ABSTKACTS. 



775 



be impossible, by sulphuring the house. Fruit should not be allowed to 

 rot on the tree. 



A note is added pointing out the value of the rotted fruit as manure. 

 It should be made into a compost heap with quicklime and earth. 



F. J. C. 



Orchard Enemies in the Pacific North-West. By C. V. Piper 

 (U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Fanners' Bull. 153 ; 1902 ; 1 fig.).— This compilation 

 gives a list, with notes, of the principal insect and fungus pests occurring 

 in Oregon and the neighbouring States. Recipes are given for the making 

 of insecticides and fungicides, and the inadequacy and worse of " quack " 

 remedies pointed out, The principal insect pests are the San Jose Scale, 

 Codlin Moth, Peach twig-borer, Cottony Scale, Apple Aphis, Woolly 

 Aphis, and Pear-leaf Blister-mite. The bacterial and fungus diseases 

 prevalent are the Apple Scab, Pear Scab, Brown Mould, Pear Blight, and 

 Crown Gall on Apples, the cause of which is unknown ; but a similar growth 

 on Almond has recently been shown by Prof. J. W. Tourney, of Arizona, 

 to be due to a slime fungus, Dendrophagus globosus. A disease peculiar 

 to the district is caused by the fungus Malicorticis glceosporntm, Cordley 

 (syn. Macrophoma curvispora, Peck), which produces black or dark brown 

 spots on the young branches and twigs, causing the death of the bark in 

 circular areas which fall away and leave the wood exposed. Diseased 

 spots should be cut away and burnt. — F. J. C. 



Orchard Improvement. By F. W. Card (U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Ehode 

 Is., Bull. 83 ; March 1902 ; 8 figs.). — A neglected orchard was taken in 

 hand and by scraping bark and suitable pruning, spraying with Bordeaux 

 mixture for fungi and " moss," and with Paris green for insect pests, and 

 the addition of suitable manures (100 lbs. nitrate of soda, 100 lbs. dried 

 blood, 100 lbs. tankage, 100 lbs. acid phosphate, 100 lbs. muriate of 

 potash) was brought into good yielding condition. Methods proper to 

 other conditions are noted. The " railroad worm," which bores in Apples, 

 was troublesome. Spraying did not affect it. The removal of all " wind- 

 falls " and fairly deep ploughing in spring are recommended. — F. J. C. 



Orchard Management in Massachusetts. By S. T. Maynard 

 and G. A. Drew (U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Mass. Bull. 82; April 1902).— 

 Results show that constant cultivation of land gives the best return, but 

 where such cultivation is impossible abundance of fertilisers should be 

 used. The best tools for orchard cultivation are a long hanging landslide 

 plough with a long" point and mould-board, the shears harrow, the wheel 

 harrow, or the spring-tooth harrow, and a weeder. Cover crops are 

 important in that they (1) supply nitrogen and humus to the soil ; (2) 

 improve the mechanical condition of the soil ; (3) protect roots of trees 

 from being injured by deep freezing ; (4) prevent fine particles of soil 

 from being washed away during the autumn, winter, and spring. Rye 

 Oats, Barley, Peas, Soy Bean, Cow Pea, and Hairy Vetch have been used 

 with advantage ; those, like Peas and Barley, Soy Bean, and Cow Pea, sown 

 in the autumn are perhaps the best. The effects of proper and improper 

 pruning are shown by means of photographs, and concise rules on the 

 subject are given. The proper thinning of fruit and spraying of fruit- 



