The Florida agriculturist., 1907-08-14
TIMELY TOPICS.
A Full Crop Of Pineapple Nearly Seedless Tomato
Turpentne Cups.
Edited by w. E. Pabor.

be about IS per cent Of the average
This seems to be very low estimate
and either those who report on Flor
ida crops to the crop department of
the Government at Washington are
boosting" things to make good
showing and are therefore unreliable
correspondents and should be ''boost-
ed' out Of office or the Independent
has but skinned the orange section
over and is not fully posted But it
there will be no oranges going beg
glng at 81 or even $I.5o per box this
year.
A full crop of pineapples, after the
eight months drouth of last fall and
winter could hardly be expected, even
from sheltered pineries 1t is therefore
not surprising that the Palm Beach
News reports the pineapple crop in
its vicinity as being below the average
in size and quality but returns fair.
AS to quality it is not clear why tex
ture and pulp should not be as good
as usual. Advices from other points
along the East Coast are of the same
character. The News also says that
scarcity Of slips is causing those who
are increasing their acreage to send
to the Bahamas for plants.
The Bureau of Plant Industry of the
United States Department Of Agricu1-
ture has issued four page leafet on
the subject Of decay in California or
anges sent out from packing houses
in various ways and varying length
OF time Ell route to eastern markets.
The storage Of oranges was also un-
der observation and it is said that
they may be held in sound condition
tor months at a temperature of 81
degrees Farenheit if fruit is sound
and stored quickly after packing. I
might add, in this connection that the
cold storage cities fruits sent up to the
Exposition from Florida kept good
for long while
The Yearbook Of the u S. Depart
ment OF Agriculture for 1906 has been
issued, and [ have received a COPY.
The volume differs in no important
particulars from former issues in the
series except that it contains a greater
amount and variety of valuable statis-
tics, and fuller review of agricu1tur-
al progress. The report of Secretary
Wilson occupies the first II2 pages.
and comprises a general review Of the
work Of the Department for the year.
Following this is series of Is papers
prepared by leading workers in the
various fields Of Departmental activity.
lhe volume contains 6o3 pages, ex-
elusive Of the index It is illustrated
with 43 plates and 22 text figures, the
trOnt1splece being a portrait of Hon.
Henry Cullen Adams (deceased), of
Wisconsin, author of the act granting
additional aid to the State experiment
stations. AS usual, large edition will
be issued. The small quota allotted
to the Department will hardly suffice
to supply those to whom the Depart
ment is indebted for services, but a
large number is supplied to Senators.
representatives, and Delegates in
Congress for free distribution.
We have the seed1ess orange. the
seedlesS pOmelO, the seedless apple.
and now comes to the front the seed
less tomato. What wonderful work
our state experiment stations through
out the country are doing. Of course
New Jersey is at once thought of in
connection with the tomato and there,
according to a late Bulletin Of Expert
ment Station work among the dis
tinct and valuable productions is a
NEARLY" seedless and is such a product
nearly seedless tomato" But why
nearly" seedles and is such a. product
only about one-half of the usual num-
Der of seeds (IOO) generally fO1nd has