310 EXPERIMENT STATI )N RECORD. 



it seems probable that it more often results from a deficiency of pistils 

 or from cold weather during the period of fertilization." 



Experiments in strawberry culture, E. S. Goff ( Wisconsin Sta. 

 Ept. 1894^ pp. 327-339, Jigs. 5). — The plants under trial were set out on 

 a light clay loam in the spring of 1892, 2 ft. apart in rows ?>h ft. apart 

 and usually 50 ft. long. They were allowed to form matted rows, given 

 good culture and a fair allowance of stable manure, and were well \)vo- 

 tected during the winter. The results given are averages of crops of 

 1893 and 1894. 



Test of varieties (pp. 327-330). — Only such varieties were planted 

 as seemed for sjjecial reason to merit trial. The results are given in 

 grajdiic form for 45 varieties tested, Warfleld, Enhance, Bederwood, 

 Parker Earle, and Boynton leading in productiveness in the order 

 named. The length of fruiting season of these varieties is shown 

 graphically, the season extending from June 12 to July 5. 



Test of leejying quality (pp. 330-332). — In 1893 sample boxes of the 

 freshly picked berries of the different varieties were ijlaced on a shelf 

 in a north room, and examined and classified after 24 and 48 hours. 

 At the end of the test 12 varieties were still in a fair salable condition, 

 20 still usable, and 9 unfit for use. The three varieties leading in 

 productiveness were among those in the first class, Parker Earle and 

 Boynton being in the second class. 



Irri(j<(tion (pp. 332-337). — The irrigation apparatus used by the sta- 

 tion in 1894 consisted of an ordinary threshing engine and rotary pump 

 for raising the water from the lake and forcing it to the strawberry 

 plantation through a 2^-inch pipe, and V-shaped wooden troughs sup- 

 ported on crossed stakes. These troughs extended across the rows and 

 had openings guarded by simple homemade galvanized iron gates by 

 which the water could be let into furrows between the rows. The beds 

 were irrigated June 11, when there had been no rain for 18 days. The 

 plants were just beginning to show the eftect of drought but "resumed 

 their fresh and vigorous appearance and yielded a fine crop of excellent 

 fruit." Eain on June 16 rendered further irrigation unnecessary, but 

 the irrigated and check plats showed yields of 49G.6 and 252.8 quarts, 

 respectively, thus indicating a gain of 243.8 quarts for the one irriga- 

 tion even when followed by rain. As a result of after-harvest irri- 

 gation upon a plantation that had borne two full crops and had been 

 mowed and burned over and thinned out "the plants made a most vig- 

 orous growth . . . looking far more promising than spring set beds that 

 had not been irrigated, [while] the check rows were nearly ruined, long 

 vacant spaces api)earing whence every plant had perished from the 

 protracted drought." 



Breeding experiment (pp. 337, 338). — This is in continuation of work 

 reported in the Annual Report of the station for 1892 (E. S. E., 5, p. 

 490). In the spring of 1892 2 rows of 25 i)lants each of Wilson straw- 

 berries were set, the plants being "grown from other plants set the 



