312 Annual Report Agricultural Experiment Station 



to climatic conditions such as are found in southern Arizona, 

 spinach promises to become a vahiable market crop for this section. 

 In view of these facts, a series of investigations was begun in the 

 fall of 1918 for the purpose of securing specific information as to 

 the best cultural practices to be followed in the production of this 

 crop— including methods and time of planting, variety tests, and 

 fertilizer comparisons. The following methods of planting were 

 used : 



No. 1. Level planting with flooding — rows ten inches apart. 



No. 2. Bedding four rows ten inches apart, made on low, flat 

 beds with irrigation water run between the beds. 



No. 3. Row and furrow method — rows two feet apart, and ir- 

 rigation water run between the rows. 



The varieties Savoy, Victoria, Prickly Winter, and Long Stand- 

 ing, typifving as many different groups of spinach, were used in 

 each plot. The first planting was to have been made September 1, 

 with additional planting at intervals of two weeks until November 

 15, but a delay in the arrival of seed necessitated its postponement 

 until October 1. The plots are subdivided crosswise to permit of 

 fertilizer tests with stable manure, cotton seed meal, nitrate of soda, 

 and acid phosphate. The work has not reached the point where 

 final conclusions can yet be drawn. 



ORNAMENTAL GARDENING 



The work in Ornamental Gardening has consisted largely in 

 the developing of plans for the beautifying of the grounds at the 

 different branch stations, particular attention having been given the 

 Tempe Date Orchard and the Yuma Date Orchard and 1 lorticul- 

 tural Station. The central grounds at the Yuma Station have been 

 set to lawn grass, and, during the coming spring, shrubbery and 

 other ornamentals will be added. In addition to plantings of tested 

 varieties of trees and shrubbery, other sorts will be set with a view 

 to determining their adaptability to specific localities. A special 

 feature in this connection is the attempt to establish alkali resistant 

 types at the Tempe Date Orchard, the soil of which is very alkaline. 



No work has been done in floriculture, but with the added green 

 house and garden facilities, which are soon to be provided, some- 

 thing in this field will be undertaken. 



SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS 



The Horticulturist served as a member of a commission ap- 

 pointed by the President of the University of Arizona to investigate 



