840 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.36 



"Asparagus roots taken from plats receiving the nitrate of soda in the spring 

 were noticeably heavier in weight and a little poorer in nitrogen than roots 

 from plats that were top-dressed with nitrate in the summer. During the cut- 

 ting season the production of young stalks drew most heavily on the sugar con- 

 tained in the roots, but there was no approach to exhaustion of that constituent. 

 Fully twice as much sugar was consumed as would have been required to pro- 

 duce the carbonaceous matter in the young stalks. The roots apparently ab- 

 sorbed nitrogen, lime, and sulphuric acid during the cutting season. Potash 

 and phosphoric acid were apparently supplied to the young stalks wholly from 

 the reserves in the roots." 



From the standpoint of cultural practice the chemical study has shown that 

 a complete fertilizer rich in nitrogen is required in generous amounts in order 

 to produce a continuous strong development of the asparagus plant. The 

 physiological need of water, together with the sandy quality of most asparagus 

 soils, indicate that irrigation would be advantageous, if not necessary, for the 

 production of maximum crops. The reserve material stored in autumn in the 

 roots was found to be principally sugars. 



" Destruction of the tops by rust, or their premature removal to be rid of the 

 berries, must lessen the amount of sugar which can be stored in the roots. The 

 fertilizing constituents which were stored in the roots over winter appeared 

 to be nearly, if not quite, sufficient for the full development of the succeeding 

 spring crop. There was evidence of a small intake of nitrogen during the crop- 

 ping season and a pronounced absorption of lime and sulphuric acid. Sul- 

 phuric acid was found to be equally, if not more, important than phosphoric 

 acid among the constituents of the asparagus plant. Nevertheless, the sulphate 

 of lime in the acid phosphate appeared to suffice fully for the needs of the crop." 



Connecticut Valley onion supply and distribution, A. E. Cance, W. L. 

 Machmer, and F. W. Read {Massachusetts Sta. Bui. 169 (1916), pp. 49-122, 

 figs. JfO). — A study of onion supply and distribution in the Connecticut Valley, 

 including introductory considerations relative to onion supply, regions of pro- 

 duction, and shipping periods in the United States as a whole. In part 1 the 

 Connecticut Valley onion district is considered with reference to topographic 

 features, onion soils, general marketing facilities, general history of onion 

 growing in Massachusetts, economics of production, tenure of land, soils and 

 climatic conditions, extent of industry, methods of culture, seed and sets, 

 varieties, weeding, economic factors, harvesting, cost of production, and yields. 



Part 2 discusses in detail marketing the crop, methods of sale, storage of 

 onions, transportation of onions, problems of transportation, and prices of 

 onions. 



As a result of the investigation the authors present a number of recommenda- 

 tions suggesting improved methods of harvesting and marketing. 



Boot hardiness of fruit trees {Wiscor\sin Sta. Bui. 275 (1917), pp. 34, 35). — 

 As here briefly summarized the studies of root hardiness being conducted at 

 the station have shown thus far that little injury occurs at 21° F. When the 

 temperature falls to 14° the cambium tissue is generally injured. Data on the 

 influence of cover crops on the moisture content and temperature of the soil as 

 a factor in root hardiness indicate that cover crops are chiefly of value in hold- 

 ing the snow, which has proved to be the best protection of the root system. 



Observations on the production of scion roots have have been made on about 

 6,000 nursery trees. It appears doubtful whether apple trees produce sufficient 

 scion roots, in a nursery at least, to support the tree in case the stock roots are 

 winterkilled. The results thus far accumulated do not accord with the view 

 sometimes advanced that winterkilling is largely due to desiccation of injurwl 

 parts. 



