862 • EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



this fruit. Experiments with these crops have therefore been practically 

 abandoned. 



A plan is given of a market-garden rotation experiment underway, the object 

 of which is to determine whether it is possible to grow market-garden crops 

 successfully without stable manure by means of a rotation in which cover crops 

 can be used for maintaining the humus in the soil. The first year's rotation will 

 consist of corn followed by beans on one plat and beans followed by corn on 

 another plat. Some data secured on these plats in H><>4 relative to the yield and 

 a]>i »ea ranee of the different crops are tabulated. 



A common complaint from greenhouse men is that soil sterilization seems to 

 destroy the life of the soil. A number of experiments were therefore under- 

 taken to determine the growth of lettuce and radishes on (1) unsterilized soil, 

 (2) soil sterilized and handled while hot, (3) soil sterilized but not handled 

 till cold and dry. <4) soil sterilized, handled cold, and later sprinkled with 

 garden soil, and (5) soil sterilized, handled cold, and nitrate of soda used. 



The first year of the experiment the largest yield of both lettuce and radishes 

 was obtained on the unsterilized soil, followed by the soil sterilized but not 

 handled till cool and dry. The second year the largest yield of radishes was 

 obtained on the sterilized soil to which nitrate of soda had been added, followed 

 by the unsterilized soil, while with lettuce the largest yield was secured on 

 the unsterilized soil and the smallest yield on the sterilized soil sprinkled with 

 garden soil. 



A number of vegetables were grown under tent covering to determine the 

 effect of this partial shade. With transplanted lettuce grown under the tent 

 the average weight per head was 6.57 oz.. while the average weight per head 

 of lettuce grown outside the tent was 6.19 oz. When seed was used, the 

 weight of the heads grown inside the tent was 14 oz. and outside the tent 9.8 

 oz. It was found much easier to transplant lettuce under the tent than in 

 the open. It grew faster under the tent up to the point of heading, but did not 

 form as firm a head as those grown outside, nor was the quality quite as good. 



Cauliflower grown under the tent made a better growth throughout the 

 season than when grown outside. The plants were higher and the growth of 

 the leaves much stronger, while the yield was 140 per cent greater inside the 

 tent than outside. Under the tent the cauliflower was less attacked by insects 

 and the heads were not so likely to discolor if not tied up just at the proper 

 time. 



With celery there was a smaller percentage of waste from that grown under 

 the tent than from that grown in the open and the stalks were a little softer. 

 Celery grown outside was a little shorter, more stocky, and slightly better in 

 quality than that grown inside, and was more subject to rust. 



Some data are given on the temperature inside and outside the tent, which 

 shows that inside the tent it ranged from 1° to 12° cooler than outside, the 

 average being ."">.:'.•'» F. cooler. 



A large number of strawberry seedlings have been grown, and the scale of 

 points adopted in scoring plants and fruit with a key to the records of the 

 plants is given. The purpose of the breeding work with strawberries is to 

 secure late ripening sorts coupled with other good qualities. Crosses have 

 been made on the wild plants for the purpose of introducing desirable flavors. 



Report of the professor of horticulture, II. L. Hutt (Ann. Rpt. Ontario 

 Agr. Col and Expt. Farm. .31 (190.1), pp. J. ',3-160. figs. J). — A general outline 

 of the work of the year with orchard and small fruits, vegetables, and flowers, 

 with data on the results obtained from the use of a large number of different 



