•144 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOKD. 



HORTICULTURE. 



G-ardening under glass, W. F. Massey and A. Rhodes {North, 

 Carolina Sta. Bui. 170., pp. 2Jf). — Under this heading a test of the 

 main varieties of tomatoes for winter forcing is reported, and an essay 

 appended on the use of glass in North Carolina in gardening for the 

 market. Tomato plants were grown in 10-in. pots tilled with a mix- 

 ture of one-half ordinar}^ potting compost and one-half Jadoo iilier 

 and trained to single stems. Pollination was secured by removing 

 pollen with a camel's hair brush and applying the brush bloom by 

 bloom. The dates of gathering and yield of each picking from Janu- 

 ary to March, inclusive, are shown in tables for each variet3\ Com- 

 ments on the character and yield of each variety are appended. Maule 

 Earliest gave the largest yield of an}^ of the varieties tested. It was 

 also the earliest variet}'^ grown. The author believes that if this 

 tomato could be bred into a smooth variety it would leave little to be 

 desired as a tomato. In its present irregular shape it is considered 

 unsatisfactory for forcing. Maule Imperial, New Forcing, Stone, and 

 White Excelsior were all promising varieties for forcing. Tapping 

 the plants at noon for the purpose of pollination resulted in an imper- 

 fect setting of fruit and rapid falling off in size as compared with the 

 results obtained when hand pollination was practiced. 



In the essay on the use of glass for market gardening in North 

 Carolina the subjects of cold frames, sowing lettuce seed for first and 

 second crops, l)nilding cheap greenhouses, etc., are discussed. 



Forced peas in pots, G. Wythes {Garden., 58 {1900), No. 1505., 2)p- 

 mi, m2,fig. 1; Amer. Gar d., 21 {1900), No. S02,pp. 663, ^6'^).— Forcing 

 peas in pots under glass and A^arieties suitable for the purpose are dis- 

 cussed. In the author's experience the most satisfactory methods of 

 growing have been to sow from 8 to 12 seed in 9 or 10 in. pots and thin 

 to half the number when the seedlings are strong enough. The soil used 

 should be a firm loam to which bone meal or well-rotted manure has 

 been added, a space being left at the top for later top-dressings. The 

 peas may be planted in the early part of December and the pots placed 

 in cold frames. The sashes should be kept closed until the peas are 

 well above the soil. But little moisture and no heat is reqidred until 

 the plants become well rooted — probably in February. Liquid manure 

 is beneficial as growth proceeds. Sowing in small pots and trans- 

 planting to larger increases the labor without benefit to the plants. 

 In case pot plants can not be grown, planting out in frames early in 

 the year, say in January, is advocated. Robust plants which grow 

 from 2 to 3 ft. high are considered most suitable for this purpose. 

 For pot culture A'ery small varieties — 6 to 9 in. — are not in favor. 

 Though early they are less prolific than stronger-growing varieties. 



One of the best varieties for early pot culture is May Queen. This 

 is a 3-ft. pea, hardy, pods freely, and the peas have a marrow-fat 



