862 EXPEEIMENT STATIOIST KECORD. 



on sl^ of an acre as a basis, the author estimates that the cost of jjrowing an acre 

 of ginseng 5 years would amount to $9,249, distributed as follows: 



80,040 plants, at 10 cents $8, 004 



Lath for screen roof, posts, boards for cross-bars and braces, 

 setting posts, and carpentry 645 



Planting, preparing soil, weeding and mulching for five years, 

 digging mots, washing and drying crop 600 



The receipts from an acre at the end of 5 years would be 2,900 Ujs. of dried roots 

 worth, at $8.50 per pound, $24,650. This gives a net profit in 5 years of $15,401, 

 without taking into consideration interest on money invested, the cost or rental of 

 the land, etc. The bulletin concludes with a brief account of the more common 

 enemies of ginseng. 



Ginseng; its cultivation, harvesting, marketing, and market value, with 

 a short account of its history and botany, M. G. Kaixs {Xeic York: Orange 

 Judd Co., 190.) , n. ed., ])p. 14 J, figs. 24). — This is the second edition of this work, 

 which has been enlarged to more than twice its former size and brought up to date. 

 The increase in size is due largely to a discussion of the present status of the industry. 



■Notes from the trial grounds, E. S. Brown {Amer. G(trd., 24 {1903), No. 425, 

 pp. 103, 104, figs. 2). — Notes are given on the growth of varieties of muskmelons and 

 watermelons at the American Gardening trial grounds in New York. Eleven varie- 

 ties of muskmelons and 4 of watermelons are briefly described. 



Practical suggestions for fruit growers, H. P. Gould ( U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Farmers' Bid. 161, jjp. 28, figs. S). — This bulletin "is intended to be a practical pre- 

 sentation of principles rather than a description of methods. ' ' Such problems as loca- 

 tion, soil, varieties, stock, pruning, fertilizing, tillage, cover crops, marketing, 

 spraying, etc., are popularly discussed. 



Peach growing in West Virginia, K. C. Davis ( West Virgmia Sla. Bid. 82, j)p- 

 389-441, pi. 1, fig'i. 21, maps 4). — An account of the development and present status 

 of the peach industry in West Virginia, including descriptions of the methods fol- 

 lowed by the best peach growers of the State in setting out jieach orchards, culti- 

 vating them, planting them with catch crops, thinning the fruit, combating insect 

 and fungus pests, picking, packing, sorting, shipping, etc. Maps are given showing 

 where peaches are now grown on a commercial scale within the State, where they 

 have been successfully grown for home use, and the areas recommended for trial of 

 peaches. 



Some cooperative fertilizer exjieriments conducted by the station with commercial 

 growers indicate that for Romney shales a complete fertilizer compounded in the 

 proi^ortion of 60 to 80 oz. of dissolved boneblack, 20 to 30 oz. of muriate of potash, 

 and 20 to 30 oz. of nitrate of soda, and applied at the rate of 4 or 5 lbs. per tree for 

 the first 5 years of the growth of the orchard, is likely to give very satisfactory results. 

 Trees thus treated hold their leaves longer and fruit later than trees not fertilized. 

 Applications containing 1 or 2 lbs. of muriate of potash, but omitting either the 

 nitrate or the dissolved boneblack, did little or no good and in some cases were even 

 harmful. i 



"More than 2 lbs. of potash per tree even killed the trees in several instances. 

 Light applications of potash with some acid phosphate, in form of South Carolina 

 rock or otherwise, produced the best colored fruit. Results indicate that the dates of 

 ripening can be controlled to a limited extent by certain applications now being tested. 

 When applied alone, bone meal gives better growth than dissolved bone. Thomas 

 slag, while difficult to obtain, gives no better results than South Carolina rock." 



As to the best varieties to plant, the following list, recommended by one of the 

 oldest aud largest peach growers of the State, is given: 



