938 KXPKHIMKNT STATION KKCORD, 



Veg-etable-fAiit seed distribution for 1909, H. I). Hakstf.o ( Xch- Jersey 

 i<t<is. liiil. J IS, lip. .i~js, pis. .'/). — Tlio New Jersey stations have offered for dis- 

 tribution for l!K)i> (<) tiu)st» williiij; to ((Hiiitly witli tlie conditions several Ivinds 

 of corn, t<inia(i>, eK^;i>lant, Itean and sciiiash seed, some 4') varieties in all, to- 

 gether with an oinaniental, "White Star" phlox, which have l>een produced in 

 connection with their plant-hreetliiiK investigations (E. S. R., 10. p. 103J)). 

 One variety of sweet corn, 2 of bush snap beans, and 2 of squash are also 

 offered for home I)reeding pnritoses. The tirst part of this bulletin discusses 

 the varieties offered for trial. Part 2 contains su^rgestions for the improvement 

 and breeding of veKetal>les at home, together with notes on the varieties offere<l 

 for ])reediiifj purposes. The jieneral conditions of the seed distribution are 

 also stated. 



Mushroom culture, V. .M. .\<iviK ( Xorsl: Udrr li(l( iidc 2) iHWH), .\'o. //, 

 pp. 205-211, figs. 2). — This article contains bi-ief poi)ular directions for growing 

 mushrooms. 



Fertilizer and irrigation experiments with onions, S. A. Wasciika (Texas 

 Sta. Bui. 11'), pp. o-l(i). — The results secured with comparative fertilizer and 

 irrigation tests with Bernuida onions conducted through 4 seasons at the Ree- 

 Aille Substation are given, together with brief suggestions on the cultivation, 

 harvesting, and marketing of onions. 



The evidence secured from the 4 years' work with fertilizers indicates that 

 soils similar to those at the Heeville station are not deficient in mineral ele- 

 ments and are more in need of humus than commercial fertilizers. Karnyard 

 manure was the only fertilizer the use of which in large quantities justified the 

 expense. 



Comparative tests of the furrow and flooding methods of irrisjation resulted 

 in estimated gains in yield per acre by the flooding method of 4.200 to 7,000 lbs. 

 of onions. The increased yields seciu-ed from irrigation as compared with dry 

 culture indicate that irrigation is jtrofitable even in seasons when the rainfall 

 is sufficient to produce a good crop, but the work as a whole shows that by the 

 use of cowpeas each year as a green manure and by watering the plants just 

 after transplanting a profitable crop of onions can be grown in the lietnille 

 section without other fertilizers or irrigation. 



Data on the cost of irrigating onions and bunch crops have previouslj- been 

 reported ( E. S. It.. IT, p. 2r)l). 



Mendelian characters in tomatoes, U. P. Hedrick and X. O. Booth ( Proc. 

 t<oc. Ifort. Sci.. 11)01. pp. l'.)-2'i). — This ])aper discusses the results secured from 

 some hybridization experiments with tomatoes conducted by Hedrick in the 

 seasons of l!1fi.'>-l!tO.">. inclusive, and by the authors jointly in the years l!)06-7. 

 The work conqu'ised a conq)arative study of the standard and dwarf cliarac- 

 ters of the tomato plant, and was pursued with the view of determining the 

 pi'acticability of originating new varieties of tomatoes by the Mendelian 

 methods. 



As a result of their work, the authors concluded that any 2 varieties of toma- 

 toes differing in 2 or more characters may be crossed and forms secui'ed which 

 will contain any and all combinations of these characters. The work also 

 indicated that it was actually necessary to raise 7 times as many tomatoes as 

 are theoretically necessary, according to Mendel's work with peas (E. S. R., 

 13, p. 744), in order to secure any desired combination. There was a strong 

 tendency for the second generation hybrids to revert to the same combinations 

 of characters as the parents rather tlian to form new ones. 



It was found that in raising tomatoes outdoors without the use of a greenhouse 

 3 years from the cross is sufficient time to form and fix any combination of 

 characters, whereas it requires 8 to 10 years to fix types by the old method 



