1046 EXPERIMElsrT STATION" EECOED. 



tage. Where it is the practice to mulch the cucumber or tomato crop, the 

 manure used for that purpose can be left on and more added in cases where the 

 cucumbers or tomatoes have been free from disease. Otherwise the mulch 

 should be x-emoved and new applied. Frequent sprinkling of the manure on the 

 beds is considered very essential in order to cause the richness to leach into the 

 soil. 



In a discussion of the bad practice of allowing the soils to dry out during the 

 summer, the authors quote from Stone and Smith (E. S. R.. 14, p. 157), to the 

 effect that in drying out of the soil the activity of the Sclerotinia or Drop 

 fungus is apt to be accelerated, which largely increases the amount of infection 

 in the succeeding crop of lettuce. The other injurious effects in drying out the 

 soil are manifested in a stunted growth, and abnormally colored and worthless 

 crops. 



In the mulching experiments conducted by the Ohio Station and Miller Bros., 

 although no attempt was made to study the effect of mulching on diseases 

 affecting lettuce, the crops are repoi'ted as having been practically exempt from 

 these diseases. 



Greenhouse experiments for 1906, .T. G. Moore iWi.<<co)iHiii >S'f«. Rpf. 190G. 

 pp. 221-226). — A preliminary report of experiments conducted at the green- 

 house in 190(3. In addition to experiments to determine the influence of exces- 

 sive feeding of plants, a variet.v test with radishes and ;'. experiments with toma- 

 toes, lettuce, and cucumbers were conducted in the greenhouses during the past 

 year. 



The experiment with tomatoes was to determine the relative earliness of 

 fruiting and the amount of fruit produced by plants grown from cuttings and 

 those grown from seed. The results thus far indicate that it is very hard to 

 choose between cuttings and seedlings for use in the forcing- house. 



Ex]ieriments were conducted with lettuce to determine the advantages of the 

 relative value of subirrigation as compared with surface watering. The experi- 

 ment is discussed at length. Two crops of lettuce were grown. The first crop 

 was harvested from January 15 to 31 and the second crop from April 2 to April 

 7. In summing up the results from both crops it was found that the surface- 

 watered bench yielded nearly 60 lbs. more lettuce than did the subirrigated 

 bench, or a difference of approximately 600 lbs. for a house 20 by 100 ft. Judg- 

 ing from these results the author is of the opinion that with proper care as 

 large crops can be produced with surface watering as with subirrigation, and 

 that the added precaution necessary in surface watering is more than offset by 

 the difficulties and cost connected with the subirrigation system. The relative 

 effect of these 2 methods of watering on the control of rot has not yet been suffi- 

 ciently studied to warrant a statement. 



An experiment is being conducted to determine the value of super-heated soil 

 or bottom heat in the forcing of cucumbers. 



A test of varieties of tomatoes, and further notes and experiments with 

 western blight or yellows, L. F. Henderson {hJaho Hta. Rpt. V.XlG, pp. 

 lJi-28). — A variety test with tomatoes commenced by L. B. Judson was completed 

 by the author. A chart is given showing the varieties used, with notes in each 

 case as to whether the vines were pinched or unpinched, and the fertilizer 

 used, if any. The test included 53 rows with 95 plants to the row. Data are 

 also given showing the number and weight of sound and the number of rotten 

 tomatoes gathered from each row at the time of the first picking, and the aver- 

 age for the 3 pickings.' 



The results of fertilizer experiments are tabulated, and the following 

 deductions are drawn : Plants treated either with nitrate of soda or in most 

 cases with sulphate of iron gained nothing the first year in earliness over 



