HORTICULTURE. 537 



generally associatetl with low yields of grain. Blue Stem produced 95 lbs. of 

 straw per bushel of grain, while No. 9129 produced 21S lbs., these two varieties 

 standing lowest and highest in straw production, respectively. The average 

 yields of straw for the 3 years and for all of the varieties under test ranged 

 from 2,637 to 3,547 lbs. In avei-age weight per bushel for 1905 and 1906, 

 Turkish Red stood first with 62:^ lbs. for the first season and 61* lbs. for the 

 second. 



Tables are given showing the protein content of wheat of the different 

 varieties on an air-dry and water-free basis. It was found that weevil-infested 

 wheat contained relatively more nitrogen and protein than wheat not infested, 

 showing that the weevil had fed on the starch-bearing portion of the grain. 

 The tables also show that some of the high-yielding wheats, such as Kansas 

 Mortgage Lifter and Fulcaster, may also be rich in protein and that the 

 protein content of a given variety varies with the season. 



Some new hybrid wheats, E. E. Elliott and C. W. Lawrence ( Washington 

 St(t. Popular Bui, !>. pp. 8). — The methods of improving wheat are outlined 

 and the hybridization work at the station is described. A table is given show- 

 ing the yields at Pullman for 3 years of 20 new hybrid wheats. Eight hybrid 

 varieties derived from Winter Fife and Little Club gave an average yield of 

 46.25 bu., 5 varieties, crosses between Turkey and Little Club, 42.80 bu., 4 

 hybrid sorts from White Track and Little Club 43.75 bu., and 3 crosses between 

 McPherson and Ked Chaff 36 bu. per acre. Two standard Red Russian varieties 

 grown for comparison gave an average yield of 42.25 bu. per acre for the same 

 period. Ten hybrid varieties of true winter wheats with club heads are 

 described. 



HORTICULTURE. 



A further study of soil treatment in greenhouse culture, H. J. Wheeler 

 and G. E. Adams [Rhode Island Sta. Bui. 128, pp. lSS-19'i). — In a previous 

 bulletin of the station (E. S. R., 17, p. 464), the results are given of a study of 

 the initial and residual effects of stable manure and different combinations of 

 chemical manures used with greenhouse radishes, tomatoes, and cucumbers 

 and of a test of finely cut hay as a soil improver. In similar experiments 

 reported in this bulletin finely cut rye straw was substituted for the hay which 

 often contains weed and grass seed. 



The first crop grown was radishes planted shortly before December 1, fol- 

 lowed by lettuce planted on February 14 and again by lettuce planted on May 7. 

 The same 4 phits and the same fertilizers were used as in the previous work 

 except that before planting the second crop of lettuce the stable manure plat 

 was remanured and the other plats received a complete fertilizer containing 

 a large amount of basic slag meal, but no sulphates or chlorids. 



With radishes it was found that partially composted horse manure applied 

 at the rate of 75 tons per acre gave better results than any of the chemical 

 manures used either with or without cut rye straw. The crop where the cut 

 straw was used matured much more quickly than with chemicals alone. The 

 manure and straw appeared to exert a beneficial effect upon the physical con- 

 dition of the soil " and thus possibly indirectly upon the character of the fungi 

 and bacteria capable of existing therein." This beneficial effect was not so 

 marked with the first crop of lettuce, although the stable manure plat gave 

 slightly earlier maturity and the crop matured somewhat earlier where cut 

 straw was used than where the chemicals were used alone. Although the 

 stable manure plat was remanured in-evious to the second crop of lettuce, better 

 results were secured with the chemicals and the cut straw than with the horse 

 manure. With the same chemicals the weight of the heads where the cut straw 



