442 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



wlaole show that of 20 plats receiving fertilizers only 3 bore smaller crops than 

 the average of the 7 unfertilized plats and only one of the unfertilized plats 

 had more berries than the average yield of the fertilized plats. 



Some limited experiments dealing with the use of lime for cranberry bogs 

 failed to show either an advantageous or a detrimental effect from lime. 



Raspberry breeding, R. Wellington (Proc. 8oc. Hort. ScL, 10 (1913), pp. 

 155-159). — A brief study of the first generation characteristics of a number 

 of raspberry crosses which were made at the New York Geneva Station. 



Strawberries under irrigation in south Texas, E. E. Binfokd {Texas Sta. 

 Circ. 1, n. ser. (1913), pp. 3-13, figs. 2). — ^A practical treatise on the culture 

 of strawberries under irrigation, based on data secured by experiments at the 

 Beeville Substation and also on observations of commercial practices in south 

 Texas and on the literature of the subject. The phases discussed include soils 

 and their preparation, transplanting, varieties, sex of plants, spraying, rules 

 for picking and packing, irrigation, picking season, summer treatment, and 

 cost of production. 



The varieties that have proved most successful in the extreme south are 

 Saint Louis, Klondike, Lady Thompson, and Buster. Other varieties that have 

 tested well at the Beeville Substation are Brandywine, Marshall, Ben Davis, 

 and Michael Early. The cost of production for the first year, based on data 

 secured from a number of growers by the Office of Farm Management of the 

 IT. S. Department of Agriculture, approximates $200 per acre. 



Sterility in the grape, M. J. Dorsey (Prnc. Soc. Hort. Set, 10 (1913), pp. 

 149-153). — A brief summary of an investigation to be reported on in full at a 

 later date. 



Attention is called to the necessity of distinguishing between sterility re- 

 sulting from differences in essential organs and that due to unfavorable weather 

 conditions occurring at flowering time during many seasons. Sterility is asso- 

 ciated with both hybridity and diceciousness. The native species of our grapes 

 are, generally speaking, dioecious, and fertile pollen borne by the pistillate 

 flower with reflexed stamen is rare. This condition suggests a deep-seated 

 relation between sterility and functional decline. Taking into consideration the 

 fact that there are both fertile and sterile hybrids, the author concludes that 

 the contributory cTiuses of sterility are deep-seated influences operating to pro- 

 duce declinism or diceciousness. The deep-seated nature of sterility and its 

 relation with diceciousness indicate that it can not be overcome by cultural 

 conditions. 



A bibliography of consulted literature is given. 



The fertilizing action of sulphur on the vine, J. Chatjzit (Rei\ Vit., 41 

 (1914), No. 1052, pp. 115-119. figs. 2).— The author conducted two distinct 

 series of experiments on ^-acre plats of grapevines. In the first series it was 

 sought to determine what effect sulphur produced on soils which had not re- 

 ceive<l farmyard manure since 2. 3, 4, and 5 years. The second series of 

 experiments dealt with the action of sulphur mixed with manure or sown broad- 

 cast and applie<l in various quantities. 



From the work as a whole it is concluded that sulphur acts favorably, both 

 on the growth and yield of the vine. The greater the quantity of organic 

 matter in the soil and the more recently it has been applied the more pro- 

 nounced is the action of sulphur. To secure the best results the sulphur should 

 be thoroughly mixed with the organic matter on which it is to act. As far as 

 the quantities applied in this test are concerned the yield increased with an 

 increase in the amount of sulphur. The largest amount applied was 360 lbs. 

 per acre mixed with manure. The manure used with or without sulphur was 



