HORTICnLTURE. 1127 



nmmint of slnhlo mnmirc. Altliou:;!! ihc use of stable manure is recommended in 

 all cases, the InllowinK formula has iinuluced good results when used alone: 

 Mineral suinu-phospliate 2()(> lbs., dried blood or steamed horn 220 lbs., nitrate of 

 soda 220 lbs., and sulphate of potash 175 lbs. The effect of iising these manures 

 for several successive years has been to increase not only the qiiantity of aspar- 

 a.uus gathered, but also the average \A-eight and earliness. 



Fruits and vegetables, E. 1'.. Ferhis i Missifisippi Hta. Bui. .9^, pp. Jf-^h 

 JifiK. 2). — This is an accDunt of variety and fertilizer tests, together with the 

 Mi;irketing of fruits and vegetables, at the McNeill Branch Station for the season 

 I'.tor*. The work is of a similar nature to that of previous years (E. S. R., 17, 

 !>. i(M;r>). 



.\o (letinite conclusions have been reached as to th(» best varieties of straw- 

 berries, althougli the station uses the Klondyke, Lady Thompson, and Excelsior 

 in its commercial patch. The Excelsior ripens earlier, but is not so good as 

 either of the others when sowed at the same time. Klondyke and Lady Thomp- 

 son are about eijually prolific, although Klondyke is firmer and colors better. 

 Lady Tliouipson is highly reconnnended for nearby markets. 



In the fertilizer test the mixture used as a unit application per acre consisted 

 of 200 lbs. cotton-seed meal, 200 lbs. acid phosphate, and 100 lbs. kainit, one-half 

 being ap])lied at the first cultivation after the picking season is over and the 

 other half at the last cultivation in the fall. When the H fertilizing materials 

 were used in the proportions given above, 2,(520 qts. were gathered per acre. 

 Tliis yield was inc-reased to 3,100 qts. where 1,000 lbs. of oyster shells was 

 added In tlie above mixture. On the plat where the cotton-seed meal and 

 k.-iinit content remained normal and the acid phosphate was left out entirely, 

 the yield was only 1,840 qts., which seems to show a marked effect of phos- 

 Ithoric acid as a food for the strawberry. For 2 years past the strawberry 

 lias been the most profitable truck crop grown at the station. The quality of 

 th(> fruit during the first part of the season was superior to that of the pre- 

 vious year's crops, and this, together with better shipping facilities, made ship- 

 ments to Birmingham, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, and St. Louis fairly profitable. 

 From a little less than 2 acres 105 24-quart cases were sold, which bi'ought the 

 shipjiers net returns of %'.M\0. The total yields of good fruit, however, were 

 coHslderalily reduced owing to a hard rain in April. 



Fertilizer tests have been Conducted since 1903 in an orchard containing 98 

 Elberta peach trees. The trees came into bearing this year. Although the 

 yield was t'aii-ly good, the (luality of fruit is said to have been poor owing to 

 attacks by insects. Data are given showing the amounts of the different kinds 

 of fertili/.ei- used and tlie yield of peaches. The results seem to indicate the 

 prejionderating influence of niti-ogen ratlier than phosphoric acid, together with 

 some benefits from i)otash. which has not been the case with other crops. No 

 difference was noted in the color of the peaches owing to the presence or 

 alisence of potash soils luider the trees. The peaches were not marketed to 

 advantage, since the various varieties ripened at different intervals. 



From the Greensboro orchard, together with some 20 trees of other varieties, 

 were sold 105 crates, Avhich netted the shippers $110. Sixty crates were sold 

 from the Ellierta orchard, netting .'fr)7..50. From the remainder of tlie crop 35 

 doz. :; pt. cans of fi'uit were put ni( and disiioseil of at from .f l.S(» to $2 per dozen. 

 The r>-b;iskct ventilated peach crate is considei'ed the most desirable shipping 

 package. I>uring the winter of 190<'). LOOo additional Elberta trees were set 

 out, with the view of producing carload shipments of fruit. 



None of the plums jjcars, or apples have as yet borne any fruit worth men- 

 tioning. 



5871— No. 12-07 3 



