THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
I7S 
AMONG THE EXPERIMENT STATION WORKERS 
Brief Notes on Recent Bulletins of Country-Wide Interest 
The Use of Explosives in Clearing Land, J. F. Kadonsky. Bulletin 
216, Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station. 
The studies outlined in this bulletin describe co-operative work 
between the Wisconsin Station, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
and the University of Minnesota. The writer points out that the 
action of dynamite is equal in all directions, and that “the action on the 
soil chemically is not detrimental, as is commonly believed, but would 
rather tend to improve fertility.” Illustrations show the method of 
placing the explosive in removing stumps. Generally speaking, its 
position should be in the soil just under the stump at the center. Dyna¬ 
mite and virite were the explosives most frequently used in the Minne¬ 
sota and Wisconsin experiments, the former in strengths of from 20 to 
60%, the latter in but one strength, equal to 40% dynamite. 
Pedigreed Nursery Stock, U. P. Hedrick. Circular 18, New York 
Agricultural Experiment Station. 
Professor Hedrick states, “I believe a fruit grower can spend his 
time to better advantage than in attempting to breed fruit trees by 
bud selection.” Mutations in plants, such as the appearance of “a 
branch of russetted, sweet or red apples in a Rhode Island Greening 
tree,” may be transmitted to offspring. Variations such as greater 
vigor or more perfect fruit, produced by rich soil, abundant sunlight, 
and so forth, are probably not transmitted. The present theory is not 
that selection is a continuous process, but that at some particular time 
with a certain species a new character is added, which is transmissible 
to the succeeding generation. Professor Hedrick gives seven practical 
difficulties in the way of growing trees from selected buds, then con¬ 
cludes by saying that “The present practices of propagating fruit 
plants are justified by the precedents of centuries. . . Let us have 
real, precise, abundant evidence before demanding a reform that will 
revolutionize nursery practices.” 
Orchard Management, C. I. Lewis. Bulletin iii, Oregon Agricul¬ 
tural Experiment Station. 
This publication of ninety-six pages gives concise recommendations 
for the care of an orchard from the time of choosing the site through 
the operations of tillage, fertilizing, mulching, irrigating, pruning, and 
so forth. There are numerous illustrations showing the results of 
different methods of treatment. Several planting plans are given, and 
tables show the amount of plant food necessary for growing fruit trees, 
and the plant food of manurial value removed from the land by fruit 
crops. The bulletin should be of special interest to the Oregonian, 
as varieties for different sections of the state are listed, and special 
dirctions are given concerning several of the fruits and nuts grown in 
Oregon. 
Seeds and Plants Imported, B. T. Galloway. Bulletin 233, Bureau 
of Plant Industry. 
Out of a list of over 1100 introductions, nearly a thousand which 
are likely to interest plant experimenters in the United States are 
briefly described. These include trees from deserts, probably adaptable 
to some of our western states; new species of persimmons; various 
plants from northern regions or high altitudes which, it is hoped, will 
prove hardy here; and so on through a great variety of shade trees, 
ornamentals, and fruit-bearing plants. 
Orchard Heating, C. G. Woodbury and J. W. Wellington. Bulletin 
154, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station. 
The Indiana Experiment Station gained a knowledge of the behavior 
of orchard heating devices by tests in a level orchard of fifty acres 
planted mostly to apples eighteen to twenty-two years old. The 
statistics published herein show a rise in temperature of from 2.2°F. to 
io.2°F., the number of heaters used varying from twenty-five to one 
hundred thirty-eight. The writers emphasize the fact that orchard 
heating will not pay if there are other more important factors than 
frost injury standing in the way of securing a profitable crop. 
The Pear and How to Grow it, G. B. Brackett. Farmers’ Bulletin 
482. 
The difficulty of maintaining pear trees in a healthy, productive 
condition has discouraged their planting, and this comprehensive 
treatise based on practical experience is welcome to friends of this 
luscious fruit. Propagation by budding is described, and illustrations 
serve to make more clear the directions. Soil, drainage, and fertilizers 
receive attention, and lists of varieties whose periods of ripening range 
over the whole season are included. Several pages are devoted to 
pruning and training. The bulletin closes with illustrations and 
descriptions of some twenty select varieties of pears. 
Pear Thrips and Peach Tree Borer, Earl L. Morris. Bulletin 228, 
California Agricultural Experiment Station. 
Experiments during two successive years indicated the value of 
lime for use against pear thrips. This was applied in the form of a thin 
whitewash just as the buds were beginning to open, and both years the 
number of blossoms which finally developed were in proportion to the 
amount of whitewash used. The second year the “sprayed trees 
averaged eight times as much fruit as the unsprayed trees.” The cost 
of material used ranged from one to one and one-half cents per gallon. 
The results of asphaltum treatment for the peach tree borer have 
been tested for four years in a single orchard. No injury from the use 
of grades “C” and “D” has been apparent, and “it was found that a 
thick, heavy coating prevented both the issuance and the entrance of 
about ninety-five to ninety-eight per cent of the insects.” 
Apple Orcharding in Ontario, Bulletin 194, Ontario Department of 
Agriculture. 
The past few years have seen a renewal of interest in the planting 
of orchards in Ontario, and greater attention to the proper care of 
established trees. It is a recognized fact that apple orchards can and 
frequently do constitute one of the most profitable of the farm in¬ 
dustries. Factors to be considered in selecting varieties are adaptability 
to the section and acceptability to the markets, together with the 
number of varieties to plant and the ratio of each. A list of the most 
valuable varieties for market, as a result of tests, is given in the bulletin 
under consideration, and another list includes apples hardy north of 
latitude 46°. A valuable feature of the bulletin consists in the large 
number of cuts of farm implements and tools, some of them shown when 
in use. Twelve pages are devoted to spraying questions. Another 
interesting section is that on packages and packing, since it is apparent 
in this day that it is the progressive packer who attains the greatest 
success in marketing his fruit. 
IMPORTATIONS RECEIVED BY McHUTCHISON & CO. 
“Last week (March 21st to 28th) received from Holland, England 
and France on seven steamships 1252 cases and bales of nursery stock. 
From these consignments 36 solid carloads were made up, 30 of which 
went to one firm. This does not include the less carload lots. 
In Raffia we have at the present time on hand, or on the water 
consigned to us, a total of 696 bales of 225 pounds each. Our trade is 
growing rapidly in this line. 
Steamship Vaderland due from Belgium April 8th will bring con¬ 
signments to us 1390 Bay trees. More will follow by each weekly 
steamer. Our business is largely running to carloads to the whole¬ 
salers and jobbers.” 
Mr. J. Dykhuis of Felix & Dykhuis, Boskoop, Holland, is making 
his annual tour of the United States and Canada. He_is now calling 
upon nurserymen in the country. Among the novelties which he is 
pushing are roses, hydrangeas, rhododendrons and conifers. 
