66 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
like rows of cells from its inner surface, just as was done 
from the bast of the wild stock. If the bud has some 
wood attached to it, the healing process can only take 
place by means of the narrow cambium zone bounding the 
scion. In this repect budding with wood is less favor¬ 
able, as the scion offers less surface for fusion of tissues 
to take place. But this of little importance in the case of 
strong wild stock, as it will form healing callus so rapidly 
that the participation of the scion in this process may be 
neglected. On the other hand, this method of budding 
is much more easy in the case of wood from which the 
bark cannot readily be peeled, and is therefore much more 
successful at the hands of an unskilled operator. For it 
often happens in separating the bark from the wood that 
the fibro-vascular bundles of the bud remain attached to 
the wood in the form of a small conical protuberance, and 
the bud is only represented by a hollow cap, which does 
not grow out even when the bark has united to the stock." 
Hydrangea, p. g., can be grown from layers but it is 
doubtful that it can be grown from green wood cuttings 
in cold frame. The common way with cuttings is to 
grow them in beds with bottom heat. John Charlton, 
Rochester, says: Hydrangea, p. g., can be propagated 
readily from green wood in hotbed, as soon as the young 
wood is of proper firmness. Many growers propagate it 
by layering of green wood in nursery rows, and taking off 
the layers late in the fall, before digging the plants layered 
from. Either way is successful." 
ELECTRICITY IN PLANT CULTURE. 
In a recent discussion of the use of electricity in plant 
culture, before an English society, G. W. Fairall stated 
that ten years ago he made experiments upon lettuces, 
tomatoes, and other vegetables, with the object of ascer¬ 
taining the value of electricity as an agent in plant cul¬ 
tivation. Although the results of his own experiments 
were eminently satisfactory, as also those of other and 
more favored investigators, it would be unwise to gen. 
eralise too prematurely upon the value and extent of that 
form of assisted cultivation. Scientists were never justified 
in asserting, generally and positively, conclusions arrived 
at by the examination of single or few cases under certain 
and limited conditions. He then proceeded to refer to 
the results of experiments carried on by M. Barat, a 
French scientist who had devoted considerable time to 
patient investigation of electro-culture, supplementing 
those by his own experiences in the same field of observa¬ 
tion. Mr. k'nirall then described M. Barat’s method 
of applying electricity to the cultivation of potatos, 
tomatos and hemp plants indicating unbiased selection. 
A row of hemp subjected intermittently during its growth 
to the action of an electric current not only matured 
earlier, but measured eighteen inches longer in stalk than 
that of another row cultivated under otherwise similar 
conditions. Potatoes were similarly treated, some being 
grown in the path of a current, others being cultivated 
under normal conditions. One kilogramme of seed potatoes 
produced 2i kilogrammes of well-conditioned tubers in 
the first case, whilst in the latter only 12 1-2 kilogrammes 
were produced, the tubers being by no means so large or 
healthy as in the former case. Like results were obtained 
by the treatment of tomatoes, the fruit ripening eight days 
earlier. Siemens proved that fruit like strawberreis ripens 
quicker aided by the electric light, and had Barat com¬ 
bined that knowledge with his own experiment on tomatoes, 
the results would probably have been more wonderful. 
Mr. Fairall considered that electricity could be applied 
successfully in many cases to the cultivation of plants, and 
his position with regard to electro-culture was one of 
hope for the future, although as yet sufficient and satis¬ 
factory data were not known to enable one to generalise 
with freedom. 
Dali DeWeese, of Canon City, Colo., has recently 
formed a partnership with O. W. Dye from the Miami 
Valley, Ohio. 
According to the Detroit Tribune, from 150,000 to 
200,000 fruit trees were set out this spring in Western 
Michigan. They were mostly peaches, but more pear 
and plum trees were planted than ever before in a single 
season. One Berrien county farmer set 13,000 trees, 
and there were many new or replaced orchards of 1,000 
to 1,500 trees. Most of the plantings were in the fruit 
belt along the lakeshore counties, but in the interior, north 
of Grand Rapids, farmers are going into plums, pears, cher¬ 
ries and apples, the winters being too uncertain for peaches. 
C. W. Garfield said at the March meeting of the Grand 
River Valley, Mich., Horticultural Society: Reports 
are going broadcast telling of the sad outlook for Florida 
and its productions. Western Tennessee and Missouri 
are also said to have a dismal outlook for peaches, at 
Georgia and Delaware have received a set back. Men 
come home from California and declare Michigan to be 
the ideal spot for fruitgrowing. We ought to emphasize 
the fact that we are surely in a country where extensive 
fruit culture is reasonably certain to give good returns; 
and now, while we are planting, and we may plant un¬ 
hesitatingly, let us congratulate ourselves that it is our 
good fortune to be here in the center of so great a fruit 
region. Only a little of the available land is under cul¬ 
tivation. H ere we are in a peach paradise. Let us grasp 
the opportunity and reap our reward.” 
INUISrENSABLE SOUllCE OP INPOllMATION. 
C. II. JoosTEN, New York City. —“Enclosed lind $2.50 to renew 
subscriptions. I think The National Nurseryman is an indispensa 
ble source of information in its special held, and a necessity to every¬ 
one connected with the nursery interests.” 
WOULD HAVE IT IF IT COST $3. 
E. E. Cox, Ensel Nurseries, Ensel, O.—“I do not wish to miss a 
number of the National Nurseryman. Enclosed you will hud fl. 
I would have it if it cost |3.” 
TOUCHES THE RIGHT SPOT. 
The L Green Son & Co., Perry, O. — “Enclosed see $1 subscrip¬ 
tion for The Nursery.max. It just touches the right spot.” 
