HORTICULTURE. 263 



best market berry of tbe three. Marlboro is valuable for earliness; Turner is dis- 

 carded. The largest yield of early fruit has been obtained by the use of manure, 

 but the largest total yield has been obtained on the plat receiving complete com- 

 mercial fertilizer plus bone and potash. On the basis of cost, however, each dollar 

 invested in manure has returned $1.60 and $6.90, respectively, in early and total 

 yields, each dollar invested in complete fertilizer has returned $5.94 and $27.15 in 

 early and total yields, respectively; each dollar invested in complete fertilizer plus 

 bone and potash has returned $2.46 and $17.63 in early and total yields, respectively; 

 and each dollar invested in complete commercial fertilizer plus bone, potash, and 

 nitrate of soda has returned $2.31 and $11.51 in early and total yields, respectively. 



As with the asparagus, the cheapest fertilizer for raspberries, considering the cost 

 and yield, has been the complete commercial fertilizer. The addition of nitrate of 

 soda at blooming time has been without value for this fruit. The author concludes 

 that manure at $1.50 per ton is the most expensive of the four methods of fertilizing 

 practiced with raspberries, while the total yields and the returns per dollar of cosl 

 are the lowest obtained. 



German asparagus culture, H. W. Harris (Depl. Com. ami Lain,-, Mo. <'<m- 

 Kiilur Rpts. 1904, No. 286, pp. 85, 86, fig. 1). — An account is given of German methods 

 of growing asparagus in the region of Baden. It appears that the roots are planted 

 4-5 ft. apart in rows about that same distance apart. Stable manure is used in pref- 

 erence to commercial fertilizers and the ground kept mounded up around each hill 

 10 to 14 in. high. A fair crop is secured about the fourth year, but the field is at its 

 best from 8 to 12 years after planting. 



An old asparagus bed, W. S. Campbell (Agr. Gaz. New South Wales. 15 (lf>04), 

 No. 4, pp. 322, 323). — An asparagus bed in flourishing condition 60 years old is 

 described. 



Comparative tests of standard varieties of onions, II. Field ( West. Fruit 

 Grower, 15 (1904), No. 9, pp. 18, 19). — The results are given of tests of a number of 

 varieties of onions grown in Iowa. In some instances 2-year-old seed was used. It 

 was estimated that at 50 cts. a bushel the increased money value from the use of 

 1-year-old seed rather than 2-year old amounted to $140 per acre in the case of the 

 Red "Wethersfield variety. Notes are also given on tests of a number of varieties 

 of cabbages and sweet corn. Dahlias were grown from seed nearly as quickly as from 

 bulbs. 



Notes from a seedman's trial grounds, H. Field ( West. Fruit Grower, 15 ( 1904), 

 No. 7, pp. 14, 15). — The results of teste of varieties of lettuce, table beets, peas, string 

 beans, sweet corn, and a number of miscellaneous farm crops are recorded. 



Tomatoes, L. R. Taft and M. L. Dean (Michigan Sta. Bui. 214, pp. 13-17). — 

 Descriptive and cultural notes are given on 72 varieties of red and 8 varieties of yel- 

 low tomatoes grown at the station during the year. Relative to the advantages of 

 staking tomatoes the authors state that tomatoes thus trained can be planted much 

 closer, the fruit is of better quality, and in excessively wet years it is possible to ripen 

 a good crop of fruit, when if planted in the ordinary manner it might not mature at 

 all. Little difference was noted in the time of maturing of tomatoes whether from 

 field-grown seed or from seed started in the greenhouse and the seedlings transplanted 

 to the field. 



Further studies in crossing peas, stocks, and beans, E. Tschermak (Ztschr. 

 Landw. \'ersuchsvj. Oesterr., 7 (1904), No. 8, pp. 583-638). — A detailed account of the 

 results secured in crossing experiments with a number of varieties of peas, stocks, 

 and beans, with a discussion of the results obtained, with reference to the Mendelian 

 theory of heredity. Reference to earlier work along the same lines may be found in 

 E. S. R., 13, p. 745. 



Forcing with carbonic acid, Demoussy (Jardin, 18 (1904), No. 41s. j>. .'.'/). — 

 The author notes an experiment in which lettuce was grown under 4 bell jars. With 



