HORTICULTURE. 235 



4,544 heat units were necessary to mature the crop, while at Idalla, Colo., 157 

 days, with an average temperature of 58°, or 9,106 units, were required. 



In studying the efifect of the time and manner of harvesting, it was observed 

 that when only the heads are harvested early the grain is small and shriveled 

 and when harvested late the grain is plump. It was found that the percentage 

 of nitrogen and protein was practically the same in every sample whether 

 harvested early or late, heads separate or the whole plant, and whether the 

 samples were pi'otected or exposed. In the weight per thousand grains the 

 samples harvested late weighed from 7 to 10 gm. more than those harvested 

 early. It was also shown that the weight per thousand grains where the heads 

 only were harvested early was 26.3 gm. and where the whole plant was 

 harvested at the same time 28.9 gm. 



Several hundred analyses made by the Bureau of Chemistry of American 

 spring and winter wheat grown in differeiat States show an average protein 

 content of 12.2 per cent, as compared with 14.7 per cent for over 100 samples of 

 durum wheat analyzed by the author. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Tests of the vitality of vegetable seeds, E. H. Jenkins {Gonnecticnt State 

 Sta. Rpt. lOniy. pt. 6. pp. 3.95-5.97). — During the seasons of 1905 and 1906, 71.3 

 samples of field and garden seeds were tested relative to their sprouting capa- 

 city, the work being done by V. L. Churchill. A brief tabulated simnnary is 

 given of the results of these tests. 



Data are given with regard to the average sprouting capacity of Connecticut- 

 grown onion seed tested in 1880 and each year from 1894 to 1906, inclusive. 

 The average sprouting capacity for 13 consecutive years was 77.7 per cent. A 

 comparative test was made of the sprouting capacity of the following varieties : 

 Yellow. Red. and White Globe, White Portugal, and Wethersfield Red. Red 

 Globe gave the highest results with a sprouting capacity of 80.2 per cent, the 

 average for the 5 varieties being about 76 per cent. 



Since 1896 the station has made a test of 1,084 samples of onion seed. In the 

 tabulated results the vitality of Connecticut-grown seed is compared with Cali- 

 fornia-grown seed, the seed tested including seed of different ages from that 

 stated to be less than one year to that stated to be between 3 and 4 years old. 

 The California seed gave the best results except with the seed between 3 and 

 4 years old. Onion seed 1 year old is usually found to have a much lower 

 sprouting capacity than new seed, although seed from a good crop 1 year old 

 sometimes germinates quite as well as new seed from an inferior crop. 



A table is also given showing the avei*hge, maximum, and minimum vitality 

 found in tests of Connecticut-grown sweet corn less than 1 year old during 

 the years 1904, 1905, and 1906. 



The use of anesthetics in the forcing of plants, W. Stuakt {Vermont Sta. 

 Rpt. 1906, pp. 219-293, figs. 2). — General consideration is given to the impor- 

 tance of anesthetics in the forcing of plants and the results secured by Euro- 

 pean investigators along this line. The use of anesthetics at the present time 

 is said to l)e confined almost wholly to flowering shrubs, such as lilacs, vibur- 

 nums, deutzias, spireas, azaleas, etc. During the season of 1903—4 the autlior 

 commenced some experiuKjnts to determine the value of ether in the foi'cing of 

 rhubarb, the results of which have been previously noted (E. S. R., 17, p. 249). 

 Further experiments were conducted with a view to determining whether 

 etherized plants might not be forced without the intervention of frost. The 

 results are here given of the work conducted during the season of 1905-6. 



