244 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Experiment garden notes, I, W. B. Alwood (Virginia Sta. 

 Bui. 59, pp. 171-176). — This is a popular bulletin compiled from notes 

 taken on garden vegetables during several years. 



General remarks are made on Held culture of tomatoes and the 

 methods used in forcing tomatoes are given. Out of 30 varieties of 

 tomatoes tried under glass, Beauty is recommended as best. About GO 

 fruits per plant is the average yield. Some fruits weigh from 8 to 

 14 oz., but the average weight is below 8 oz. The author advises 

 the use of ground beds rather than raised beds or boxes for forcing 

 tomatoes. Pruning to a single stem and training upright to a wire 

 trellis was found to be best of the methods tried. To test the neces- 

 sity of artificial pollination, 40 blossoms before opening were covered 

 with paper bags and these allowed to remain until the stigmas had 

 passed the receptive stage. From the 40 blossoms '2 fruits set, but 

 made little growth. 



The culture methods best suited to celery are considered with some 

 detail. For early use White Plume and for late Golden Heart and 

 White Solid was found to be especially desirable. 



Experiment garden notes, II, W. B. Alwood (Virginia Sta. 

 Bui. 60, pp. 3-14). — A continuation of the work published in Bulletin 

 59 of the station. The culture and varieties of onions, early peas, snap 

 beans, Lima beans, sugar corn, early salads, and asparagus are consid- 

 ered. The construction and management of hotbeds are given in detail. 



Growing black-seed onions is not recommended, except where a good 

 market can be had, on account of their poor keeping qualities. The 

 potato onion is considered to be particularly adapted to the condi- 

 tions in Virginia. The dwarf forms of peas were found to be no earlier 

 than the medium forms and to yield less. Wrinkled peas were of better 

 quality, but less hardy than smooth ones. Extra Early Valentine is 

 highly recommended as the best variety of snap beans for home use. 

 Henderson Dwarf Lima was found to be best of the Lima beans grown. 



Report on garden vegetables and orchard and small fruits, 

 P. K. Blinn (Colorado Sta. Rpt. 1896, pp. 161-17-1).— The author gives 

 a report of the vegetables and fruits grown at the Arkansas Valley 

 Substation, including variety tests of onions, cabbage, eweet corn, toma- 

 toes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, celery, melons, sugar beets, and potatoes. 

 The general condition of orchard and small fruits is mentioned, most 

 of the fruts suffering from the effects of late frosts and high winds. 

 Two unsuccessful attempts were made to establish strawberries. A 

 report is also given of varieties of plums, apricots, peaches, quinces, 

 pears, cherries, apples, nuts, blackberries, gooseberries, ornamental 

 trees and shrubs, currants, and raspberries which were planted, and 

 the number of living trees and shrubs are indicated. 



Report of the horticulturist, 0. S. Cra^dall (Colorado Sta. Rpt 

 1896, pp. 121-131). — Tests of varieties of apples, pears, and plums are 

 given, in which the different varieties are graded according to their 

 being hardy, half hardy, or tender, on high and low lands. 



