238 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



liours. Ill the general observatious relative to frost injury, the value of good air 

 drainage was apparent, poorly drained sections both in the vineyard and in the 

 apple orchard having suffered quite seriously. 



In the fertilizer tests on potatoes and other vegetables, peas, beans, tomatoes, 

 potatoes, and sweet corn have not paid for si^ecial fertilizers, whereas these 

 proved to be valuable with onions, celery, and lettuce. The forest tree nursery 

 work is giving promising results. 



[Horticultural work at the Fort Hays Substation], C. K. McClelland 

 {Kansas Sta. Rpt. 1008, pp. XVIII, A7A).— A brief statement of horticultural 

 investigations under way, together with some data on plantings of fruit and 

 forest trees. 



The South African pipe calabash, D. Fairchild and G. N. Collins (U. S. 

 Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Circ. J/l, pp. .9, pis. 2). — Seeds of this gourd 

 (Lagcmina vulgaris) have been introduced from South Africa, and the plants 

 appear to thrive in all parts of the United States. The necks of the fruit are 

 extensively used as tobacco pipes. Instructions are given herein for growing 

 and shaping the gourd, together with directions for the home manufacture of 

 pipes. The raising of these gourds on a large scale in the expectation of a 

 commercial demand is, however, not deemed advisable. 



The cardoon in Chieri, G. Chtej-Gamacchio {Ann. R. Accad. Agr. Torino, 

 51 {1908), pp. -'i7-62). — Methods of growing the cardoon {Cynara cardunculus) 

 in the vicinity of Chieri are described, and data are given on the cost of the 

 various cultural operations, together with notes on the insect pests of this 

 plant. 



The influence of environment on the composition of sweet corn, 1905-1908, 

 M. N. Straughn and C. G. Church {U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Chem. Bui. 127, pp. 

 69, figs. 11). — These studies were conducted jointly by the Bureau of Chemis- 

 try and the Bureau of Plant Industry of this Department in cooperation with 

 the experiment stations of Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Connecticut, 

 New Jersey, and Maine. The results on breeding for increased sugar content 

 and the adaptation of varieties are to be interpreted by the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry. The work here reported has to do with a study of such factors of 

 environment as length of day with its concomitants, the amount and distribu- 

 tion of sunshine, the altitude, the temperature and the amount and distribution 

 of rainfall in respect to their influence on the sugar content of sweet Indian corn. 

 Two varieties of sweet corn, the Stowell Evergreen and the Crosby, were grown 

 at all of the stations mentioned except the Maine Station, where the Crosby 

 alone was grown. The work was conducted at the New Jersey Station for 

 only 1 season, and at the Florida Station for only 3 seasons. 



The general plan pursued was similar to that followed in former studies 

 with sugar beets (E. S. R., 17, p. 549). In addition to the chemical deter- 

 minations as to sweetness and general character of the corn both in its table 

 stage and after maturing, organoleptic tests were made throughout the studies. 

 The details of the work, together with the data secured each year at the 

 various stations are reported and discussed, the general effect of environment 

 being illustrated by graphic charts. The work for the 4 seasons is then sum- 

 marized as a whole and discussed. In the following tables the Elaine figures 

 for 1907 are not given because the corn did not reach the edible stage before 

 the first frost. 



