449 



In view of tlic cliiiin that " Hpriiikliiig the cuttings of potatoes with 

 plaster before planting causes them to vegetate with greater vigor 

 and to yield a larger cro])," this was tried for ten 50-foot rows of the 

 Kose Seedling variety, half the cuttings planted being sprinkled with 

 plaster. The details are given in tabular form. " No difference was 

 discernible in the time or vigor of vegetation, nor in the date of 

 maturity." 



Notes on strawberries, E. S. Goff (pp. 213, 214, and 274). —Tab- 

 ulated data are given for 16 varieties tested in 1889. As the result of 

 this test the varieties are ranked in the following order: ^'•For marJcet — 

 Warfield No. 2, Haverland, Jessie, Wilson, Sharpless, Burt Seedling, 

 Eureka, Gypsy, Gandy, Welch, Charles Downing, Cumberland, Lady 

 Eusk, Bubacli No. 5, Cloud, Carmichael. For home use — Jessie, Haver- 

 land, Gypsy, Sharpless, Warfield No. 2, Eureka, Wilson, Gandy, Burt 

 Seedling, Charles Downing, Welch, Cumberland, Bubach No. 5, Cloud, 

 Lady Kusk, Carmichael. 



" The Gypsy was the earliest variety, and the Gandy, Welch, and 

 Carmichael gave the latest pickings." 



Comparison of ensiling and field curing of Indian corn, F. 

 W. WoLL, M. S. (pp. 215-237). — " Three years ago investigations were 

 begun at the station for the study of the losses Incurred in the field 

 curing of fodder corn, to compare the results thus found with the losses 

 that have been shown to take place in the silo. Data are numerous as 

 regards this latter jjoint, the subject having been studied during the 

 last 10 years by numerous investigators, both abroad and in this country. 

 It has been found that fodder corn will lose from 10 to 20 per cent of 

 its nutritive value during the ensiling period, the amount of the loss 

 depending upon the quantity ensiled, the maturity of the corn, the 

 manner of filling, and the conditions present in the silo, its shape, 

 lining, whether perfectly air-tight or not, etc. On the other hand, the 

 losses in curing fodder corn have been studied but little, not consid- 

 ering trials where necessary precautions for taking samples have not 

 been observed, and which, therefore, are not much better than mere 

 guesswork." 



The record of the station's work in this line in 1889 includes experi- 

 ments with (1) two tank silos filled with clover to ascertain the loss 

 in weight of the silage; (2) the same silos filled with fodder corn to 

 ascertain the loss in weight and in dry matter, crude protein, and ash 

 in the silo ; (3) four station silos filled with diiferent varieties of corn 

 to ascertain losses in dry matter, crude protein, and ash in the silo; 

 and (4) with drj' fodder from different varieties of corn to ascertain the 

 losses in dry matter and crude protein in field curing. 



(1) Tank silos filled with clover. — "Two round tanks, such as are com- 

 monly used for water reservoirs, 6 feet in diameter and 12 feet high, 

 were i>laced upon the platform scales. Tank No. 1 was tarred on the 

 outside, while No. 2 was covered on the outside with tin, soldered on 



