252 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



hii. on the irrigated and unirrigated areas, respectively. The onions sold at Beeville 

 for 2 cts. a pound. The net profits from one-twentieth of an acre with irrigation was 

 $33.45 and from the unirrigated plat $15.69. All of the expenses, such as cost of 

 preparing land, irrigating, transplanting, cultivating fertilizing, harvesting, sacking, 

 seed, etc., are shown in tabular form. The variety used was the Red Bermuda. 



It is believed that the results secured in these tests with irrigation would have been 

 greater had the irrigating facilities been more efficient. At times the onions suffered 

 from lack of moisture. In the variety tests 19 varieties were compared. The Ber- 

 muda again proved superior in point of earliness and yield. Brief descriptions are 

 given of the different varieties tested. 



Beets (pp. 15-20). — The beet is the favorite bunch crop of south Texas truckers. 

 The crop requires from 80 to 90 days to reach marketable size from the time the seed 

 is sown. With good culture two crops can be grown between October and May. 



In the station experiment bat guano was used broadcast at the rate of 500 lbs. per 

 acre when the land was prepared. Six irrigations and 9 cultivations were given. 

 Frost and ice occurred 12 times during the months of January and February, but the 

 freezes were not sufficiently severe to seriously injure the crop, though they did retard 

 growth. The bunches were shipped in ventilated barrels without ice. From 19 to 

 25 doz. bunches were packed in each barrel, the tops toward the center. Details are 

 given as to the cost of each of the different operations in the growing of the crop and 

 the length of time employed. 



The crop was marketed in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo. In March and April 

 they brought 40 cts. per dozen bunches and in May 25 cts. The net returns from the 

 sale of beets grown on one-tenth of an acre was $67.51 and the cost of production 

 $13.28, leaving a profit of $54.23. The authors state that a net profit of $500 per acre 

 for a single crop of beets is within the range of possibility in that section. 



Variety tests indicated that the Electric variety can be most safely recommended. 

 Crimson Globe and New Meteor of the newer varieties are considered especially 

 promising. Details as regards date of planting, period of growth, productivity, etc., 

 are given for 12 varieties grown in the test and these varieties are briefly described. 



Radishes (pp. 20-25). — Three profitable crops of radishes can be grown during the 

 fall and winter seasons in the vicinity of the station. From one-tenth of an acre 169 

 doz. bunches were sold, each bunch containing from 12 to 16 radishes. The cost of 

 growing one-tenth of an acre of radishes was $5.60. The radishes sold for $39.27, 

 leaving a net profit of $33.67. Exclusive of the radishes sold, about 1.5 bbls. were 

 destroyed by a severe frost on the night of January 25. 



In shipping radishes they are packed in unventilated barrels in concentric circles 

 with the tops toward the center of the barrel. When the barrel is about one-third 

 full of radishes a layer of crushed ice is put in. A second layer of ice is added when 

 the barrel is two-thirds full of radishes, and the final layer when the barrel is nearly 

 full. The ice is broken up so that none of the lumps is larger than a hen's egg. 

 About 50 lbs. of ice is used per barrel. Enough radishes are heaped on the top layer 

 of ice so that when the barrel arrives at its destination it is about level full with the 

 radishes. 



Twenty-eight varieties were grown in the variety test. The turnip-rooted varieties 

 are considered the most desirable for the western markets. Of these Scarlet White 

 Tipped is the most popular on account of its attractive appearance. The test indi- 

 cated that Round Scarlet Chinese and Icicle are worthy of trial for the kitchen garden, 

 as they were of the best table quality. All of the long-rooted varieties except Market 

 Gardener Long Scarlet, Chartier, and Early Short Top Long Scarlet became pithy or 

 hard and woody before reaching a suitable market size, the last two mentioned being 

 recommended when a long- rooted sort is wanted. 



Lettuce, carrots, and turnips (pp. 26-28). — The cultural tests with these crops failed, 

 but the results secured in tests of 21 varieties of lettuce are recorded with brief 



