782 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



showing an almost uniform widening of the ratio between grain and straw with 

 increased nitrogen content of soil. 



Distribution of seeds and plants, E. J. WiCKSON {California Sta. Bui. 112, pj). 8).— 

 A descriptive list is given of selected resistant grapes, table grapes from Persia, 

 desirable eucalypts, silk cotton tree {Eriodendron aiifructuosum), carob (Ceratonia 

 siliqita), dry land grasses, plants for green manuring, forage plants for alkali soils, 

 canaigre, kale, Jerusalem artichokes, Algerian wheats, vegetables, and tobacco, 

 which are ottered by the station for distribution to citizens of the State. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Notes on cabbages, H. P. Gould {Maine Sta. Ept. 1S95, pp. 82- 

 S8). — The author reports on the iutluence of size of seed, results of tying 

 up the outer leaves to hasten maturity, effect of mulching-, and shallow 

 vs. deep cultivation. 



In testing the influence of the size of seed, plants from large and small 

 seed from 3 varieties were grown, and the results are tabulated. The 

 weight of the heaviest and lightest heads, the average weight, and the 

 percentage of cracked heads, immature heads, and plants not forming 

 heads are given, together with the ratio of the average weights of heads 

 from large and small seed. For one variety the small seed produced 

 heavier heads than the large, but with the other two the ratio was 

 reversed, from which it seems probable that the size of the seed has 

 some influence upon the size of the head, the larger seed as a rule pro- 

 ducing larger heads. 



The effect of tying up the outer leaves upon the maturity of the plant 

 was investigated and the results tabulated, in which it was shown that 

 tying up the outer leaves of the cabbage appeared to have no effect 

 upon the maturity of the heads, but resulted in a marked decrease in 

 their size and in increased liability to decay. 



The eftect of mulching with straw was tested and the results tabu- 

 lated. It is shown that the use of a mulch in growing cabbages, espe- 

 cially in a dry season, is advantageous. 



Shallow and deep cultivation Avere tried with 4 varieties of cabbage, 

 and it appears from the tabulated data that the different methods of 

 culture did not affect all varieties in the same way. In general, deep 

 cultivation appears to hasten maturity of plants, as is shown by the 

 greater percentage of cracked heads from the deeply cultivated plants 

 and by the greater percentage of immature plants from those given 

 shallow cultivation. The size of the head did not seem to be influenced 

 by the different methods of culture. 



Onions, L. C. Corbett [South Dakota Sta. Bui. 47, pp. 33-39, 46).— 

 Plantings were made February 27 and March 18 of each of 7 varieties 

 of onions, For 1 variety the yields were alike for both plantings, but 

 for the other 6 varieties there was a marked difference in favor of the 

 earlier date, as great in one case as 115 bu. per acre. The data are 

 tabulated. 



