NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 
565 
Onions and Gherkins, Pickling (Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxviii. p. 577). — 
To retain the white colour of onions when pickled proceed as follows. Pour 
hot water over the small onions to facilitate the removal of their skins. As 
they are skinned place them in strong brine. After twenty-four hours renew 
the brine and repeat this operation next day. On the following day put the 
onions in fresh water and heat them to the boiling point, stirring frequently. 
Milk added to the water helps to whiten the onions. Drain well, place the 
onions in a jar and pour boiling vinegar over them. No spices must be added, 
if the white colour is to be retained. To retain the green colour of gherkins, 
let 200 gherkins stand all night in water to which a pint of salt has been added. 
Drain off the water and replace by vinegar in which parsley has been steeped 
for some days. The vinegar is boiled with one ounce of cloves, one ounce of 
allspice, and a piece of alum the size of a walnut. The boiling vinegar is poured 
over the gherkins, and the pickles covered with green cabbage leaves. The 
addition of a few green peppers is a great improvement. — S. E. W. 
Onions, Neck Rot Disease of. By M.T. Munn (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. New York, 
Bull. 437, pp. 363-455, July 1917 ; 11 plates). — This disease is commonly met 
with in the chief onion-growing districts of Michigan and New York States, and 
in many other districts where onions are stored. In the case of stored onions 
the disease appears as masses of sclerotia, black in colour, while in other cases 
the fungus forms a dense mass of grey mould. The causal organism is Botrytis 
Allii, and infection may take place through the bulbs and the leav s. The fungus 
produces an appreciable amount of oxalic acid and secretes the enzyme 
pectinase. This may be extracted, and from a study of its action it is possible 
to explain all the tissue changes which take place in the host. 
The factors favourable to infection are immaturity and imperfect curing of 
the bulbs ; mistakes in applying manures ; humidity and heat in the storing- 
house. The methods of control lie mainly in field sanitation, and care of the 
stored crop in suitable houses at proper temperatures. — A. B. 
Orange Oil from Waste Oranges. By S. C. Hood and G. A. Russell {U.S.A. 
Dep. Agr., Bur. PI. Ind., Bull. 399, Dec. 16, 1916, pp. 1-12 ; 5 figs., 5 tables). 
— Describes the method of extracting sweet-orange oil. The yield of pressed oil 
from 100 lb. of waste oranges is estimated at 4 to 5 oz., giving a net return of 
32 to 44 cents. — F. G. A. 
Orchard Costs and Methods. By C. G. Woodbury and others (Agr. Expi 
St., Purdue, Bull. 194, pp. 77 ; 55 figs.). — Deals with all phases of the treatment 
of established orchards, with special reference to the profit side of these matters. 
E. A. Bd. 
Orchard Enemy, The Parandra Borer as an. By F. E. Brooks (U.S.A. 
Dep. Agr. Bull., July 191 5). — The most important means of preventing injury 
to trees by the Parandra borer is the keeping of the trees in such a condition 
of soundness that the beetles will not deposit eggs in them. The entrance of the 
borer into the tree is first made where dead wood is exposed by the removal or 
decay of bark following mechanical injury or disease. If the exposure oi dead 
surfaces can be prevented, the danger of attacks from this borer will be 
eliminated. Injury to the trunks or larger branches of fruit trees, affording 
favourable places for borer attack, result from a variety of causes, some of 
which at least are easily preventable. The practice of leaving stubs six inches 
or more in length in pruning out large branches is quite likely to result ulti- 
mately in injury form this insect. The stubs left are practically sure to die 
back to the trunk and from a decayed spot or cavity that s exactly to the liking 
of the beetle as a place in which to oviposit. Instead of leaving such stubs when 
removing large branches, the cut should be made near to the trunk where the 
natural swell at the base of the branch will insure healing to be most rapid. 
The cut surface should then be covered with a heavy coat of white lead or 
some similar paint. 
Whenever borers of this species gain entrance to a tree there is only one 
practical way of removing them, and that is to gouge or chisel out all the wood 
through wh ch their burrows extend. The cavity should then be properly 
cleaned and disinfected and filled with cement. Wherever the borers are present 
at all they are likely to occur in considerable numbers, and it is their habit in 
feeding to scatter about through the wood so much that little can be z cccmplished 
by attempting to remove them with a knife and wire, as is often done with seme 
other species of fruit-tree borers. 
In chiselling out the borers preparatory to using cement, all the punctured 
wood and all the wood soaked with water or affected by decay or disease should 
