time the heap is turned once or twice so as to air the potatoes; and 4 or 5 days before planting they are watered a little.

The seed potatoes for the winter crop (dug in November, planted in January) are kept in a very thin layer, in a light, dry, well ventilated place, where they very soon turn green.

Before planting, the tubers are cut into two or three, or even more pieces, but care is always taken that each piece shall contain at least three strong eyes. The seed-potatoes of the summer crop can be kept for some days after being thus divided provided they are covered with cloths or straw kept damp.

Some growers prefer Kerkyraíki for the winter crop and Patissiotiki for the summer crop. In this case they grow a small area of the other variety at each season to provide seed for the ensuing crop for sale. others, in order to obtain earlier growth in the following crop dig up the seed potatoes about 20 days before they are quite ripe.

PREPARATION OF THE SOIL AND PLANTING.

A. Winter crop (February to July). Careful cultivators prepare their fields in winter by two cross ploughings, followed by picking to a depth of from 16 to 20 inches before planting. Others are statisfied with two or three deep ploughings. At the time of planting, the soil is carefully levelled and then divided by ridges into lands 3 ft. to 3 ft. 9 in. wide. In these lands, furrows are opened at 10 to 12 inches apart, and 4 to 6 inches deep according to the compactness of the soil. In order to economise the ground, the ridges separating the irrigation lands are also planted. Often indeed the planting is done first and the ridging afterwards.

The seed potatoes are then placed at the bottom of each furrow at 10 to 12 inches apart and at once covered with a large handful of wellrotted stable manure or with a mixture of this and grape pomace. The potatoes remain thus until March, when the soil is thrown over them with a hoe.

The manure destined for the potato field is prepared and placed in a heap a long time beforehand; it can be purchased at about 7s. 6d. per ton. In winter, when rendered very damp by the rain, it is turned once or twice, grape pomace often being added in the proportion of a quarter. In Attica, dung is the only fertilizer used in growing potatoes; it is applied at 12 to 16 tons per acre. The use of chemical fertilizers has not spread, owing to the want of success obtained with them at first which was due to ignorance of the way to use them.

B. Summer crop (August to November). Thanks to the preceding crop of potatoes, there is generally a good tilth on the land for the summer crop. Before planting, when possible, it is ploughed twice somewhat deeply. It is often necessary to water to facilitate this ploughing, which is carried out in the dry season. The soil is then levelled and

divided into lands as for the winter crop; These are then thoroughly wetted and later picked to a depth of about 12 inches as soon as possible. The potatoes are planted like the winter crop, but closer together 8 to 10 inches in both directions. The sets are covered and the

furrows levelled.

For this crop, no manure is used, as the growers consider that at this season it raises the temperature of the soil, thus disturbing the normal development of the plant. Further, the manure left in the ground from the preceding crop is considered sufficient. Seed potatoes which have grown in the ridges are preferred.

The amount of seed per acre is 112 cwt. in the case of the winter crop, and 142 cwt. for the summer crop.

HOEING AND WATERING.

A. Winter crop. As has been already remarked, the first hoeing is done towards the middle of March. Later, when the young shoots are 4 to 6 inches high, the soil is hoed once more (called "dry hoeing "). After ten days, if the ground is dry, it is watered for the first time and subsequently, as soon as it can be worked, is hoed and the rows are slightly earthed up. Afterwards, whether the weather is wet or not, the field is watered nearly every week, but without hoeing; all these irrigations are carried out by flooding each land, the water being conveyed by means of small channels.

B. Summer crop. Some days after planting, a light hoeing is effected to break up the crust formed by the watering subsequent to planting. After 12 to 15 days the field is again watered, and hoed as soon as the condition of the soil permits; 8 to 10 days later, if it has not rained, the soil is watered and hoed once more; if it has rained, the watering is omitted. This process is repeated about every week, till there is fear of harming the young plants with the implements. Watering at longer or shorter intervals, according to whether there is rain or not, continues until the end of October.

LIFTING THE POTATOES.

