239 



when once it gets into meadows. It funiishes a small amount of pasturage, of excel- 

 lent quality. Like Kentucliy blue-gi-ass, it produces but little feed except during 

 several weeks in the spring, and again several weeks in the fall, unless on lands kept 

 moist. 



Alfalfa (iledicago aativa) is as yet in the experimental stage in this State. It will 

 pay, if at all, only in permanent meadows, as the cost of seed and the trouble of get- 

 ting a stand are so great as to preclude its use in short rotations. 



Preserving vegetables in carbonic acid gas, S. B. Green, 

 B. S. (p. 125). — A brief report of an experiment undertaken in view of 

 the claim that seeds, vegetables, fruits, and meats might be kept from 

 decaying for an indefinite period if they were surrounded with carbonic 

 acid gas. 



December23, apples, potatoes, onions, chopped cabbage, and liver were put into 

 separate two-quart glass jars. The jars were then filled with dry carbonic acid gas 

 and sealed. Duplicate lots of each kind were put into sealed glass jars, without any 

 carbonic acid. All of these jars were allowed to set in a heated office (temperature 

 about 70°) until February 1, wheu they were opened. All the jars receiving carbonic 

 acid gas were still full of it. The results were as follows : 



The potatoes sprouted and grew more vigorously in carbonic acid than those sealed 

 np without any carbonic acid gas. 



The apples rotted fastest in carbonic acid. 



The onions confined in carbonic acid threw out a few roots, and became covered 

 with a white mold. A few of them sprouted. 



The cabbage became covered with white mold and then rotted down. 



The liver rotted in carbonic acid gas in a very short time. 



The conclusions are obvious, and show the impracticability of such a method of 

 preservation. 



American-grown cauliflower seed, S. B. Green, B. S. (p, 

 126). — "Almost all the cauliflower seed used in this country is grown in 

 Europe, where, from climatic and other conditions, it has been raised to 

 better advantage than here. Attempts have been made to grow this 

 seed in the United States from time to time, but generally without 

 much success." 



In 1889 seed of two varieties of cauliflower, Early Snowball and Er- 

 furt's Earliest Dwarf, produced in the State of Washington, was sown 

 at the station side by side with imported seed of the same varieties. 

 The results were sufticiently favorable to the American-grown seed to 

 warrant further trial of it by gardeners. 



Protection from frost, Prof. H. A. Hazen (pp. 127-132).— As 

 stated in the bulletin, this is a paper furnished by Professor Hazen, of 

 the U. S. Signal Service, at the request of D. N. Harper, Ph. D., chemist 

 of the station. The author has devoted much time to the study of this 

 subject, and has here summed up the results of investigations in this 

 line. 



Millions of dollars are lost to farmers and gardeners each year from frost. Any sug- 

 gestion looking to a lessening of such losses must be of value, and while we have 

 little information on which to base the best plan of action, yet it is hoped that many 

 of those interested will take the matter np in earnest and thus accumulate facts which 

 will make it possible to perfect a system of protection. Careful distinction should 

 be made between frost and freezing weather. The latter comes with a cold wave 



