DIVISION OF nORTICULTLRE 



647 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The results from the sprouted seed, as compared with unsprouted seed planted the 

 same date, show that earliness is greatly increased by sprouting. The following table 

 gives the results of the test from one row, 66 feet in length. Diggings were made on 

 July 29, August 5, August 12 and August 26: — 



An examination of this table will show that in every instance the sprouted seed 

 gave much larger yields in the early diggings, than did the non-sprouted seed, thus 

 showing that earliness can be greatly increased by sprouting the tubers before planting. 

 It is believed that by sprouting main crop potatoes, the total yield of such varieties 

 can also be greatly increased and experiments to ascertain this are now under Avay. 



TOMATOES. 



As new varieties and new strains of older varieties are continually coming on the 

 market, it is essential that the variety testing of this crop be continued from year to 

 year. Following will be found a table giving the list of varieties tested during 1915 

 and this is followed by a table giving a three year average of those varieties which have 

 been tested for that length of time. As earliness in tomatoes is an essential point, the 

 first table given is arranged in order of earliness, while the second table is arranged in 

 order of total yield. Earliness is not based merely on the date of the fi^st fruit, but is 

 based on the yield of marketable ripe fruit for the first two weebs of the tomato season, 

 this period being dated from the day that the first ripe fruit was picked from the plan- 

 tation as a whole, and not dated from the first picking of the variety in question. Such 

 a plan gives a clearer and more correct idea of earliness than if the plan of the appear- 

 ance of the first ripe fruit was adopted. This is because of the fact that many of the 

 varieties may show an odd ripe fruit very early, but will not continue to produce ripe 

 fruit in any quantity. 



Two new varieties tested at this Farm for the first time this year, are worthy of 

 mention. One is Luther Burbank's new variety called Burbank Early, which, although 

 not quite so early as one or two other varieties, is promising, both on account of earli- 

 ness and also smoothness. Earliana, which for years has been one of the leading early 

 varieties, has the great disadvantage of being very rough, so tkat when a smooth variety, 

 almost as early, is found, it is worth recognition. Such a variety is Burbank Early. 



The other variety mentioned above is John Baer. This variety has not proved 

 nearly as early as it is claimed to be, but still can be classed as an early tomato, of good 

 quality, and smooth, as grown by this Farm this year. However, it is not to be classed 

 with Earliana, Earlibell or Burbank Early, for an early tomato. 



Two other varieties which have been on the market for some time are worth men- 

 tioning, in fact, should be grown much more largely than at present. Earlibell, one of 



1^-45 Ottawa. 



