HORTICULTURE. 773 



Horticultural department, R. W. Fis,hek (Montana Sta. Rpt. 1903, pp. 58-68). — 

 A summary is given <>f the work of the year, with data as to the yields of a number 

 of varieties of vegetables and apples. The last spring frost occurred at the station 

 May 24, and the first fall frost September 11. The frost of September 11 did con- 

 siderable damage to all tender vegetables. Cultivated plums were materially dam- 

 aged, although wild plums and apples were not affected to any appreciable extent. 



The average yields of a number of varieties of apples for two years indieate the 

 varieties Wealthy, Yellow Transparent, Okabena, Hibernal, and Duchess, in the order 

 named, as the heaviest yielders. With crab apples, Transcendent heads the list, the 

 yield being nearly three times greater than that of its nearest competitor, the Orange 

 variety. Orchard experiments at the station indicates that trees should not be set 

 closer than 20 ft. apart in that region. 



Lima beans have uniformly failed at the station. The yields of 44 varieties of bush 

 beans are recorded. The heaviest yielding varieties in order were White Seeded 

 Wax, Davis Wax, and Long Yellow Six Weeks. Succession has proved the best 

 early variety of cabbage, and Late Stonehead and Danish Round Head the best late 

 varieties. With cauliflower, the Best Early variety was ready for use about one week 

 before Dry Weather. Early White Cob Cory has proved the best variety of sweet 

 corn tested at the station. It matured a full crop, while Cosmopolitan matured about 

 30 percent, and Crosby Early 50 per cent of a full crop. With beets, Improved 

 Blood Turnip gave the earliest and largest yield of a number of varieties tested. 

 Thorburn New Everbearing was the earliest and best pickling cucumber grown. 



A test of transplanted v. field-sown onions showed an average yield of 13,939 lbs. 

 per acre for the field-sown onions, and 32,334 lbs. per acre for the transplanted 

 onions. The author is of the opinion that it does not take any more labor to trans- 

 plant seedlings from a flat or hotbed than it does to thin field-sown plants. The 

 yields obtained with a number of varieties of onions are tabulated. Twelve varieties 

 of tomatoes were grown. The station experiments with this crop indicate that the 

 most ripe fruits can be obtained by planting on moderately heavy clay soil. By 

 frequent cultivation and the use of plenty of water early in the season, the plants can 

 be forced into early growth; and by the withdrawing of these later in the season the 

 fruits can lie induced to mature earlier than they otherwise would. 



Report of the horticulturist, G. C. Butz and J. P. Pillsbury (Pennsylvania Sta. 

 Rpt. 190.3, pp. 183-214, pis. 3, figs. 3). — A general review of the work of the year, 

 with a detailed account of an experiment in ginseng culture and a record of the yields 

 of a number of varieties of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, and 

 gooseberries. The article on ginseng is practically a reprint of Bulletin 62 of the sta- 

 tion (E. S. R., 14, p. 861), some further notes and illustrations being given on how 

 the ginseng plant gets out of the seed. 



The tabular matter relating to strawberries shows the date of flowering of the dif- 

 ferent varieties, first and last ripe fruit, tendency to disease, vigor, tendency to form 

 runners, date of largest picking, and the relative yields when grown in hills and in 

 matted rows. The fruit averaged .37 gm. larger when grown in hills than when 

 grown in matted rows. Descriptions are given of 29 varieties of strawberries, 16 of 

 raspberries, and 5 of gooseberries. 



Some experiments of Luther Burbank, D. S. Jordan (Pop. Sri. Mo., Oil (1905), 

 No. 3, pp. 201-225, figs. 21). — An illustrated account is given of a large number of 

 flower, fruit, nut, grass, and grain creations of Luther Burbank, during recent years, 

 with extensive notes on Mr. Burbank's views concerning the methods and philosi >phy 

 of hybridizing. 



Mr. Burbank believes that "mutations can be produced at will by any of the 

 various means which disturb the habits of the plant." Variations can usually be 

 lixed in 5 or 6 generations, and sometimes at once. "There is no evidence of any 

 limit in the production of variation through artificial selection, especially if preceded 



