HORTICULTURE. 43 



acre 39.8 bu. of first grade and 3.5 bu. of second grade, Early Rose 100.8 bu. of 

 lirst grade and I'A bu. of second grade, Bnrbank iM't.S bu. of first grade and 14.7 

 bu. of second grade, Peerless 104.5 bu. of first grade and 14.6 bu. of second 

 grade. Triuuipb potatoes were dug on May 2!) and the three other varieties on 

 .June 11. The Irish potato has not proven a profitable crop thus far, since the 

 yield nnder the best conditions is only from 75 to 100 bu. per acre and unless 

 placed on an early market the margin of profit is small. 



Throe-quarters of an acre of tomatoes was planted principally with the view 

 of determining whether or not the crop can be raised snccessfully by spraying 

 regularly to keep down black rot. Considerable rot was developed as the 

 season advanced, but an application of Bordeaux mixture checked it almost 

 entirely. One hundred and seventy 4-basket crates netted the shippers .$;»4.07. 

 It is concluded that tomatoes can be grown successfully in that region when 

 spraying is regularly attended to. 



Beets, onions, lettuce, and radishes are also said to do well and might be 

 profitable if marketed properly and at the right time. On October 6, 1905, 0.17 

 of an acre of Egyptian blood turnip beets was sown, from which 27 bu. were 

 sold during the early spring, netting the shii)pers $15.15. 



Beport of the horticulturist, C. P. Close {Delaware Sfa. Rpts. 19Q'i-19l)6. 

 pp. 'i0-'i8, 6S). — The principal lines of work conducted for the year 1906 consisted 

 of experiments in apple breeding, comparative tests of spraying materials, fer- 

 tilizers and cover crops, dipping nursery stock and strawberry plants in insecti- 

 cides, and the pruning of Kiefifer pears. The results of dust and liquid spraying 

 and strong and weak Bordeaux on apples have been previously published (E. S. 

 R.. 18, p. 754). 



The work in apple breeding is being carried on with the view of originating 

 earlier varieties .than those now existing, especally earlier red varieties. Several 

 crosses were made between the well-known early sorts, between several of the 

 winter sorts, and of some of the winter varieties with the early varieties. The 

 methods of procedure are outlined, and the results are tal)u]ated. Of the total 

 number of crosses, 2,288, only 188 set fruit. Out of 871 blossoms bagged for pure 

 breeding none set fruit. The crosses in which early varieties were used as fe- 

 male parents produced 1,129 good plump seeds. Only 1 fruit was secured out 

 of the crosses where the winter varieties were used as female parents. This 

 fruit contained 5 mature seeds. The seeds secured are to be grown to fruiting. 



The work with commerical fertilizers and cover crops on apiile orchards was 

 continued (E. S. R., 18, p. 1043), but the author states that practically no results 

 of a reliable nature have been obtained, as the cover crops have been too light. 

 Somewhat similar tests have been conducted in a peach orchard, but owing to 

 uncontrollable conditions and the diseased nature of the orchard, as well as to 

 make room for apple trees in the same orchard, it has been decided to discontinue 

 the test and remove the peach trees. 



Dipping experiments with nursery stock and strawberries are noted elsewhere 

 in this issue. A brief note is given on the present condition of the Kieffer pear 

 trees with which pruning experiments were begun in 1903 (E. S. R., is, p. 1043). 

 Although the trees have not thus far produced as much fruit as trees of the 

 same age unpruned, the author is of the opinion that the pruned trees will soon 

 outyield the others. 



Sum.inary of investigations [Horticultural crops], J. G. Smith {Hawaii 

 Rta. Rpt. 1906, pp. 10-12, 14, 15, 17, pis. 2). — A summary is given of planting op- 

 erations and cooperative and marketing experiments with horticultural crops. 



A tropical fruit orchard, including the mango, avocado, breadfruit, cherimoyer, 

 sapodilla, wi, custard apple, longau, and others, has been planted, together with 



