48 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



cultural tests with 12 varieties of tomatoes in plat experiments. The plants were 

 grown from seed in the greenhouse, except 2 varieties which were started from 

 cuttings. A portion of the plants were transplanted once from the seed bed into pots 

 before planting them out in the open ground. The results secured in the fertilizer 

 test with each variety are recorded in 9 tables, but no conclusions are drawn. The 

 results of the experiment in transplanting versus nontransplantmg with 7 varieties 

 of tomatoes are in favor of the nontransplanted plants as regards the average yields 

 per plant of all the varieties. The Stone variety yielded 15 lbs. per plant from 

 cuttings, as compared with 11.32 lbs. per plant from seed— a difference in favor of 

 cuttings of 3.68 lbs. per plant. 



Tomatoes were grown in the greenhouse and a portion subwatered. The results 

 show a decided gain in the weight of fruit from tlie subwatered plants as compared 

 with the surface-irrigated plants, although the latter produced the greater num1)er 

 of fruits. In connection with these experiments, the author investigated the varia- 

 tions which occur in individual plants. "Fourteen plants were selected from a lot 

 that was as nearly uniform in size and vigor of growth as possible, and these were 

 planted in the greenhouse and treated exactly alike so far as it was possible to do so. 

 The results of these tests gave a maximum variation in number of fruits produced by 

 each plant of 75 per cent. Some individual plants produced nothing but small fruits 

 throughout the season. The maximum variation in the weight of fruit produced 

 by each plant was only li lbs." Some data are also included on results of fertilizer 

 experiments with tomatoes in the greenhouse, no conclusions from which are drawn. 



Notes on celery, E. Walker {Arhinsas Sla. Bid. 64, pp. 77-94, figs. 5).— A num- 

 ber of cultural, fertilizer, and irrigation experiments were made at the station with 

 celery, and notes are given on the results of the different experiments, together with 

 brief suggestions on growing celery. The rainfall record for the months of July, 

 August, and September is appended. The author's experiments seem to indicate 

 that pithiness of the stalk may be caused by a deficiency of water during a late stage 

 of growth. Early sown celery rotted when it was bleached by earthing up in warm 

 weather or by the use of boards. This difficulty was obviated by planting self- 

 blanching varieties close together, as in the "new celery culture." 



The cabbage plusia, parsley worm, and the celery-leaf blight {Cercospora apii) 

 were held in check by applications of Bordeaux mixture containing Paris green. A 

 rot occurred among young transplanted celery, following severe topping. It occurred 

 at the base of leafstalks next to the ground, in cases where the whole blade had been 

 cut away, leaving a leafless petiole. "It was checked by pulling out plants most 

 affected and many of the affected leafstalks, cleaning up between the rows, and 

 spraying witli Bordeaux mixture." The author states, in this connection, that the 

 tops should not be sheared off too close in transplanting. It is recommended to 

 prepare the seed bed as for tobacco. Giant Pascal is considered one of the best of ^ 

 the green varieties < if celery. 



Duration of the growth period in fruit trees, F. Cranefield ( Wisconsin Sta. 

 Rpt. 1900, jyp. SOO-308, figs. 2, dgms. ^).— The length of the growing period of apple, 

 pear, cherry, and plum trees has been studied by the station for the past 2 years. 

 The growth of the branches was determined by careful measurements of selected 

 branches at intervals of 2 to 4 days, until no further growth in length could be 

 observed. On the trees under observation, no increase in the growth of the pear 

 occurred after June 1, nor the cherry after May 27. With the apple, the branch 

 growth ceased about June 4, and with the plum June 23. Examination of several 

 hundred other orchard trees during the following July and August showed no indi- 

 cations of further growth. The author points out in this connection that these obser- 

 vations were taken after one of the most severe winters ever known in Wisconsin. 



During the season of 1900 no growth on any of the trees under observation 

 occurred after July 10, while with the pear tree growth ceased June 18, and with 



