NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 415 
Fruiting, Studies in Biennial. By R. H. Roberts {Am. Pom. Soc. 191 7, 
pp. 28-33). — Biennial fruiting is not due to the constitutional habit of a tree, 
for flowering in successive years can be induced in a tree of this character by 
blossom removal, but it is considered to be owing to the absorption by a large 
crop of blossom of the reserve food usually stored in a tree, so that when blossom- 
bud differentiation should begin, about a month after flowering, the tree is in 
no condition to form blossom buds in readiness for successive bearing. The 
present investigations are far from completed, but the writer confidently expects 
by judicious modifications of cultural operations to overcome the biennial 
fruiting habit to a great extent. — A . P. 
Fruits, Vegetative Propagation of Tropical. By P. J. Wester (Am. Pom. 
Soc. 191 7, pp. 82-94 > S plates). — Compared with the improvements which 
have been effected in the fruits of temperate countries little or nothing has been 
done to raise better varieties of most tropical fruits, so many of the latter being 
of surprisingly good quality in their wild or semi-wild state. The writer thinks 
there are great opportunities for improving tropical fruits by asexual propagation 
of seedlings of exceptional merit, and he gives a list of about 100 species with 
the method of such propagation within the limits of his own experience. — A . P. 
Fungicide, A Copper Emulsion as a. By H. and L. K. Wormald {Ann. 
Appl. Biol. vol. V. Nos. 3 and 4, April 191 9, pp. 200-205 ; fig.). — Methods of 
preparing copper sulphates and soft-soap solution as a fungicide. Experiments 
in the laboratory and on growing potato plants in the garden are given. Pre- 
ventive action against blight {Phytophthora infestans) is exhibited by an emulsion 
containing the equivalent of 0 4 per cent, copper sulphate (CuS04.5HaO) and 
2 per cent, soft soap. — R. C. S. R. 
Gaultheria cuneata Bean {Bot. Mag. t. 8829; Dec. 1919). — Originally 
called G. pyroloides var. cuneata, this native of Szechwan proves distinct from the 
Japanese G. pyroloides as well as from the Sikkim G. pyrolaefolia, to both of 
which it is allied. It is a low-growing, perfectly hardy evergreen, thriving 
in moist peaty soil, with narrowly obovate or oblanceolate leaves and a densely 
hairy ovary and fruit. The fruits are enclosed in the fleshy white calyx. — F. J. C. 
Grafting, Yema, of the Vine. By H. E. LafEer {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxx. 
pp. 1-36 ; 6 figs.). — As the operation of ' Yema ' grafting takes place when the 
fruit and wood are ripening, the scions can be selected from vines in bearing. 
The scion is stripped of its leaves, and a considerable amount of woody tissue is 
included in cutting the bud. The scion is then dovetailed into a corresponding 
section made in the side of the stock. This is clearly shown in the illustrations. 
The bud is tied in position with a few strands of raf&a. The vine is mounded 
up with fine earth to a height of 9 inches. This is removed in spring, when the 
stock is cut back. The stocks should be half an inch in diameter and the node 
of the scion should be of equal diameter. — 5. E. W. 
Grapes, European, in Eastern America. By Dr. U. P. Hendrick {Am. Pom. 
Soc. 191 7, pp. 46-51). — An experiment in grafting European varieties of Vitis 
vinifera on American stocks. Abundant growth has been made, and though 
the vines need winter protection, it is thought that their increased productiveness 
will more than make up for the cost. — A . P. 
Grapes, The Muscadine — their Culture and Uses. By Charles Dearing {Am. 
Pom. Soc. 1 91 7, pp. 52-59 ; 12 plates). — Hitherto the standard varieties have 
been practically self-sterile, but a new race has been recently introduced, which 
is self-fertile and capable of setting as fruit 25, and even, in some varieties, 50 per 
cent, of their blossom buds, as against a normal 1 5 per cent, with the old varieties. 
Seven thousand seedling vines are now growing in the breeding plots, and improve- 
ments are being effected in various directions. — A . P. 
Grass on Trees, Experiments on the Action of. By Spencer U. Pickering, 
M.A., F.R.S. {Woburn. 17th Report, 1920, pp. 1-6; 1 fig.). — Some experiments 
are described, supplementary to those published in previous reports, showing 
that the action of grass on fruit-trees is practically the same, whether the grass 
is grown in earth or sand, and is independent of the thoroughness with which 
the grass-roots are separated from the tree-roots (pp. 1-4). Half the plantation 
of Standard Bromley's Seedling planted twenty-two years previously was grassed 
over with the result that the crops were reduced by 5 per cent, in the first season 
and by 50 to 90 per cent, in the second season, the subsequent removal resulting 
in no definite recovery of vigour during the third season (pp. 4-6). — A. P. 
