HORTICULTURE. 811 



An experiment begun with cross-polliiintion of peaclies in a pri- 

 vate orchard was not satisfactorily rei)orted upon and was therefore 

 in eon elusive. 



Experiments -with fertilizers on asparagus {N'ew Jersey Stan. 

 Rpt. 1893, ih JIG). — iSTotes on the growing of the variety Barr Mammoth 

 on 3 acres of sandy loam, manured with commercial fertilizers. The 

 plants were set in 2^-ft. rows, and a mixture of nitrate of soda, ground 

 bone, boneblaek, superphosphate, and potash applied along the rows 

 in Ajiril. In May a second ai)plieation was made. The experiment is 

 to determine the protits to be gained by the best cultivation and most 

 careful manuring. 



Fertilizer and canning test of sugar corn, A. T. Neale {Delaware 

 iSta. Rpt. 1893, pp. 21, 22). — Notes on an inconclusive and unfinished 

 investigation as to the best method of obtaining the largest possible 

 crop of sugar corn of the most desirable quality and the largest possi- 

 ble tonnage of fodder in keeping with the crop of ears and its quality. 

 The varieties Stowell Evergreen and Zig-Zag were employed in the 

 experiment, in which 24 plats were manured with difi'erent combina- 

 tions of tertilizers. At the close of the experiment a case of corn from 

 each of the plats was packed in a cannery and tested by experts as to 

 its commercial value. The experiment is to be resumed. 



Sweet potatoes, H. N. Starnes (Georgia Sta. Bui. 25, pp. 127-161, 

 pi. l,fi(js. 35). 



Synopsis. — Experiments conducted at the station in 1893 and 1894 consisted of a fer- 

 tilizer test, ridge vs. level cultivation, pruning the vines, moving the vines, dis- 

 tance experiments, iind tests of varieties. The results favored a fertilizer con- 

 taining potash, cotton-seed meal, and either superphosphate or soft phosphate. 

 Eidge cultivation proved better in 1893 and level cultivation in 1891. Pruning 

 and moving the vines hoth reduced the yield. A distance of 18 in. between 

 the plants gave the largest yield. The most productive variety was White St. 

 Domingo. Directions for the culture and storage of sweet potatoes are given. 



In both years complete fertilizers largely increased the yield. In 

 1893, 320 to 325 lbs. of kainit and 80 to 81 lbs. of muriate of potash 

 gave practically as good results as larger quantities. In 1893 kainit 

 proved slightly superior to muriate of potash, and cotton-seed meal to 

 nitrate of soda. In 1894 when Florida soft phosphate was compared 

 with acid phosphate the yields were practically identical with the 2 

 fertilizers. " This can only be accounted for by the assumption that 

 the i)otato is decidedly indifferent to either." 



In 1893 the difference in favor of ridge over level culture was 35.67 

 bu. per acre. In 1894 the difference in favor of level culture was 33.1 

 bu., the latter season being dry soon after the plants were set and dur- 

 ing September. The variety Pumpkin Yam when undisturbed yielded 

 201.3 bu.; when pinched weekly to 2 ft. throughout the season, 104.9 

 bu. ; when pinched weekly after September 1 to 2 ft., 50.1 bu. 



When the vines were not allowed to root the yield was 156.3 bu. per 

 acrej when undisturbed the yield was 270.3 bu. 