The best time for this is when the leaves and haulms turn yellow, their change of colour being accompanied by the maturity of the potatoes. Generally the winter crop is gathered during the second half of June and the summer one at the end of November. The yield per acre of the former is 7 to 10 tons, and of the latter about 8 tons.

The average wholesale price of the winter potatces, where they are grown, is near £5 per ton and that of the summer crop £8; they fetch 14d. to 2d. per pound when sold retail in Athens.

Progress and Results in Fruit-Growing in Germany

by

A. LORGUS,

President of the German Fruit-Growers' Union, Eisenach.

All the progress in fruit-growing in Germany in the last decade and most of the work on the subject has been in the direction of the improvement and extension of commercial fruit-growing, so as to be able to supply the needs of the country with German fruit.

With the increased population and the greater prosperity of the country, more attention is paid to the hygienic principles which are the foundations of good health and longevity. Fruit and vegetables are necessary to health and are, at the same time, agreeable articles of diet.

I. — The most important work of the German pomologist and fruitgrower has been in the past, and still continues to be, the careful selection and widespread propagation of the best kinds of fruit among the originally overwhelming number of varieties grown in the country. This selection has been often repeated in the course of time in the various fruit-growing districts on account of the great differences in climate and soil.

The varieties of apples and pears given later are placed in the order in which they most usually occur in the 34 local lists (1) of fruit cultivated in Germany.

Apples: Boskoop Beauty, Golden-Pearmain, Landsberger Reinette, Baumann's Reinette, Charlamowski, Gravenstein, Boiken, Geflammter Kardinal, Prince, Dantziger Kant (Calville de Dantzig), Ribston Pippin, Roter Eiser, Grosse Casseler Reinette, Grosser Bohnapfel, Gelber Edelapfel, Cox's Orange Reinette, Weisser Klarapfel, Apfel aus Croncels, Cellini, Bismarck, Manks, Adersleber Calville, Reinette de Canada, Emperor Alexander.

Pears: Louise Bonne d'Avranches, Williams Bon Chrêtien, Beurré Diel, Bonne Grise, Fondante de Charneu, Poire Pastorale, Calebasse Bosc, Grosser Katzenkopf, Napoleon's Butterbirne, Nouveau Poiteau, Josephine von Mecheln, Gellert's Butterbirne, Madeleine d'Eté Verte, Amanlis Butterbirne, Forelle d'Hiver, Pierre Pépin, Muscateller, von Tongre, Doyenné de Juillet, Dr. Jules Guyot, Blumenbach's Butterbirne, Clapp's Liebling, Beurré Clairgeau, Harden pont's Winter Butterbirne, VereinsDechantsbirne, Duchesse d'Angoulême.

(1) Lists of standard varieties to be encouraged in different fruit-growing regions. (Ed.);

Besides these varieties, there are a number of newer varieties which have not been generally tested and also many excellent so-called local varieties which are widely grown.

II. During the last ten years, following the example of the German Fruit-Growers' Union at Eisenach, yearly courses have been started for the instruction of those who are to become promoters and teachers of fruit-growing in Germany. The lectures are given by practical and well-known growers and scientists, who give an account of their own experiences in the matters of fruit-growing, the fruit trade and the utilization of fruit. In these courses, while individual views are not disregarded, unity of teaching is aimed at, and in order to avoid contradictory instructions, a certain uniform scheme of instruction is adopted. Simple uniform methods, which bring the most profit to the fruit-grower, are always advocated in these

courses.

As far as possible, practical fruit-growers and scientific men lecture alternately. The courses are held regularly every year at places which offer opportunities to the students to visit instructive and interesting fruit plantations, fruit-preserving factories, etc.

