644 



EXPERIMET^T STATION RECORD. 



The forced culture of cucumTsers in the greenhouse, N. Schneider {Rev. Hnrf., 

 73 {1901), No. 14, pp. 338-341, figs. 2). — The seed, preparation of the seed bed, cul- 

 tural care to be given, including pinching, pruning, and training the vines, pollenizing 

 the flowers, elioice of varieties, etc., are the subjects popularly considered. 



Znaim cucumbers, J. Zawoeny {Jour. Soc. Nat. Hort. France, 4- ser., 2 {1901), 

 June, pp. .526-540, figs. 9). — An account of the history, development, and importance 

 of the cucumber industry at the town of Znaim, Austria, and of methods of culture 

 and manuring followed by growars in that district. A circular giving similar data 

 upon these cucumbers has been issued by the Department (E. S. R., 12, p. 1043). 



Winter muskmelons, S. L. Watkins {Amer. Gard., 22 {1901), No. 349, p. 601, 

 fig. 1). — Brief notes on the value of these melons for late fall and early winter xise, 

 with a list of the varieties which the author has successfully grown in California. 



Two methods of growing onions, B. C. Pittuck and S. A. McHenry ( Te.vas 

 Sta. Bui. 60, pp. 101-111, plx. 5, figs. 5). — The difference in yield, cost of growing, 

 and the profits in cultivating the Red Bermuda and the Creole varieties of onions, by 

 horse cultivation ami by hand, and in planting the seed in the field and in beds and 

 transplanting, are here reported upon. Methods of onion culture are also given, 

 some of the finer points upon which success in onion culture in Texas depends being 

 pointed out. The work was carried on by the State station at Beeville- without irri- 

 gation. The data secured in the test are summarized in the following table: 



Yield, cost, and profits per acre in onion growing. 



The table shows but little difference in the cost (jf growing onions to maturity l)y 

 horse cultivation whether the seed is sown in the field or in beds and transplanted. 

 The yields and profits, however, from transplanting are nearly double in the case of 

 the Red Bermuda onions, and considerably in excess with the Creole variety. In 

 hor.se cultivation the onions were grown in rows 30 in. apart and the plants allowed 

 to stand 4J in. apart in the row. With hand cultivation the rows were but 14 in. 

 apart. The cost of hand cultivation, as seen in the table, was but 75 cts. in excess of 

 cultivating with the horse, while the yield was increased from 36 percent in the case 

 of the Creole variety to 188 per cent with the Red Bermuda onions. The net profits 

 in hand culture over horse culture are $26. 78 with Creole onions and $77.40 with Red 

 Bermuda onions. The opinion frequently expressed that the extra cost of culti- 

 vating and handling a crop of onions l)y hand, as compared with horse cultivation, 

 will offset the increase in yield is shown in this experiment to l>e groundless. 



The securing of good seed is considered one of the most important points in onion 

 culture in Texas. The experiments at the station show that of 23 varieties of onions 

 tested only 2, the Red Bermuda and Creole, can be recommended for extreme south 



