HOETICULTUKE. 51 



yield of asparagus, and when 5 tons of kainit were applied per acre 

 the yield was only slightly increased. The variety Palmetto gave the 

 best yield of 4 varieties tested. The greatest yields with asparagus 

 were obtained from plants set 18 in. apart in 4-foot rows. The shoots 

 of these plants, however, were small, and for choice cuttings it is sug- 

 gested that plants should not be set closer than 4 by 4 ft. 



Field notes of horticultural department, C. B. Waldron [North 

 Dakota Sta. Bui. -4^, /;/». JiDS-53J). — The influence of different fertili- 

 zers on the total yield and time of maturity of vegetables in the Red 

 River Valley are reported for the years 1898 and 1899. The soil 

 selected was t3^pical of the whole valle3\ Different varieties of beets, 

 onions, cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, Vjeans, radishes, peas, 

 and carrots were grown, each being fertilized with a complete fertili- 

 zer, superphosphate, kainit, nitrate of soda, salt, lime, and stable 

 manure, respectively. The results are recorded in 54 tables. In no 

 case was there sufficient increase due to the fertilizers to warrant their 

 application, and it is thought that the method of handling the soil has 

 more to do with the production of vegetables in this valley than the 

 application of fertilizers. Transplanting onions, even the ordinary 

 sorts, proved prolitable. 



Preliminary report on experiments in pinching raspberry shoots, 

 E. 8. GoFF ( Wisconsin Sta. RjA. 1899, jyp. 275-28^, jd. i).— Experi- 

 ments made to ascertain to what extent the pinching of the tips 

 of raspberry shoots promotes productiveness and increases the size of 

 fruit are reported. In the first experiment 6 rows each of Cuthbert 

 {Euhas strigosus) and Gregg [R. occidentaUs) raspberries were used. 

 "Two rows of each variety were left unpinched; two other rows had 

 the shoots pinched as they attained the height of about 12 in.; the 

 remaining two rows of each variety had the shoots pinched at about 

 12 in. high; and in addition the branches were pinched as they attained 

 the length of al)out 12 in. from the main shoot." The result of the 

 experiment was that the canes which were not pinched at all yielded 

 slightly more than those that were pinched, the difference being rather 

 the more noticcal)le with the Cuthbert variety. 



To ascertain the effect of pinching the shoots on the size of the 

 berry, 100 were taken by chance from each plat and weighed. 



"The pinching appeared to increase the size of the fruit a little, especially in the 

 Cuth])ert variety. 



"No difference could be observed in the different methods of jiinching as to the 

 susceptibility of the plants to disease. It wa.s oljserved, however, that the shoots that 

 were not pinched at all were killed back a little farther in winter than those that 

 were pinched. The shoots appeared to be more numerous in the pinched than in 

 the unpinched rows, and most numerous in the rows in which both the shoots and 

 laterals were pinched. This indication was fully confirmed when one of the planta- 

 tions was rooted out. The stumps from the unpinched rows showed the fewest stubs 

 of caues, and those from the twice-pinched rows showed the most." 



