hanged to
January 1 through to the end of December."

Mr. Snyder: "I can see no improvement in changing the fiscal year. If we
are to hold our meetings the first part of September each year it would
be better to have our fiscal year ended August 31."

Dr. MacDaniels: "I move that our fiscal year be from September 1st to
August 31st and I move that the annual dues include a report for only
the year you join."

Motion carried.

Factors Influencing the Hardiness of Woody Plants

H. L. CRANE, Principal Horticulturist[1]

There is hardly any soil or climatic condition found in the world where
it is not possible for at least one or more kinds of plants to be grown.
This is possible because the plants that can be grown under the most
adverse conditions have special structures and adaptations with regard
to periods of growth and rest or dormancy. One of the most important
adaptations of nearly all trees and shrubs that shed their leaves in
autumn and survive freezing weather without injury for a part of the
year, is that of rest. This rest in plants is somewhat similar to sleep
in animals in that it is a period in which the life process activities
take place slowly. In other words, the plant physiologist defines rest
in living plants as that period in which their buds will not open and
grow even though the temperature, moisture, and other external
environmental conditions are highly suitable for growth.

[Footnote 1: Division of Fruit and Vegetable Crops and Disease, Bureau
of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural
Research Administration, U. S. Department of Agriculture.]

Different kinds of deciduous plants have or require rest periods of
different lengths, just as some people require more sleep than do
others. Two or three weeks may be enough for soft-shelled almonds but
three or four months may be required for butternuts, to cite extremes.
The Eastern black walnut requires more rest than most Persian walnut
clones, and they more than the Southern California black walnut. Even
within a species there is considerable difference in the rest period of
individual seedling trees and certain clones. For example, it has been
found that the varieties of Persian walnut grown in northern California
and in Oregon, such as Franquette and Mayette, have the longest rest
period; and those grown in Southern California, such as Placentia,
Ehrhardt, Chase, and others, have the shortest rest period. I