740 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOllD. 



case of seeds stated to be between 1 and 2 years old the percentages were 65.58 

 and 77.46 respectively, as compared with 21.9 and 57.34 in case of seed reported 

 between 2 and 3 years old, and 59.5 and 10 per cent in case of seed reported 

 as between 3 and 4 years old. 



The average vitality found in tests of 11 varieties of Connecticut-grown sweet 

 corn ranged from 45 to 96 per cent. Better care in drying and storage is 

 advocated. 



In germination tests of pepper seeds "a 10-minute treatment of the seed with 

 i and 2 per cent formalin seems to have only slightly improved germination 

 although it reduced considerably the number of moldy seed." 



The application of the frequency polygon in plant breeding', E. Zaleski 

 (Abs. in Jour. Landw., 58 {1910), ^o. 2. p. 14O). — The author draws frequency 

 curves and considers whether the more strongly marked deviations from the 

 normal curves are due to unusual conditions of growth or to other disturbances. 

 The polygons obtained from separate plats are united into summation polygons, 

 and conclusions based upon the symmetry or the lack of symmetry of the result- 

 ing polygons are drawn. 



HORTICULTTJRE. 



Report of the horticulturist, C. F. Kinman {Porto Rico Sfa. Rpt. 1910, pp. 

 25-30, pis. 2). — A brief progress report is presented on the station's work with 

 temperate-climate and citrus fruits, mangoes, avocados, orchard cover crops, 

 vegetables, and miscellaneous plants. 



With the better understanding of cultural methods and the realization of the 

 value of windbreaks, the quality of citrus fruits is improving considerably. 

 Wild native oranges when picked in saleable condition sell readily along with the 

 cultivated varieties. Much of the uncultivated citrus fruit has decayed in 

 transit to New York. Experimental evidence indicates that in Porto Rico as in 

 Florida and California (E. S. R., 20, p. 840) the main cause for decay is careless 

 handling. In the cooperative fertilizer experiments with citrus fruits, the com- 

 plete fertilizers continue to give the best results. Some experiments ai'e being 

 conducted to determine the influence of fertilizers on the production of out-of- 

 season fruit which could be shipped either before or after the main crop has 

 been shipped from California and Florida. In the variety tests with oranges. 

 Hart Late has succeeded much better than any of the other varieties at the 

 station. The trees of this variety, while bearing a heavy crop, remained vigor- 

 ous during the long, severe drought of the winter and showed no detrimental 

 effects from the excessive rains during the following summer. Rangpur limes 

 which ripened in December, 1909. were left on the tree and were in good condi- 

 tion one year later. 



In the orchard cover crop tests, plantings of a number of legumes were made. 

 Of these Canavalia gladiata made the most rapid and vigorous growth, covering 

 the ground in a few weeks after planting and smothering all grass and weeds. 

 The plant continues its vigorous development until checked by the winter 

 drought. Its extensive root system with its heavy top growth makes it valuable 

 for lands injured by washing, though its vining habit is often troublesome in an 

 orchard. The legumes are also being tested I'elative to their cropping value 

 during the winter months. 



The station now has 62 varieties of mangoes besides numerous seedling 

 plants. Of the 6 varieties fruiting the past year, Sandersha was the most 

 prolific, single trees bearing from 60 to 190 large fruits. Bulbulchasm and 

 Cambodiana were considered the best in flavor. Many of the fruits of the latter 

 variety, however, as well as a few of those of Sandersha were injured by fruit 



