HORTICULTURE. 747 



Radishes were grown in the pots after the lettuce was removed. The 

 largest yields were obtained from the soils in which stable manure was 

 used; the smallest from those in which muck and chemicals were 

 used. 



An examination of the behavior of different varieties of stra-w- 

 berries, Duke of Bedfokd and 8. U. Pickeuin(t ( Wohid-n Exptl. 

 Fruit Farm Rpt. 1900, pp. 35-82, 2J^9-251).^1\\ this experiment 85 

 varieties of strawberries have been grown for 5 years, 13 plants of 

 each variety having been planted every j^ear, so that in 1899 each 

 variety was represented l)y plants of 5 different ages. Plants were 

 set 2 feet apart each way. Crops from each 13 plants were gathered 

 separately each year, and the berries counted and weighed. Other 

 data, such as dates of first ripening in different j^ears, meteorological 

 conditions, deterioration of cropping power in different varieties and 

 in size of berry, the flavor, color, firmness, and character of varieties, 

 etc., were secured and are in part recorded. A comparison was also 

 made with the same varieties of berries grown in various other parts 

 of the experimental ground as regards these same points. The 

 various features of the experiment are discussed at length. The 

 years 1896 and 1898 were much better strawberrv years than 1897 and 

 1899, as shown by the larger average jdelds, increased size of the 

 fruit, greater yields per plant, etc., when all the varieties and ages 

 are considered. Nevertheless, no connection could be traced between 

 the crops ol^tained and the meteorological conditions observed either 

 during or preceding the ripening period, and these observations include 

 data on temperature, rainfall, humidity, and surface temperature. 



Both the actual and relative size of the crops obtained from plants 

 of the same or different ages varied much in different years. For 

 example, weights of crops from 1 and 2 year old plants in 1896 

 stood in the proportion of 193 to 100, respectively, while in the fol- 

 lowing year the proportion was ■! to 100. The relative weights of the 

 berries for 1, 2, and 3 year old crops were 100 : 100 : 172 in 1897 and 

 32 : 100 : 77 in 1898; and there was as much variation with one variety 

 as with another. The weight of the crops increased rapidly up to 3 

 years, 1, 2, and 3 3'ear old plants standing in the proportion of 31 : 

 100 : 122, and there was no diminution in the crop the following 2 

 j'ears. In fact, there was a further increase the fifth 3-ear to 134, but 

 since this result depends on the observations of one season onl}' not 

 much stress is put upon it. While the total yield of berries increased 

 with the age of the plant, the size of the berries decreased. If the 

 size of the berries for the 2-year old plants is taken as 100, the pro- 

 portion for the different years would be as follows: First j^ear, 115; 

 second, 100; third, 96; fourth, 91; fifth, 82. If the value of the 

 crop is assumed to be proportional to the jnelds and the size of the 

 berries, the value of the crop from the different plants from 1 to 5 



