346 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



unforeseen advantages of some of the plats, no conclusions could be drawn from the 

 results. 



Wheat studies, E. F. Ladd {Xorth Dakota Sta. Rpt. 1900, pp. 13, 7^).— Wheats 

 were studied to determine the j^ercentage of nitrogen in individual heads and the 

 heads from individual stools. It was found that individual heads ranged from 13.56 

 to 18.25 per cent in proteid content, and the average for the stools from 14.74 to 17.09 

 per cent. 



Improving wlieat {Bol. Soc. Agr. Mexicana, 25 {1901), No. 11, pp. 216-218). — A 

 consideration of the methods of improving wheat. 



Some important questions in plant breeding, W. Edler ( VrtljscJir. Bayer. 

 Lamlic. Rath., 5 {1900), No. 4, Sup., pp. 619-6S0). — An article on the improvement of 

 potatoes, beets, rye, and oats. 



Silo temperatures taken by electricity, H. H. Lamson {New Hampshire Sta. 

 Bui. 79, pp. 29-33, fig. 1). — The temperature of silage was determined at different 

 depths of the silo on a series of dates from September 9 to February 17, by means of 

 the electrical apparatus designed by the Bureau of Soils of this Department. The 

 method of using the apparatus is described and the different temperatures recorded 

 by it are given in a table. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Vegetables in South Dakota, X. E. Hansen and W. S. Thornber {South Dakota 

 Sta. Bid. 68, p)p. 105-158, ph. 12). — Some results are given of variety and cultural 

 tests of vegetables at the station for the 2 years 1899 and 1900. Of the different crcps 

 grown there were 49 varieties of tomatoes, 29 eggplant, 16 peppers, 10 caulifiower, 3 

 kohl-rabi, kale, 22 sweet corn, 47 cucumbers, 30 beets, Swiss chard, 10 okra, many 

 summer, fall, and winter squashes and pumpkins, 62 bush beans, 28 pole beans, 11 

 pole and 6 dwarf Lima beans, besides several varieties each of English broad beans, 

 artichokes, chives, dandelions, endives, garden herbs, etc. Illustrations are given 

 of many varieties of the vegetables grown. All of the more tender plants and those 

 requiring a long season for maturing w'ere either started in the greenhouse or under 

 a cold frame. 



With tomatoes, plants started in a cold frame compared favorably in yield and 

 earliness with those started in the greenhouse. When grown in a cold frame the 

 seed were planted in bottomless tin cans or like holders, which made transplanting 

 to the field easy. This method is practical only for small areas. Among the heaviest 

 yielding tomatoes for the first half of August in 1899, were Earliest of All, Salzer 

 Earliest of All, Vaughan Earliest of All, and Early Leader. For the whole season 

 Early Leader, The Early Bird, Bright and Early, and Early Ruby were the heaviest 

 yielders. Some experiments are under way at the station in crossing tomatoes to 

 secure a smooth variety which will ripen its main crop in July and August. Red 

 Cherry has been used as a mother, and crossed with Early Ruby, Bond Early Min- 

 nesota, and Ponderosa. 



Of the varieties of sweet corn tested Early La Crosse, Mexican, Lackey Early, and 

 Telephone are preferred. Of cucumbers Siberian, West India Gherkin, Jersey Extra 

 Early Prolific, and N. K. & Co. were found especially desirable for pickling purposes, 

 while for table use Burpee White Wonder, Green Prolific, Fordhook Improved, White 

 Spine, and Salzer Perfection are recommended. With regard to squashes the most 

 productive of the large fall varieties were Orange Marrow and Boston IMarrow, and 

 of the winter sorts Hubbard and Marblehead. Of the small varieties Cocoanut, Hen- 

 derson Delicata, Perfect Gem, Canada Crookneck, and Der Wing were the most pro- 

 ductive in the order mentioned. 



" It is sometimes recommended to plant Lima beans with the eye down; some of 

 Burpee's and Henderson's were tested this way, but no difference was observable 

 from those planted in the ordinary way." 



