HORTICULTURE. 403 



plant and head are given. The nnmber and avera.Qe weight of heads 

 on each phit are shown in the following table: 



Effect of different fertilizers on cauliflower. 



Fertilizer. 



None 



Nitrate (>(• soda 



Acid pliiisiiliate 



Muriate ul potash. 



Tomatoes, ^L 11. Beck with ( Delaicare Sfa. JRpt. is!)',^ pp. 127-131). — 

 To ascertain how much nitrate of soda can safely be applied to i^lants 

 in setting out, solutions of different strength were used to water the 

 plants. One group of plants received 3.5 grains of nitrate x)er plant, 

 in one-half pint of water poured directly about the roots, and the plants 

 of the other groups received 7, 14, and 21 grains, respectively. One 

 group served as a check, the plants being given water oidy. The plants 

 were set on June 10, and on June 25 all of those watered with the 

 strongest solution were dead, only 1 plant of each of the next two 

 groups was living, 7 were alive in the group receiving 3.5 grains, and 

 all in good condition in the check group. The author concludes that 

 "only a small amount of nitrate of soda can be ai^plied directly to the 

 roots of tomato plants when transplanting." Quite heavy applications 

 can be made without injury to the plants if applied to the surface of 

 the ground or worked into the soil. 



Kotes are given upon 51 varieties of tomatoes grown at the station. 



Apple culture, L. F. Kinney {Rhode Island Sta. Bui. 37, pp. 31-45, 

 Jigs. 8). — This bulletin consists mainly of popular directions for the 

 cultivation and care of established orchards. The author urges the 

 necessity of fertilizing apple trees as much and as regularly as the 

 other cultivated crops. He recommends crimson clover as a nitrogen 

 gatherer, but finds that it can be depended on only as a summer or 

 catch crop, as it frequently winter kills in the State. Directions are 

 given for culture of the plant in orchards and fignres illustrating its 

 habit of growth. 



The need of a good supply of water when the apples are maturing 

 is emphasized, and cultivation and mulching are recommended as 

 moisture con servers. 



To show the need for the apple of light and air, two branches of 

 equal size were cut from each of 10 trees in different parts of an orchard 

 in which the trees were planted too close. ''The limbs selected were 

 about 1 in. in diameter, and in each case one was taken that was fully 

 exposed to sunlight and the other where partially shaded. When the 

 limbs were taken to the laboratory, where the buds were counted, the 



