial value. 

 The best and most shapely apples are produced from flowers of normal construc- 

 tion ; if the filaments of the pistil are fewer in number than five or exceed that 

 number the fruit tends to be imperfect. Pyrus spectabilis has as many as thirty- 

 seven styles. — C. H. H. 



Apple, The Production of New Varieties of. By J. Farrell (Jour. Agr. Vict., 

 Jan. 1918, pp. 16-24). — The testing of new varieties, varieties evolved through 

 sports, the maintenance of varieties capable of supplying modern market re- 

 quirements are discussed. Illustrations showing method of crossing blossoms, 

 pips, seedlings, and the seedlings of different varieties compared are given, and 

 a photograph of the apple ' Statesman ' and its sport. Regrafting of varieties 

 found unsuitable is fully dealt with. — C. H. H. 



Apple, the Setting, Development and Ripening of the Fruit. By J. Farrell 



(Jour. Agr. Vict. Sept. 1917, pp. 542-553). — Illustrations of flower and fruit 

 developing, and of the apples ' Jonathan,' ' King David,' ' Stewart's,' ' London 

 Pippin,' ' Esopus Spitzenberg,' ' Buncombe,' ' Munroe's Favourite,' ' Rome 

 Beauty,' ' Mcintosh (Red),' ' Statesman,' ' Emperor Alexander ' and ' Reinette 

 de Canada.' Directions as to picking are given and autumn tint is considered. 



C. H. H. 



Apple Trees, A Study of the Capsid Bugs found on. By F. R. Petherbridge 



and M. A. Husain (Ann. Appl. Biol. vol. iv. No. 4, March 1918, pp. 179-205 ; 

 figs). — Observations made at West Walton near Wisbech among badly attacked 

 orchards, and in unattacked fruit plantations near Cambridge. Seven different 

 genera and two species of one genus were collected. Eggs were laid, usually 

 singly, in the current year's soft stem near the apex, and in some cases at the 

 thickened bases of the twigs. Preference was shown for softened wounds. 

 Plesiocoris rugicollis hatches after the apple buds have opened, from sixteen to 

 seventeen days before full bloom. The young larvae move to the tender, half- 

 opened leaves and feed on them. The damaged leaves show characteristic 

 brown spots. After moulting, the insects feed voraciously. In the Wisbech 

 district it lives on willows, apples, and black currants, but it does not readily 

 change its host. Control measures are necessitated by the enormous damage 

 done. Spraying with soft soap and nicotine kills the bugs quickly, except in 

 the egg stage. It is most effective when all the bugs have hatched, sprayed 

 through a fairly coarse nozzle, pointing downwards, under high pressure. 



R. C. S. R. 



Apple Twigs, Notes on the Life History of Marmora elotellaBusch, ALepidopterous 

 Sap Feeder in. By Stuart Vinal (Jour. Econ. Entom. vol. x. pp. 488- 

 496, Oct. 1917)- — This paper deals with a Tineina, the larvae of which produce 

 serpentine mines in the bark of apple twigs in Massachusetts. Very few layers 

 of cells are destroyed, as the larva draws its sustenance from the plant sap. The 

 sap feeders are considered a very highly specialized group and are probably of 

 comparatively recent origin in the Lepidoptera. A full description of all stages 



