1020] IIOUTK'rLTlTRE. 537 



of the root system and retards the overdeveloimuMif of the tops. In the breed- 

 ing work with hite cabl)aKe, several strains nf tlic Danisli liallheud variety 

 I'ave hwn dfYolopcd wliich are suiicrior in unifdrrnity and yield to coniinerci'il 

 strains. 



In a l)r('eding experiment with tomatoes wiicre Yellow Tear was crossed on 

 Enormous the imre types have been isolated, Icgetlier with other combination* 

 that appi-.ir to breed true. It has al.so been observed that the habit of the plant 

 as regards branching l)ehaves as a unit character. A study of eight varieties 

 of rhubarb showed that the varieties are not uniform, either in character of 

 plant or acidity. The results of work with asparagus are noted below. 



F!\periiiients with asparagus, C. E. Myeus {I'cviixi/lnniia Sta. Rpt. WIG, pp. 

 5')7-57S, fiys. 2). — The detailed results are given of a test of six conunercial 

 varieties of asparagus conducted during the period 1908-1915, inclusive, to- 

 gether with the results of a test of the value of subsoiling and preliminary 

 heavy manuring at the time the crowns are set in the tield. 



During the course of the experiment very little difference was found between 

 the .six varieties as far as varietal cliaracters are concerned. It was impo.ssiblo 

 to identify one variety from another because of the constancy of any well- 

 defined characters. In all instances, 1-year-oid crowns proved to be superior 

 to 2-year-old crowns. The experiment has shown the importance of gradinr? 

 the crowns at the time of planting and of eliminating the undersized crown.s, 

 During a o-year period of cutting, there was an average difference of approxi- 

 mately $12") per acre between size one and size tlwee crowns. 



The results obtained in the fertilizer test iiidicate that it does not pay to 

 apply either yard manure or commercial fertilizers in large amounts in the 

 trench when planting asparagus. 



A fertilizer experiment with asparagus, W. P. Brooks and F. W. Morse 

 [Mnsaarhusetts Sta. Bui. 194 {1019), pp. 227-257, pi. 1, fi(jfi. ,"?).— Continuing 

 previous reports (E. S. R., 36, p. 839), a detailed account is given of a fertilizer 

 experiment with asparagus that was conducted for a period of nine years in 

 Concord, Mass., on coarse sandy loam which was typical of the soils used for 

 a.sparagus culture. Seven crops of young stalks were produced during the ex- 

 periment, and the yield steadily increased each year until the sixth, which was 

 tile crop of maximum size on nearly every plat. Following the second crop 

 an attack of rust from an adjacent field swept over about half of the plat.?. 

 The plats nearest the source of the attack were reduced in yield the next season 

 nearly 20 per cent, and were permanently injured. The remainder of the plats 

 apparently recovered before the maximum yield of the sixth crop. 



As summarized by the junior author, of the chemical fertilizers used a 

 mixture of 406 lbs. nitrate of soda, 300 lbs. of acid pliosi)liate, and 260 lbs. 

 muriate of potash per acre produced the best yields. Manure at the rate of 10 

 tons per acre produced nearly as good results as the chemicals, v.hile combina- 

 tions of manure with chemicals and with niti-ate of soda were no better than 

 manure or chemicals used separately. AVhen nitrate of soda was added to 

 manure it was most edicient when applied in two portions, one in the spring 

 and one in the summer. Nitrate of soda applied with acid phosphate and 

 niuriate of potash was slightly more effective when ai^plied in summer in four 

 years out of seven. Muriate of jiotash proved to be the most satisfactory 

 potash compound used. There was no apparent cumulative effect produced by 

 the annual use of manure, and the asparagus tops harrowed into the soil eacli 

 year seemed to supply suflicitnt organic matter for the efficient use of chemicals. 



Among the conclusions submitted by the senior author, the variety of aspara- 

 gus and the location of the bed with reference to badly infected beds influenced 

 susceptibility to rust and probability of bad attacks to a greater extent than 



