142 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



after the soil has been placed in the houses. The plants which at first are usu- 

 ally very vigorous turn yellow prematurely and fail to develop fruit. 



The author emphasizes the importance of good drainage in greenhouse beds 

 and benches. Wherever indications of overfertilization appear the soil should 

 be leached out with hot water as soon as the crop is removed. The crop may 

 sometimes be saved by applying about 3 in. of fresh loam to the surface of the 

 bed and working lightly around the plants. This promotes the formation of 

 new roots. After the removal of the crop from one-third to one-half of the 

 soil in the benches should be replaced with new loam before replanting. 



The influence of various lig-ht intensities and soil moisture on the growth, 

 of cucumbers, and their susceptibility to burning" from hydrocyanic acid 

 gas, G. E. Stone (llassachnsetts Sta. Rpt. 1912, pt. 1, pp. 61-72, pi. 1).—The 

 experiments here reported were conducted at the station by F. L. Thomas with 

 cucumber plants which were grown in the greenhouse under varying light and 

 soil moisture conditions alongside plants growing under normal conditions. 

 After the plants had reached a certain degree of development they were all sub- 

 mitted to the same normal hydrocyanic acid gas fumigation. 



Summarizing the data relative to light conditions, the greatest average height 

 of the plants and length of internodes were found in the series where the light 

 was less, while, on the other hand, the shortest internodes and greatest diame- 

 ter of the stems occurred in those plants which received the most light. The 

 average length and width of leaf was variable but the plants grown where the 

 light was excluded had the largest leaves. It is suggested that the production 

 of larger leaves under certain light intensities is apparently a response to a 

 demand for greater carbon assimilation. In the soil moisture experiments the 

 average height of the plants was greater and the leaves larger in the pots con- 

 t;iining the largest percentage of water. Within certain limits the diameter of 

 the stems and length of the leaf petioles and internodes was also greater in the 

 plants growing in a higher percentage of soil moisture; in pots containing as 

 high as 70 per cent of water there was too much water for the best devel- 

 opment. 



Burning from hydrocyanic acid gas was more extensive on plants grown 

 under a poor light and excessive moisture conditions than where the light and 

 moisture conditions were good, showing that burning by fumigation is induced 

 by a difference in the development of the tissues whether brought about by 

 inferior light conditions or excessive moisture. Further experiments are being 

 conducted to throw more light on the influence of other factors on burning. 



Some effects of fertilizers on the growth and composition of asparagus 

 roots, F. W. Morse {Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 1912, pt. 1, pp. 15/f-167) .—The 

 experiments here reported have been noted from another source (E. S. R., 28, 

 p. 236). 



The inheritance of blossom color in beans, J. K. Shaw (3Iassachnsetts Sta. 

 Rpt. 1912, pt. 1, pp. 182-203, pi. 1). — The author here presents and discusses a 

 series of tables which show the inheritance of blossom color in various combi- 

 nations of some 19 varieties of garden beans, the progeny from the crosses hav- 

 ing been self-fertilized through four generations. An interpretation of the 

 results relative to blossom color is to be made later through an analysis of the 

 records of the inheritance of seed-coat color. 



Report of cranberry substation for 1912, H. J. Fsanklin (Massachusetts 

 Sta. Rpt. 1912, pt. 1, pp. 209-234). — A progress report on the experiments con- 

 ducted and observations made at the cranberry substation during the year 

 (E. S. R., 28, p. 341). The subject matter is discussed under the following gen- 

 eral headings: Weather observations, frost protection, fungus diseases, varie- 

 ties, blossom pollination, fertilizers, insects (see p. 154), and miscellaneous. 



