HORTICULTUEE. 



567 



The yields obtained from irrigated plats of raspberries for 4 years have been luit 

 little larger than those obtained from unirrigated plats. The various fertilizers used 

 have given conflicting results, but are ipiite uniform in showing no advantage from 

 the supplemental amount of nitrate of soda (200 11 )s. per acre). Turner was the 

 heaviest yielding red raspberry and Souhegan was the best black raspberry tested 

 in 1901. 



With currants irrigation has increased the yield on an average for 4 years of over 

 15 per cent. The yield on the irrigated plats was lowest where nitrate of soda was 

 used. 



Gooseberries during a period of 4 years have been increased a little over 7 per cent 

 in yield by irrigation. The heaviest yields have been obtained on plats fertilized 

 with stable manure. 



In the test with strawberries Bubach gave the largest early yield (1,441.9 qt. ), with 

 Glen Mary second (1,325.5 qt. ). In the total yield Glen Mary led with 8,783.7 qt., fol- 

 lowed by Bubach with 7,572.9 qt. per acre. Of the early sorts P^xcelsior was most pro- 

 ductive in 1901, with Darling second. Sample was one of the heaviest yielding late 

 varieties. In 1901 the unirrigated plats led in yield in all cases except early yield on one 

 plat. During 4 years irrigation has been beneficial in slightly increasing the early yield 

 only. Unirrigated plats fertilized with complete commercial fertilizers supplemented 

 with nitrate of soda at the rate of 200 lbs. per acre have produced the largest early 

 yield and the largest total yield. A fertilizer made up of bone, potash, and phos- 

 phoric acid has given the largest yield under irrigation. Relative to the culture of 

 strawberries in hills r. matted rows, it is stated that beyond question some varieties 

 are better adapted to hill culture than others. Nineteen varieties in 1901 gave 

 greater returns from hill culture than from matted rows. In 1900 but 11 varieties 

 gave increased yields in hill culture. Some of the most productive varieties in hills 

 are Margaret, Ideal, Bubach, Glen Mary, Hall Favorite, and Seafard. 



Experiments with plums, pears, peaches, and cherries have not yet been conducted 

 long enough to warrant any definite conclusions. The yields obtained on different 

 plats and with di'^erent varieties are noted as a matter of record. In a test of the 

 Stringfellow method of setting peaches, as compared with the usual method, the 

 Stringfellow trees taken as a whole have given yields much lower than those set in 

 the usual way. The following data show the set of fruit in 1901 on peach trees 

 that had been thinned in 1900: 



Set of peaches on thinned trees. 



Number of fruits 



Removert in thinning, 1900 



Piclved ripe in 1900 



Total set, 1901 



The table indicates the largest set of fruit on the tree that had l>een most severely 

 thinned the preceding year. 



Some experiments on the subirrigation of raspberries,* currants, and gooseberries 

 l)y plowing out a deep furrow, placing tile in this and planting the fruit over the 

 ,tile, have been conducted now for 4 years, but have not given satisfactory results. 

 In only 2 instances have the subirrigated plats given better yields than the controls. 

 The difficulties of keeping the line of tile open are thought to be too great to render 

 the use of tile for subirrigation of these fruits practicable. 



In the test of garden beans Fillbasket Wax was the earliest maturing sort grown 

 and Jones Stringless Wax the most ])roductive. In comparisons of pole and dwarf 

 Lima beans there has not been found much difference in earliness of maturing, but 



