HOETICULTUEE. 239 



A test of the effect of commercial fertilizer, in addition to manure, upon 

 yield and earliness showed an increased yield of 21 bu. of dry seed per aci'e in 

 favor of the fertilized plat. There were also less corn on nubbins and the 

 remaining ears were of better quality. No effect was noticed on the earliness 

 of maturity. 



Without going into a discussion of the biological basis of the improvement 

 in earliness, the authors are inclined to believe this improvement is in reality 

 a physiological rather than a genetic or hereditary phenomenon. 



The bulletin concludes with some practical suggestions regai'ding the growing 

 of sweet corn in Maine, based on the experiments and observations I'eported. 

 A rack for storing seed corn devised by the station and found very satisfactory 

 is described. 



Cabbage culture, H. P. Stuckey (Georgia Sta. Bui. 91, pp. 111-129, figs. 

 11). — Fertilizer, cultural, and variety tests with cabbage conducted during the 

 past 2 seasons are reported and general cultural directions based largely on the 

 experimental results are given, together with notes on insects affecting cabbage. 



The general results secured from the cultural experiments are as follows: 

 " Cotton-seed meal as a source of nitrogen gave better results than nitrate 

 of soda when used under cabbage plants when set in the fall for spring heading. 

 The open-furrow method of setting cabbage plants in the fall of the year for 

 spring heading gave better results than setting the plants on a level, on the 

 south side of the ridge, on top of the ridge, or on the north side of the ridge. 

 The method is to be recommended for well-drained and well-prepared soil. 

 From October 1 to October 20 was found to be the best time for sowing cabbage 

 seed in this section for plants to head early the following spring. Plants from 

 seeds sown early in September are liliely to go to seed the following spring. 

 Nitrate of soda when applied at the i-ate of 900 lbs. per acre as a side dressing 

 gave more profit than did heavier applications." 



A preliminary report on the vegetable growing industry in Oregon, 

 A. G. B. Bouquet {Oregon Sta. Bui. 109, pp. Jf8, figs. 13). — This report embraces 

 a brief discussion of the existing conditions in the State relative to the vege- 

 table industry, together with practical suggestions for growing a number of 

 the more important vegetables, including suitable varieties of each, A bib- 

 liography is appended. 



[Fertilizer experiments at the cranberry substation], W. P. Brooks (Mas- 

 sachusetts Sta. Rpt. 1909, pt. 1, pp. 31-33). — Exi^riments with cranberry fer- 

 tilizers (E. S. R., 20, p. 339) were continued in 1909. 



As a result of observations and records so far made, it was found that the 

 use of some fertilizer will clearly prove profitable on many bogs. During the 

 year an estimated yield of 150 bu. of cranberries per acre was produced on 

 the no-fertilizer plats, whereas 268 bu. per acre is the estimated average for 

 all of the fertilizer plats and 306..5 bu. per acre was the average product on 

 the plats where a complete fertilizer was applied. 



Nitrate of soda greatly promotes the growth of vines and appears also to 

 be favorable to fruitfulness, although it is believed that nitrate in excess of 

 100 lbs, per acre will seldom be necessary. High-grade sulphate of potash 

 appears to promote fruitfulness, good color, and high quality. Phosphoric 

 acid has had the least effect of the fertilizers employed, although it appears 

 probable that when applied in soluble form, such as acid phosphate, it will be 

 likely to promote early ripening and high color. 



Orchard green-manure crops in California, R. McKee (U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 190, pp. ^0, figs. 9). — The results of investigations in- 

 volving cultural methods and tests of various crops conducted at Chico, Cal., and 



77543°— No. 3—11 i 



