EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS 359 



grown on muck land are stronger and will produce more vigorous plants 

 and a larger yield of tubers. 



As a test along this line, several varieties grown in Northern Minnesota 

 were secured and compared with potatoes grown in Southern Michigan on 

 muck land, and others of the same varieties grown here on a sandy loam. 



The site selected was a part of the early plot, located in the northwest 

 portion of the vegetable garden. Two rows, two hundred and forty feet 

 long, were taken for each variety, and twelve pounds of seed was used per 

 row, the system of planting and culture being the same as with the 

 •other varieties. 



Early Norther, from Minnesota, showed a gain of ten per cent over 

 seed grown on muck land, while Acme gave an increase of thirty-two 

 bushels per acre over the southern seed. 



Early Michigan and Rural New Yorker No. 2, grown on muck land, 

 made about the same showing over the seed grown here in a sandy loam, 

 but it was undoubtedly due, at least in part, to the fact that the other seed 

 was stored in pits while ours was kept in a common cellar, and had become 

 somewhat shriveled before it was planted. 



The Colorado beetles were very troublesome this season, which necessi- 

 tated several applications of Paris green; while the plants were small it 

 was applied with a powder gun, but after they were half grown, land 

 plaster was used in the proportion of one hundred pounds to one of the 

 poison. Water was also used at the rate of one hundred gallons to 

 one-half pound of Paris green. 



The entire crop of potatoes was treated with Bordeaux mixture to pre- 

 vent the working of the early leaf blight, with satisfactory results. 



RADISHES. 



Seed of the forcing varieties was planted in the hot bed early in March 

 to determine their value for the purpose named. 



The forcing sorts, with but few exceptions, are of much the same type. 

 All are of small size and quick maturity. The form differs from round 

 turnip to olive shaped or half-long tapering; the color from white or 

 yellow to all shades of red, scarlet and crimson. The flesh of some var- 

 ieties is more crisp and tender than that of others, and remains longer in 

 that condition. The time required to produce salable roots, and the size 

 to which they will grow before becoming pithy, are of importance in 

 selecting kinds to grow for this purpose. 



Carmine Turnip, Non Plus Ultra, Round Deep Scarlet, Scarlet Globe, 

 Startle and Twenty Days Forcing are quite similar in form, but differ 

 in color, size, quickness of growth and crispiness of flesh. Of these 

 Startle was the first to mature. It is of a bright, scarlet color, and the 

 flesh is crisp and tender. Non Plus Ultra is a little later than Startle, but 

 has whiter flesh, and is better in quality. Its season, however, is short, 

 and it must be pulled at once. 



Carmine Turnip, Round Deep Scarlet and Twenty Days Forcing 



matured at the same season, and are much alike in general appearance. 



Twenty Days Forcing is considerably larger in size than the others. 



Scarlet Globe was the last of the group to reach its growth, but the slight 



•difference in time of maturity was more than made up in the increase of 



47 



