HORTICXJLTUEE. 435 



a large percentage of the tomato seed now offered is grown In Michigan where 

 the climate and soil are well adapted to Its production. Suggestions are 

 given for the annual selection of seed, looking to the development of high- 

 producing strains of local origin. 



Tomato varieties were found to vary widely in prolificacy. The 6 highest 

 yielders for the 3 test years were Greater Baltimore, Favorite, Royal Red, 

 Chalk Early Jewel, Paragon, and Trophy. 



Hotbed grown plants produced about twice as much fruit as those started 

 in a seed bed in the open ground. Transplanting once or twice in flats gave 

 a larger yield than planting directly from the hotbed soil. The most profit- 

 able method for starting seedling plants consisted in sowing the seed in wood 

 veueer bands in the hotbed and shifting the plants to the field at setting time 

 with band and soil intact. Plants started in a seed bed in the open ground 

 gave estimated returns, less the cost of growing the plants, of $51.30 per acre, 

 as compared with $140.40 per acre for plants hotbed grown in veneer bands 

 and set out without transplanting. 



A comparison between average and thorough cultivation for the 3 years' 

 work indicates that thorough cultivation will generally give a much higher 

 net profit per acre. Tomato leaf spot {Septoria lycopersici) was readily con- 

 trolled by spraying with Bordeaux mixture. 



As a result of the fertilizer Investigations the station recommends for 

 tomatoes 500 or more pounds per acre of fertilizer containing 2 per cent of 

 nitrogen, one-half derived from nitrate of soda and one-half from high-grade 

 organic sources ; 10 per cent of available phosphoric acid ; and 6 per cent of 

 potash, derived from sulphate of potash. 



The effect of fertilizers on variation in com and beans, J. K. Shaw (Amer. 

 Nat., !ft (1913), No. 553, pp. 57-6.), figs. 2).— The data here reported were 

 secured in the summer of 1909 from a field of sweet corn and beans, which 

 was fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash, separately and in combi- 

 nation. The original purpose of this study was to investigate the possible 

 inheritance of variations caused by fertilizers. On account of other work no 

 test was made of the progeny, hence the present data merely show the varia- 

 tions in yield of the corn and beans, as well as the variations in stature of 

 corn plants. 



Nitrogen was found to be the deficient element in the corn plats. The great- 

 est benefit both in reduction of barren stalks and production of 2-eared stalks 

 of ear-bearing suckers was secured on the plat on which a complete fertilizer 

 was used in conjunction with manure. Neither potash nor phosphorus showed 

 any beneficial results when used alone and a complete fertilizer gave better 

 results than a combination of any 2 of the elements. The results with reference 

 to plant stature conform, generally speaking, with those secured for yield, 

 although the addition of the mineral elements, especially if nitrogen was also 

 supplied, appeared to raise somewhat the height of the uppermost ear in 

 2-eared stalks. 



In the case of the beans potash was most effective in increasing the mean 

 number of pods per vine. Nitrogen was next in its effect and there is a pos- 

 sible beneficial effect from phosphorus. A complete fertilizer was still more 

 effective, and manure with a complete fertilizer gave the best results. A few 

 of the bean plants, however, did not appear to be benefited. 



The California veg'etables in garden and field, E. J. Wickson (San Fran- 

 cisco, 1913, 3. ed., rev. and enl., pp. VIII +326, figs. 19).— The present edition 

 of this work (E. S. R., 24, p. 339) has been revised and extended to include up- 

 to-date information on the subject. 



