138 JOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Frosts, April. By E. Laubert (Gartenflora, vol, Ix. pt. xiii. pp. 

 274-80). — Although exposure to a temperature of 20° F. for several 

 days at the beginning of April had no lasting injurious effect on many 

 shrubs and fruit trees, a frost in the third week in May caused heavy 

 losses to fruit growers. It is suggested that orchards may be protected 

 from late frosts by the use of a number of small heaters constructed 

 to burn coal or petroleum. — S. E. W. 



Fruit-bud Formation. By B. S. Pickett {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., 

 New Hamp., Bull. 153; June 1911; figs.). — A plan of the experiment 

 is given. It has been in progress three years, but the only definite 

 conclusion so far arrived at is the benefit derived from cultivation of 

 the soil, over growth in grass. While at the beginning of the experi- 

 ment the latter appeared the better, after cultivation had been prac- 

 tised for a time the crops from trees in grass fell far behind those from 

 the cultivated ground. — F. J. C. 



Fruit, Co-operation in the Handling* and Marketing* of. By 



G. H. Powell {U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Y. B. 1910, p. 546).— This deals with 

 the fundamental principles of co-operation and the different types of 

 co-operative associations, with the causes of failure in some cases. The 

 history and methods of the California Fruit-Growers' Exchange, the 

 largest co-operative fruit-marketing organization in the United States, 

 are dealt with in some detail. — A. P. 



Fruit Flies, Part II. By W. B. Gurney {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. 

 xxii. pt. viii. pp. 722-7; 5 figs.). — The Queensland Fruit fly {Dacus 

 tryoni) attacks oranges, mandarins, peaches and nectarines, occa- 

 .sionally plums, apples, pears, lemons and loquats, also the following 

 wild fruits: — White ash, Cheesewood {Acronychia laevis), Native Plum 

 {Sideroxylon australe), and Wild Black Fig. The fruit-fly maggots are 

 preyed on by a parasitic wasp {Opius tryoni). This wasp also destroys 

 the Mediterranean Fly. — S. E. W. 



Fruit Growing- in Virg-inia (Fa. State Hort. Soc. 1911).— Con- 

 tains useful information for intending settlers in this State. — A. P. 



Fruit, The Precooling* of. By A. V. Stubenrauch and S. J. jl 

 Dennis (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Year Book 1910, p. 550; 5 plates).— The j 

 term " precooling " has been applied to the rapid and prompt cooling j 

 of fruit before it is shipped or stored, with the object of reducing its I 

 temperature as quickly as possible to a point where ripening will be I 

 retarded and decay and deterioration prevented. Many problems in 

 this connexion remain to be solved, and the ideal system of precool- 

 ing for all conditions has not yet been found. Investigations were^ ' 

 begun in 1904, and the experimental work has so far included 

 peaches, oranges, and table grapes. The difficulty of cooling fruit 

 wrapped in paper and tightly packed in boxes was strikingly shown, 

 and to do this after the fruit was loaded in the cars, when time was 

 an important element and leakage considerable, required the use of 



