158 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



The absorption of nitrate nitro<^on by ^vhoat plants <;rown on a rich 

 soil Mas not proportional to tho •growth of the plants but increased 

 Avith a decrease in the soil moisture content and consequently wilh a 

 decrease in the crop. 



The extensive studies of timoth}' broujjjht out the existence of a 

 large number of very distinct biotypes Avhich probably originated 

 as nuitations. It was found that by self-fertilizing these types they 

 reproduced true and that such self-fertilized plants lost but little if 

 any in vigor as the result of self-fertilization. Observations on the 

 correlation of characters in corn have brought out a considerable 

 degree of correlation of characters determinable at the time of- blos- 

 soming with high 3'iekl, and some of these characters are considered 

 as possibly serviceable in selecting individuals to breed together at 

 time of flowering. The range of variation in yield, height, time of 

 flowering, and duration of flowering of timothy as affected by sea- 

 sonal changes was also determined. 



Along entomological lines it was determined that the knottiness 

 of apples caused by the punctures of the red bug has heretofore been 

 confused with a similar injury caused by plant lice and the plum 

 curculio. A study of the life history showed that treatment directed 

 against either of these insects would not control the red bug, and 

 a promising treatment has been suggested. 



A number of lines of w^ork representing a very- large portion of 

 the experimental work of the college were inaugurated and con- 

 ducted with state funds. The department of soil technology carried 

 on its investigation on soil granulation. The department of farm 

 practice installed an experimental drainage system on the upland 

 fields of the university farm, and continued its work on fertilizers 

 for mangels, the results of which were published during the year.* 

 The horticultural department continued its work on orchard sur- 

 veys and also began a survey of the strawberry regions of the State 

 during the year. Other work of this department included experi- 

 ments Avith various sprays in the control of black rot of grapes, 

 experiments in orchard management, the effects of fumes of ether 

 and chloroform in hastening the flowering of bulbs, experiments with 

 cucumber hybrids, the effect of cloth shade in growing vegetables, 

 and fertilizer tests in growing tomatoes. In addition a systematic 

 study of varieties of the peony and sweet pea was made for the pur- 

 pose of securing authentic descriptions of the various forms under 

 cultivation. 



The dei^artment of plant jDathology investigated grape diseases, 

 bean diseases, pear blight, and ginseng diseases, and tested in this 

 connection the value of commercial lime-sulphur as a fungicide. 



"New York Cornell Sta. Bui. 276. 



