152 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



in tlif co^ir (ir lirniiu'ss of ist^a^\iH•^l•i('^J with tlu' 2 forms of |M.l:isii. Tin- yield, liow- 

 I'ViT, was gicalcT on the sulphate of ]>(jtafsh jilats. 



"In the nitrogen testw snl])liate of aiunionia has proved best in all eases, with 

 nitrate of soda second in 1001, and dried blood second in ]9{)2. The yield from the 

 plat with no nitrogen drojis decidi'dly the first year, but is better than from the 

 nitrate of soda plat the second year. . . . 



"In regard to the third question, the indications so far as they go seem to show 

 that it may be possible to add ground bone, at the time of planting, in sutficient 

 quantities to furnish a supjily of phosphoric acid during the fruiting period of the 

 plantation, but that attempting to do the same thing with floats is not likely to prove 

 so satisfactory." 



A large number of crosses have been made between different well-known varieties 

 of strawberries, including crosses between "Wm. Belt and the wild strawberry. 

 Descri])ti(Mis of the seedlings and the fruit obtained are given, together with illustra- 

 tions of the fruit. 



Manuring of market-garden crops, B. Dyer and F. W. E. Shrivell {Jour. 

 Roy. Ilort. Soc. [London], 27 (1903), No. 4, pp. 995-1059, i^ls. ^0.)— The results of 

 7 years' work by the authors along the above lines have previously been noted (E. 

 S. R., 14, p. 961). The i>i"esent account gives the results secured in 1902 and sum- 

 marizes the whole work for the jjreceding 8 years. The summaries correspond so 

 closely to those of preceding years that they need not l)e again repeated. In general 

 the work shows that a small amount of barnyard manure supplemented by commer- 

 cial fertilizers is likely to be more economical and result in better yields than an 

 excessive use of barnyard manure without commercial fertilizers, or from the use of 

 commercial fertilizers alone without manure. 



New experiences with, beans, C. L. Allen {Amer. Agr.,71 {1903), pp. 476,477). — 

 Seven varieties of garden beans were grown in 3 different localities to study methods 

 of culture and find out the increase likely to be obtained from a given amount of 

 seed. Light sandy soil mixed with coarser sand thrown out from a cellar and made 

 fairly rich with stable manure was used in one instance. It was further enriched by 

 2 applications of 100 IIjs. each of nitrate of soda. The soil of this plat was made as 

 fine as possil)le with plow, harrow, and spade. The second plat was on light turfy 

 loam in fairly good condition for ordinary farm cro])S. It was enriched in about the 

 same manner as noted for the plat above. This plat was worked with plow and 

 harrow only. The third plat was on low ground about 4 ft. from water. It was 

 enriched with well-rotted stable manure and commercial fertilizers, costing at the 

 rate of about $60 per acre. The soil of this plat was thoroughly pulverized with 

 plow, harrow, spade, and rake. The beans in every case were planted singly 2 ft. 

 apart each way. Shallow cultivation was given after rains, but great care was 

 taken not to go deep enough to injure the roots. The average yield obtained was 

 168-fold on the first plat, 121-fold on the second plat, and 230-fold on the tiiird i)lat.' 



The exi)eriments ai'e interpreted by the author to indicate that for the Ijest results 

 in bean culture the soil should have greater tilth before jjlanting than is usually 

 given, but the cultivator should never be used after the seed is sown except in rare 

 cases, and that 3 qt. of seed per acre is ample. On heavy soils the plants should 

 stand \\ ft. aj^art each way. 



Experiments in crossing plants, B. D. Halsted and J. A. Kelsey ( New Jersey 

 fStas. apt. 1902, pp. 377-395, ph. 6). — The rej^ort along this line is in continuation of 

 that noted last year (E. S. E., 14, p. 568), with sweet corn, eggplants, tomatoes, 

 salsify, Lima beans, cucumbers, and phloxes. The Avork for the most i)art has been 

 with second generation hybrids, and the variations ol)tained have been exceedingly 

 numerous. The attemi)t is now being made by further selection to fix the most 

 desirable features of the strains selected. Further crosses in cucumbers were made 

 between the Telegraph and Znaim varieties, and the hybrids obtained are illustrated. 



