810 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The experiments are given in detail and illustrated from photographs 

 showing various i)lants at difleront stages of growth in both the light 

 and dark houses. 



A rdsura6 is given of experiments \vith electric light elsewhere, 

 especially those of L. H. Bailey at the Cornell Station. 



The following summary is given: 



"(1) The incandescent electric light has a marked effect upon greenhouse plants. 



"(2) The light appears to be beneficial to some plants grown for foliage, such as 

 lettuce. The lettuce was earlier, weighed more, and stood more erect. 



"(3) Flowering plants blossomed earlier and continued in bloom longer underthe 

 light. 



"(4) The light influences some plants, such as spinach and endive, to quickly run 

 to seed, which is objectionable in forcing these plants for sale. 



" (5) Proper watering appears to be more imi)ortant with radishes, beans, and 

 cuttings than improper watering and the electric light. 



" (6) The stronger the candlepower the more marked the results, other conditions 

 being the same. 



" (7) Most plants tended toward a taller growth under the light. 



" (8) It is doubtful whether the incandescent light can be used in the greenhouse 

 from a practical and economic standiioiut on other plants than lettuce and perhaps 

 flowering plants, and at present jirices it is a question if it will pay to employ it 

 for even these. 



" (9) There are many points about the incandescent electric light that appear to 

 make it preferable to the arc light for greenhouse use." 



Report of the horticulturist, M. H. Beckwith {Delaware Sta. Rpt. 

 1893, 2)p- 132-152). — This contains remarks on the testing of tomatoes 

 and strawberries, notes on raspberries, determination of the vitality of 

 X)cach seed, and pollination of the peach. 



Notes are given on 63 varieties of tomatoes and 94 of strawberries, 

 Avith the dates of ripening, and in the case of the latter of blooming, 

 also. In addition, special comparative notes are given for the majority 

 of the varieties tested. The Older and a new seedling black raspberry 

 were tested, as also the Japanese wineberry, which is considered very 

 productive and of excellent quality. 



In response to inquiries on the subject, the question of some method 

 for determining the vitality of peach seeds, either by the appearance 

 or some other means requiring less time than actual germination, 

 was taken up, and suspicious seed and a r'l cular letter were sent to a 

 number of nurserymen believed to be authorities on the subject. The 

 responses received from 14 correspondents are given, showing great 

 variance of opinion. Plump, aromatic kernels are considered the 

 freshest, but the germination test is regarded as the most reliable 

 one. 



In an experiment to test the self pollenizing powers of different varie- 

 ties of peaches, 493 unopened blossoms of 12 varieties were covered 

 with paper bags during the blooming season, the number varying in 

 the different varieties. Of these, 16 set fruit. The 4 varieties. Fox, 

 Oldmixon, Smock, and Wager, set 1 fruit each, while Crawford Early 

 set 2, and Moore Favorite, 10. 



