HORTICULTURE. 



341 



(3) hilled and a good-sized mound of earth drawn up at the base of 

 the plants when fruit began to set, and (-i) mulched, 4 in. of strawy 

 manure being spread under the vines as the fruit began to set. The 

 yields of good and of rotten fruits obtained from the different varie- 

 ties by each method of training are detailed. The following table 

 summarizes these data: 



Rei^ults of training tomatoes. 



"This summary shows that the smallest yield was given by the untrained vines 

 and that the percentage of rotten fruit on these was greater than in any other case; 

 that staked vines gave a larger percentage of sound fruit than untrained and showed 

 the smallest percentage of decayed fruit in the exiieriment; hilling did not give any 

 striking results; mulching greatly increased the productiveness and also the tend- 

 ency to rot. These are the results obtained during a year of unusually large 

 precipitation in June and marked by light rainfall in August and September. ' ' 



The solidity of the flesh of 13 varieties was determined by their 

 specific gravity. 



"According to this test Terra Cotta takes first place of those tested, being equal in 

 weight to an equal volume of water. This indicates small seed cavities and firm 

 flesh. There is a difference of 26 gm. between Terra Cotta and New Jersey, mean- 

 ing that New Jersey was 26 gm. lighter than the volume of water which it dis- 

 placed and thereby suggesting large seed cavities. Large seed cavities, or lack of 

 solidity, would seem to be correlated with susceptibility to rot, as New Jersey, a 

 light tomato, rotted to the extent of 27 per cent, while Teri^ Cotta and Loril- 

 lard, both heavy varieties, were affected to the extent of only 5 and 14 per cent, 

 respectively." 



Experiments with muskmelons, F. W. Rane {New Hampshire 

 Sta. Bui. 70., pp. 17-Jf.Jf., figs. 7). — In the avithor's study of muskmelons 

 an examination was made of the pistillate flowers of 93 varieties grown 

 under both field and forcing-house conditions. In 83 of these so-called 

 pistillate flowers he found both stamens and pollen, and the pollen was 

 effective in the production of fruit. From these results it would 

 seem that the general belief that the muskmelon is monoecious needs 

 qualification. 



An experiment was conducted to determine the comparative yield 

 and profitableness of sowing seeds out of doors and of transplanting 

 plants started early. Three varieties were used in the test. The 

 vines grown in the field from seed gave the best yields in every 

 ijistance. The comparative earliness up to September 5 of the trans- 



