150 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of xispariifTus, lilacklnTrics, rasplu-rrit's, cmTaiits, gooseberries, strawljcrries, plunis, 

 cliiTries, pears, iieaches, and ajjples has Ijeeii eontinned (E. 8. K., 14, p. 5()()), ami iu 

 addition stndies made to determine the value of growing peas, l)eans, and sweet corn 

 in succession during the same year, and of double ero]>ping with ])eas and tomatoes. 

 The usual summary of weather conditions is included. 



The average n'sults of 5 years' work with asparagus show the Palmetto U) be the 

 heaviest yielding of 8 varieties inider observation. It yielded 30 per cent heavier 

 than Donald Elmira, which ranked second, and 42 per cent heavier than ('onover 

 Colossal, which ranked third. The total yield from the unirrigated i)lats on the 

 whole has averaged about 3 per cent higher than on tlie irrigated plats. The top 

 growth, however, averaged 4 per cent gr"ater on the irrigated plats. '^\\r best yields 

 have been on plats receiving complete fertilizers. An extra su])ply of nitrate of soda 

 was not particularly advantageous in these experiments. 



"With black] )errit'S, Eldorado has j)roved the most productive sort, for a period of 

 4 years, followed by Erie and Agawam. Arrangingthe results secured with irrigation 

 for 4 years, the largest early yield has been obtained on the unirrigtited plats, while 

 the total yield has l)een about 3 per cent larger with irrigation. The use of nitrate 

 of soda has resulted in increased yields on unirrigated plats, but where irrigation was 

 practiced the yields were the lowest obtained. Irrigation has ini-reased the early 

 yield of raspberries L5.3 per cent and the total yield about 5.4 per cent. The use of 

 an extra amount of nitrate of soda has not benefited this crop. 



The most prolific currant tested was Eed Dutch. The berrieSj however, are not so 

 large nor do they find so ready a sale as Fay Prolific. A separate account has been 

 kept of a numl)er of individual currant bushes. These have been found to vary 

 greatly in yield, and it is therefore suggested that in propagating currants cuttings be 

 taken only from the most productive plants. The average increase in currants for 5 

 years, due to irrigation, has been 10.76 per cent, and in gooseberries 3.3 per cent. 

 Both of these fruits have also yielded heavier when manured with 20 tons of barn- 

 yard manure per acre than when fertilized with 500 lbs. of complete fertilizer alone 

 or combined with 1.50 lbs. nitrate of soda additional. 



Six varieties of straw]:)erries have been grown for 5 years. Bubach and Glen ]\Iary 

 have proved the heaviest yielding sorts. The use of 500 lbs. of complete fertilizer 

 applied in the spring has resulted in larger yields than the same amount applied with 

 150 lbs. nitrate of soda additional. The average total yields for 5 years have been 

 greatest on unirrigated jdats. 



The work of the station witii orchard fruits is along the lines of variety testing, 

 irrigation, and fertilizer experiments. Much of the data obtained thus far is reported 

 merely as a matter of record. Plums, cherries, and pears have given on the average 

 slightly increased yields on irrigated plats. Irrigation seemed to delay ripening in 

 the case of the Lombard plum 6 days. On irrigated plats nitrate of soda appears to 

 have been beneficial. Burbank has proved the most productive of several vai'ieties 

 of plums, and Champion the most productive of 6 varieties of peaches. 



During the past 7 years the station has grown peas, beans, and sweet corn in suc- 

 cession, followed by crimson clover seeded in the sweet corn as early as possible in 

 August. This rotation has been carried out on a number of plats each differently 

 fertilized. Good crops of peas, beans, and sweet corn have been secured each year, 

 but the crimson clover has not jiroved satisfactory, making but little growth in the 

 fall and being ^slowed under too early in spring to make any growth. It is believed 

 that rye would have proved a more satisfactory crop. 



The heaviest yields of the different vegetables have been quite uniformly obtained 

 from the plat fertilized with barnyard manure at the rate of 15 tons per acre. Com- 

 mercial fertilizers in different proportions have resulted in poorer yields. The 

 details of this work are fully tabulated. Doubling the num>)er of rows and the quan- 

 tity of fertilizer used has not resulted in a proportionate increase in yield. Peas and 



