434 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



young fruit trees on the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash of the 

 soil. A table is given showing the weight of the leaves and the total 

 length of growth of branches of various tree fruits for the years 1896 

 and 1897. A test was made of the effect of irrigation, the relative 

 effect of fertilizers with and without irrigation, and the effect of dif- 

 ferent fertilizers on strawberries. The yields of the different plats are 

 given in tabular form. 



"These results show that in 11 rases the yield is increased by irrigation, while in 

 the other 13 no increase occurs; and that in 2 cases the yield from the plats receiving 

 the complete fertilizer is increased by irrigation, while it is less in the other ) : that 

 with the mixture of bone, potash, and acid phosphate the yield, with one exception, 

 is increased by irrigation, while when nitrate of soda is added to the complete 

 fertilizer, only 1 instance of increased yield occurs." 



The effect of nitrate of soda was shown in darker foliage and almost 

 entire freedom from rust. The different fertilizers both with and with- 

 out irrigation did not appreciably influence the time of ripening. In 

 connection with the irrigation tests the daily and monthly rainfall of 

 the years 1896 and 1897 is recorded. 



A comparison was made of hill culture with matted-row culture of 

 strawberries. The plants of 5 plats were grown in hills varying from 

 12 to 24 in. apart each way. The plants of the other 3 plats were 

 set 18 in. apart in rows 4 ft. apart. In one of these plats all the runners 

 were allowed to grow and form a matted row. In another one-half of 

 the runners were removed, and in a third but 2 plants were allowed to 

 grow from each one set. The varieties grown were Lady Thompson, 

 Greenville, and Gaudy. The yields per plant, per plat, and per acre, are 

 given in tables. In the case of hill culture the largest yields were 

 obtained from the plats in which the plants were set 12 in. apart and 

 with 2 exceptions there was a regular gradation in the yields of all 

 varieties from the 12 in. plats to the 21 in. ones. The maximum yield 

 per hill was obtained from the 15 in. plat. The 12 in. plat yielded 

 more than any of the systems of matted-row culture. Of the latter the 

 plat in which all runners were allowed to remain gave the largest yield 

 and the one in which only 2 plants were allowed to form from each one 

 set gave the smallest yield. There was no constant difference in size 

 of fruits between the hill and matted-row system of culture. With the 

 varieties Greenville and Gaudy the matted-row plats gave the greatest 

 early yield, while with the variety Lady Thompson the reverse was true. 



A test of 31 varieties of strawberries is reported, the results being 

 given in tables, showing early yield, total yield, size of fruits, produc- 

 tion of runners, and freedom from rust. A few of the newer varieties 

 are described. 



Practical suggestions as to methods of management of apple orchards 

 are reprinted from Bulletin 119 of the station (E. S. li.,9, p. 47), which 

 gives data regarding apple culture obtained from a fruit survey of the 

 Stnte in 1895. Statistics on strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, 

 currants, and gooseberries were gathered at the same time and are 



