348 



origin of the different classes of varieties. The author regards it prob- 

 able that botanists will ultimately refer all varieties of tomatoes to two 

 species, Lycopersicum cerasiforme and L. pimpinelUfoUutn. 



Report op horticultueist, W. H. Bishop, B. S. (pp. 26-66). — 

 This includes articles under the following heads: (1) variety test with 

 tomatoes ; (2) fertilizer test with tomatoes ; (3) potato experiments ; 

 (4) comparison of seed potatoes from Vermont and Maryland ; (5) gen- 

 eral notes on vegetables; (6) orchard and small fruits. 



Variety test with tomatoes (pp. 26-43). — General notes on the test of 

 varieties of tomatoes at the station in 1889, together with tabulated data 

 for 60 varieties, and brief descriptive notes on 16 varieties. The follow- 

 ing summary is taken from the report: 



(1) The larger the fruit the greater the mumber of cells; this holds true not only 

 with the fruits of different varieties, but with the fruits of a given variety, compared 

 with each other. 



(2) The larger the number of cells the greater the solidity of the fruit as measured 

 by the proportion of solid flesh to seed and pulp. 



(3) The larger the fruit the smaller the proportional number of seeds. 



(4) In general terms the varieties producing the larger fruits are among the heav- 

 iest bearers. 



(5) The most promising varieties for general culture are Ignotum, Paragon, Favor- 

 ite, Belle, Fulton Market, and New Jersey. 



(6) The earliest varieties this season were Conqueror, Earliest of All, and Alpha. 

 To these may be added Bermuda and Advance. 



Fertilizer test with tomatoes (pp. 43-51). — A piece (63 by 216 feet) of 

 light clay-loam, mixed with gravel, was divided into twelve plats, 63 

 by 17.3 feet, each containing one fortieth of an acre. Fourteen varieties 

 of tomatoes were set in as many rows extending the whole length of 

 the series of plats. The plan was that each variety should be repre- 

 sented on each plat. Nitrate of soda, dissolved bone-black, and muriate 

 of potash, singly, two hy two, and all three together, and dried blood 

 were applied on eleven plats, one plat being unfertilized. The death 

 of a number of plants before fruiting prevented the making of a com- 

 plete record of all the varieties on all the plats. Eesults are stated in 

 three tables showing the com^jarative yield on different plats, the total 

 yield, the ounces and number of fruits of each variety on each plat, the 

 average yields of 14, 5, and 2 varieties on each plat. The indications 

 were "that the regulating ingredients in a fertilizer for tomatoes on 

 this soil are nitrogen and potash, while phosphoric acid has less effect." 

 There are also brief notes on a box experiment in which the same fertil- 

 izers were used as in the iield experiments; owing to the fact that roots 

 of some of the plants escaped from the boxes, no details of this experi- 

 ment are given. 



Potato experiments (pp. 51-55). — In Bulletin No. 2 of the station were 

 reported the results of a trial of different quantities of seed potato, 

 based on the yield of small plats. In 1889 one acre was planted with 

 two varieties of early potatoes and another with two varieties of late 



