845 



by splitting the husk, after which pollen was applied and the ear in- 

 closed ; (5) silk exposed when from fifteen to thirty pistils protruded, 

 after which pollen was applied and the ear inclosed; (6) the silk (not 

 previously inclosed) was cut off and exposed when from 1^ to Si inches 

 long; (7) the silk previously inclosed was cut off and exposed when 

 from 4 to 6 inches long. 



"While the trials are entirely too few in number to base generalizations on them, 

 it may yet be noted that some of the results accord with common observations. 

 Thus, (1) The best results are obtained when the silii receives the pollen within a 

 few days after its first emergence ; after six or eight days the ears obtained are not 

 perfect. (2) Exposure of the silk but one day does not sufBce for the fertilization of 

 all the grains. (3) When the silk was exposed until 1^ inches long and then inclosed 

 80 as to prevent further pollination the ears were perfectly filled. (4) In one case 

 the silk was exposed by splitting down the husks, yet many of the pistils (silks) 

 proved to be receptive. (5) When a few jiistils only protruded, and were dusted 

 with pollen, still fewer grains were produced in two cases; in the third case two 

 more grains were produced than the number of protruding pistils. (6) When the 

 tips of the pistils (silks) are cut otf, fertilization is not prevented ; normal fertiliza- 

 tion, however, is usually interfered with, but in some cases nearly perfect ears may 

 result. 



Maine Station, Annual Report, 1890, Part I (pp. 16). 



Inspection of fertilizers. — '• The Station Report for 18S9 shows 

 that in that year 43 brands of fertilizers were inspected. In 1890 the 

 number of brands has been increased to 64, including 7 brands of bone." 

 The report contains a statement of the trade values of fertilizer ingre- 

 dients agreed upon by the stations of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Penn- 

 sylvania, and Connecticut, and analyses of 64 samples of commercial 

 fertilizers, including bones. 



" Heretofore separate analyses have been made of the three samples 

 representing the same fertilizer^ This year equal quantities of the 

 three samples have been mixed, and an analysis of this mixture has 

 been assumed to give the same result as would be reached by averaging 

 the analysis of the three samples." 



Maryland Station, Second Annual Report, 1889 (pp. 163). 



Report of director, H. E. Alvord, 0. E. (pp. 3-17). — The ex- 

 cessive rain-fall of 1889 (about 60 inches) materially interfered with the 

 success of the experiments in progress at the station. " The effect upon 

 the growing season is better shown by the fact that the excess of rain- 

 fall in this vicinity, from April 1 till October 1, was 75 per cent. At 

 this station rain fell on 144 days in the yearj the sun was not visible 

 at all on 86 days out of 244 days included in this record, and there was 

 but one third of the sunshine due according to the almanac for this period 

 of eight months. * • • In making choice of subjects for investigation 

 at the station, attention was early directed to the great and growing in- 

 terests connected with the canning or packing of vegetables and fruits 



