NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



245 



Freesia History. By Eev. Joseph Jacob (Garden, Dec. 4, 1909, 



p. 590). — The first to come to this country was Freesia reyanda, intro- 

 duced in the early part of last century and figured in Bot. Eeg.," 

 t. 135. It seems to have been neglected for many years. Next came 

 F. Leichtlini, found by chance among some neglected pots by Max 

 Leichtlin in the botanic garden at Padua. It was shown by Dr. Wallace 

 in April, 1875, who, three years later (1878), obtained a F.0.0. for 

 F. refracta alba. In 1882 Messrs. Sutton introduced an improved 

 form, F. refracta major. The same firm introduced some pink varieties 

 in 1907. The work of Dr. Attilio and Van Tubergen is also noted. 

 F. H. Chapman, beginning in 1904, has chiefly worked on the yellow 

 forms.— i?. R. D. 



Fruit Trees, Pruningr Mature. By 0. B. Whipple (U.S.A. 

 Exp. Stn., Colorado Agr. Coll., Bull. 139, Feh. 1909; 15 figs.).— 

 This bulletin deals with the pruning of the hardy fruits grown as orchard 

 trees in Colorado — apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, 

 and quinces — ^particularly with regard to the forming of the shape of the 

 tree and its fruiting habit, with the influence of these two upon each 

 other. As all food material capable of healing a wound takes a 

 downward course through the inner bark, the author points out that to 

 heal well a wound mus^ be in a position to intercept this flow of sap 

 from foliage higher up, and maintains that wounds heal best when 

 made at a season of the year when growth is most active, advising the 

 postponing of winter pruning until as near the opening of the growing 

 season as possible. The thinning of the fruit is also dealt with, being 

 regarded as a form of pruning, and it is held that even spur-bearers 

 like the apple and pear should produce a good crop of fruit buds every 

 year if this is properly attended to, while a thinned tree in two suc- 

 cessive years will produce as much fancy fruit as an unthinned tree 

 of both fancy and choice. — A. P. 



Fruit Trees, Top-working". By 0. B. Whipple (U.S.A. Exp. 

 Stn., Colorado Agr. Coll., Bull. 147, June 1909; 7 figs.).— Full 

 instructions are given for the top -working of fruit trees, both old and 

 young, by grafting and budding. The author holds that both with 

 undesirable old trees and young ones not true to name it is better to 

 top-work them with other varieties than to plant fresh trees, always 

 assuming that the trees to be worked are in vigorous growth. He 

 thinks that some varieties of apples particularly susceptible to root-rot 

 and woolly aphis could be successfully grown on the roots of varieties 

 which are apparently resistant, e.g. ' Northern Spy,' which is usually 

 immune from Woolly Aphis. Scions should be taken from the most 

 satisfactory trees in a plantation of the same variety, and when working 

 an old tree no more limbs should be cut away than is necessary for the 

 setting of sufficient scions to ensure a good top, cutting away the 

 remaining branches the two following years. — A. P. 



Fruit Trees, New Varieties of, Want of Vigour in. By 



M. Nomblot ( Jo2ir. Soc. Nat. Hort. Fr. Nov. 1909, p. 679).— 