The subjects of the last course of lectures of the German Fruit-Growers' Union were: The Decrees and Work of the Chamber of Agriculture for the Promotion of Fruit Growing and the Fruit Trade. The Organization of Sale Associations. Study of Soils. The Science of Working and Fertilizing Soils. - Plant Anatomy and Physiology. The Structure and Chemico-physiological Nature of the Soil. - Food and Manure Requirements of Fruit Trees. Chemical Manures. Climatic Conditions for Fruit Growing. - Care of the Food-Supplying Organs of the Fruit Tree. —— Root Physiology. - Soil Bacteria and their Relation to Fruit Growing and Horticulture. - New Methods of Soil Aeration. - Watering Fruit Trees. The Utilization of Fruit and Vegetables: Scientific Basis of the Different Methods of Treating Fruit and Vegetables. Growing Vegetables for Preserving Factories. The Best Fruit Varieties for the Preserving Industry and their Cultivation. Preliminary Preserving of the Different Fruits for further Use in Factories for Fruit Preserves, Jams, Fruit Syrups, Jellies and Fruit Cheeses. - The Manufacture of Fruit Preserves. - Judging Preserved Fruits and Vegetables according to the Legal Requirements and the Legal Decisions hitherto in Force. Potato Drying Plant its Use in the Manufacture of Preserved Fruit and Vegetables. Effect of the Composition of Water upon the Keeping of Preserves Boiled in it. Forestry Schools: The Development of German Forestry Schools and their Influence on Fruit-Growing in Germany. - The Best Soils and the Most Economical Methods for Tree Nurseries. Working the Soil

-

- and The

in Nurseries and Fruit Plantations: Use of Cultivators and other Machines for Nursery Work. — Suitable Distribution of Nurseries. The Growing of the Best and most widely used Stocks. - Best Grafts and the Time for Grafting.

The lectures are always followed by a discussion. The reports of the courses are published by the Ministry of the Interior in the Berichten über

Landwirtschaft under the title "Mesasures for the Promotion of Home Fruit Culture and of Fruit Utilization."

III. Tours of instruction are made every year conducted by experienced men with a practical knowledge of the subject; German and foreign fruit farms are visited. The members are required to give an account of their observations and experiences. A selection of the most important facts is published.

IV. — Service of Information Concerning Fruit: In no other branch of agriculture do the prices for products of the same value vary so much. in different districts as in fruit-growing. For this reason, a Service of Information has been established throughout Germany, which gives to all interested, from the flowering time till the gathering of the crop, information regarding the market prices and all important matters in the different fruit-growing districts of Germany. The Central Station of the Fruit Information Service is the German Fruit-growers' Union at Eisenach, which by means of its weekly gratuitous Report of the fruit-markets disseminates the accurate information supplied by about 130 reporters from 120 centres of information respecting the price of fruit and vegetables, the fruit supply, natural phenomena affecting the crops and prices, and the general condition of the market. The Chambers of Agriculture and the Fruit-Growers' Federations also publish similar reports which, however, confine themselves to giving information respecting their own field of work.

V. The surest basis for the fruit trade is careful picking and grading and the right packing of the produce. Practical courses of instruction on these subjects are held every year in Germany, both for men and women. VI. Markets of specimen produce are very common in Germany, where not only the finest dessert fruit is sold, but also good, sound, cheap fruit for the working people.

VII. Courses of instruction and apparatus for preserving fruit and vegetables are conducted by experienced teachers; women are now often employed in this work.

VIII.

The improvement and grafting of the different varieties of fruit is actively promoted in Germany by:

a) The careful choice of good, healthy trees producing a large crop of fine fruit, to serve as stock for the supply of scions and slips.

Of

b) The recent breeding of improved German varieties of fruit. these I may mention: Apples: Berlepsch Gold Reinette; Minister von Hammerstein, an improvement on Landsberger Reinette; Adersleber Calville, a cross between Calville d'Hiver and Gravensteiner, von Zuccalmaglic's Reinette; Ernst Bosch. Plums: Bühler Frühzwetsche. Gooseberries : Neuwied Earliest ; Hönings Earliest. Strawberries: Sieger; Deutsch Evern.

The following rules and prescriptions for raising new German fruit varieties have been drawn up at a meeting of Pomologists and noted breeders of new varieties of fruit, which was held at Eisenach.

a) Extensive scientific investigations must be made on the subject of the weakening of fruit trees with age.