1126 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



of l)looiiis whieli were picked at different intervals on the various soils are 

 recorded. 



In ge: :ral, it is stated that as far as these tests go no particuliu- gain has 

 resulted from the reintroductiou of soil organisms into a sterilized soil by 

 siirinkling with unsterilized soil. Handling the sterilized soil while still hot 

 appears to act beneficially on the cx'op. 



During 1905, cauliflower was the only vegetable grown under tent covering, 

 this vegetable having shown the greatest gain in the previous experiments. 

 The ground outside the tent was very dry and the plants grown inside made a 

 much better start and continued to make a better leaf growth throughout the 

 summer. The ground inside the tent remained moist much longer after a rain 

 than that outside. The yields of untrimmed and trinmied heads secured inside 

 and outside the tent are tabulated. The proportionate net weight of trimmed 

 to untrinuned cauliflower was 50 per cent in that grown outside and 04 per 

 cent in that grown inside. The total weight of trimmed cauliflower was 60 

 per cent greater under the tent than outside. From the present experiment it 

 appears that it is possible to grow cauliflower under tent covering in weather 

 when it is almost impossilile to secure it outside. The temperature readings, 

 taken during the course of this experiment from June 10 to August 8, are here 

 tabulated and show the average temperature during the day to have been 

 nearly 4 degrees warmer inside the tent than outside. In one instance the 

 inside temperature was 10 degrees higher than outside. 



Investigations on the culture of asparagus in the vicinity of Auxerre, 

 E. RoussEAUX and C. Brioux (Recherches siir la Culture de VAspergc. Paris: 

 Sue. Eneouraf/cment Indus. Nat., 1906, pp. 112). — The authors have made exten- 

 sive investigations of the culture of asparagus in the department of Yonne. In 

 the present work consideration is given to cultural practices, the conti'ol of 

 insect pests and fungus diseases, marketing, and the cost of production. The 

 total cost r)er acre of one 15-year-old plantation at Charbiiy is estimated at 

 ai)proximately $738.09 and the gross receipts as $1,293.07, leaving a net income 

 per acre of $554.38, or about $30.95 per year. 



The authors have conducted an investigation for 3 consecutive seasons at the 

 experiment station for the department of Yonne, and at cooperative experi- 

 mental farms, to determine the best method for fertilizing asparagus. In the 

 determination of a well-balanced fertilizer formula studies were made and are 

 here discussed of the i)hysical and chemical composition of the soils of thiijt 

 region, the chemical composition of the plant as indicative of its need, and the 

 chemical composition of the manures and compost ordinarily used near Auxerre 

 to determine what complementary ingredients should be reconunended. 



As a result of these investigations the use of barnyard manure is recommended 

 as a basis for all fertilizers, since it not only furnishes humus and improves the 

 physical texture of the soil, but also aids in the retention of chemical fertilizers 

 which may be added. On light sandy soils with a porous subsoil, the use per 

 acre of from about 220 to 266 lbs. of basic slag, 175 lbs. of nitrate of soda, and 88 

 lbs. of sulphate of potash is recommended. The basic slag should be applied 

 with the barnyard manure during winter. The sulphate of potash and about 

 one-third of the nitrate of soda may be harrowed in lightly along the rows after 

 the usual rainy period of spring. The remainder of the nitrate of soda should 

 be applied in 2 ai)plications, at the begihning of the cutting season and a few 

 weeks later. On somewhat heavier sandy soils, in which the subsoil contains a 

 considerable clay content, the authors recommend the use per acre of from 175 to 

 220 lbs. of superphosphate, 175 to 266 lbs. of nitrate of soda, and 88 to 134 lbs. 

 of sulphate of potash. The heavier application should be given when the 

 asparagus is iu full bearing, or when it is impossible to obtain a suflicient 



