310 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Blueberry Culture. By F. C. Ville {U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bull. 

 122, 1913, pp. 3-11). — The Blueberry {Vaccinium) likes an acid 

 soil, preferably a mixture of peat and sand, with good drainage and 

 moderate soil moisture. Two methods of propagation are in use, 

 viz. stumping and tubering. 



Stumping. — The plant is cut off at the surface of the ground in 

 early spring. Cover the stumps with a mixture of sand and peat 

 (4 to i) to a depth of three inches. Do not allow the bed to become 

 dry, and mulch with leaves in cold weather. Early next spring sever 

 the shoots from the root stock, cut off the upper portion of the shoots 

 and use for tubering. , The lower parts are planted in pots in a mixture 

 of peat, sand, and broken crocks (2:1:1). Place in a cold frame, 

 shade, and water frequently. Re-pot in summer. 



Tubering. — Lay the cuttings horizontally in a box of sand and 

 cover with sand to a depth of two inches ; keep at a temperature 

 of 55° to 65° F. in the shade. In a few weeks a new growth appears 

 above the sand ; when this reaches a height of an inch, add half an 

 inch of peat and sand and water. The rooted shoots are potted. 



S. E. W. 



Bordeaux Mixtures, Some Factors Influencing the Efficiency of. 



By Lon A. Hawkins {U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Plant. Ind., Bull. 

 265, Dec. 1912 ; 4 figs., 4 tabs.). — The points especially sought 

 in this investigation were the uniform distribution of the copper 

 compound in the material while in use and its adhesion to the 

 foliage, &c. 



The authors showed that the method of preparing Bordeaux 

 mixture considerably modified its suspensibility in water. The 

 materials tested for capacity of giving increased adhesiveness included 

 soap, glue, sugar, dried blood, gelatin, and resin sprayed upon grape 

 leaves and berries. It was found that the surface tension of the 

 liquid had no direct bearing upon the point. 



Resin fish oil soap increased the adhesiveness slightly upon the 

 leaves and materially upon the berries, and was the most effective 

 material tried. 2 lb. to 50 gallons proved the best proportions. 

 Glue and fish oil soap also showed benefit. — W. A. V. 



Brown Rot of Fruits. By W. A. Matheny {Bot. Gaz. Nov. 1913, 

 pp. 418-432 ; with 6 figs.). — The author, as a result of 300 experiments 

 on different fruits, finds that the local brown rot agrees with Sclerotinia 

 cinerea. The European S.fructigena never produces the same results 

 as the local form. — G. F. S. E. 



Brown-tail and Gypsy Moths and Parasites, The. By E. E. 



Philbrook {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Maine, Quart. Bull. Dec. 1913 ; 11 

 plates). — The author gives the life-history of both these moths, and 

 describes at length methods used to rear their parasites. — V. G. J. 



