DEPARTMENT KEPOETS. ill 



tables. The earliest cabbage started in liot beds were uearly all destroyed by a 

 maggot at the roots. Xo remedy wa^ found effectual in killing them after they 

 were discovered. We dug away the earth of some and applied a little sulphur, 

 on others ashes, or super-])hosphate, or hot water. None were saved. 



Had we antici])ated such trouble ^ve should have tried some remedies earlier 

 ill the season to keep the fly from the plants. We have not yet found a remedy 

 to keep the maggots out of our earliest crop of radishes. 



On account of want of team work and skilled labor, Avant of money, extra 

 Centennial work, and my illness in spring, but very few experiments were 

 attempted this year. Of vegetables we raised but a few varieties, only those wo 

 knew to be good kinds for use at the boarding hall and in the families of the 

 Professoi's. 



AVo raised about 200 bushels of yellow dauvers onions. The growth of the 

 crop was checked in a way mucii like that of jjotatoes, which were very light 

 and small. 



Lima beans without poles, the tops being pinched off (the bean vines, not the 

 poles), never did better than this year. Sweet potatoes also did better than for 

 Kome years. Weeds in the garden are very scarce. I am more and more jileased 

 every year with thorough culture in the vegetable garden. We prevent any 

 from seeding as far as practicable, and if any stray weed escapes notice it is 

 carried to a rubbish pile. Many kinds of weeds so prominent in most gardens 

 are rarely now seen in the College gardens. I thhik we give no more work to 

 the acre, probably not near so much, as many people do who raise abundant 

 crops of weeds. We cultivate often, usually every three to six days in the most 

 growing parts of the year. This is the easiest way, the least work, followed by 

 the best results. When will all our farmers and gardeners learn it and prac- 

 tice it? 



KILLING (JUACK GRASS. 



This vile pest has been well scattered about the lawns where it does little or 

 no harm, as it very rarely matures any seeds, even if left to grow when it heads 

 out. But we mow several times a year, and even if it were inclined to seed, none 

 would mature on the lawns. Last fall, in a low place Avhero the ground was 

 rich and wet, the ground Avas a perfect mat of quack grass. We Avanted to ex- 

 tend the garden tliat Avay. It Avas ploAved in the fall quite late, and I think cul- 

 tivated over a few times and harroAA'cd. As soon as wo could get on the ground 

 this spring, even in the mud, it was cultivated every three to live days. When 

 we Avere ready this year to soav ruta bagas not a stem or root of quack could 

 be found alive. Had the plat been in a dry jilace, no doubt avo could have killed 

 it much easier. 



Some grape vines near my house had been set out for a screen and allowed to 

 run their own way and do the best they could, fighting a mat of quack about 

 their roots. This spring it Avas plowed and spaded. A student Avatched it and 

 hoed it over, sometimes every two days, occasionally using a horse and cultiva- 

 tor. The last spear Avas seen aliA'c early in August. We attend to it and keep 

 the leaves all out of sight. As soon as a spear gets in sight it is gaining in the 

 strife. While kept down out of sight or cut off it is rapidly losing, especially in 

 dry Aveather. It is nice sport to kill quack grass. 



WILL POTATOES RUN OUT? 



Again, as usual Ave have raised many varieties of jiotatoes, this year about 

 two hundred and fifty. Two moderate sized tubers of each kind were used as 



