NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



259 



liant,' ' Campbell Early,' and ' Stark ' are valuable among new Grapes, 

 ' Pride of Ohio ' and ' Maxwell Early ' among Raspberries, and ' Fay,' 

 ' Victoria,' and ' Wilder ' among Currants. 



The Vegetable Committee reported, as the result of experiments at the 

 test farm at Saxe, that among choice varieties those best suited to 

 Middle Virginia were ' Black-seeded Simpson,' ' Boston Market,' and 

 ' Iceberg ' Lettuce ; ' Columbian,' ' Crimson Globe,' and ' New Unnamed ' 

 Beet; 'Enormous,' 'Honour Bright,' and 'Extra Early' Tomatos ; 

 ' Sure Head,' ' Danish Round Head,' and ' Marvin's Savoy ' Cabbages ; 

 ' Dry Weather ' Cauliflower ; ' Rose Ribbed,' ' Golden Self -blanching,' and 

 ' Winter Queen ' Celery ; ' Kleckley ' Water-melon ; and ' Pedigree ' and 

 ' Rocky Ford ' Canteloupes. 



There was much discussion in the course of the meetings on the 

 subject of packing fruit, and the growing Calif ornian habit of packing- 

 Apples and Peaches either in bushel boxes, unwrapped or wrapped in paper 

 like Oranges, was warmly recommended to Virginian growers. The enor- 

 mous flat-dwelling population of New York can store a box of Apples 

 when a barrel would be quite out of the question in their limited space, 

 while the fruit in the smaller package arrives in better condition and fetches 

 higher prices, even deducting the extra cost of preparing for market. So 

 far opinion among buyers for the trade in England is divided as to the 

 greater saleability of the new style of package for Apples ; but tables with 

 columns for style of package, and net price per package, net proceeds per 

 package, and per cent, of gain are given to show what a promising 

 opening there is for the export of Peaches and Pears in boxes to England. 



Whatever the style of package, however, the necessity of a uniform 

 standard of grading is strongly urged, and whatever standard may be 

 adopted, or whatever the grades may be called, the size of fruit in each 

 should be quite uniform ; the fruit in the higher grades should be perfect 

 in shape and free from worms ; grade number, variety of Apple, and 

 grower's name should be stamped on the outside of each package, and 

 should invariably be a sufficient guarantee to the buyer that he is getting 

 fruit of the quality he expects. An account was given of experiments in 

 preserving fruits and vegetables in tins, and the recipes found most suc- 

 cessful with Tomatos, Apples, Small Fruit, Indian Corn, and Beans were 

 given. Great care and cleanliness are necessary in the factories to minimise 

 the risks from mould spores or bacteria ; and, in order to ensure the 

 wholesomeness of the preserved food, the use of chemical preservatives 

 is strongly deprecated. 



At the end of the report are printed lists of various sorts of fruit trees 

 and bushes, giving a description of each under headings for colour, use 

 (kitchen market, dessert, &c), and season ; and marks for quality and 

 suitability to various sections of the State of Virginia. 



The publication is provided with a good index, which, however, by 

 some mistake of printer or binder surely, stops at the letter " L." 



M. L. H. 



Fruit Tree Notes : Horticultural Society, Peninsular, Trans- 

 actions Of (Jan. 1903 ; plates). — A series of instructive papers by mem- 

 bers of the society, which as a body is fully persuaded that the future in 



