EXPERIMENT^STATION REPORT. 263 



A third block of four acres of land has become available this 

 year for the Department, through the gift of a tract to the College 

 by Dr. J. C. Smock, for various purposes, one of which is for- 

 estry and nursery experiments. This "Smock Land" has made it 

 possible to expand the field work, and when the soil, at present in 

 a i>artially exhausted condition, is built up by green manuring and 

 liberal fertilizing the foundation will be laid for much more ex- 

 tensive and satisfactory experviments along- the lines of plant-im- 

 provement. Crimson clover, vetch and rye were sown in early 

 autumn to be plowed under in the coming spring. 



It is seen that the Breeding Grounds consist of three separated 

 areas and one of these is further divided into strips with land be- 

 tween, devoted to farm crops. liThis distribution of the land is 

 in large part necessary in order to carry out the experiments with 

 crossed corn, and by means of this adjustment it is possible to 

 grow upon seven acres not less than fifty-two blocks, exclusive 

 of the breeding plot where new crosses are made. 



This wide separation of the parts of the Breeding Grounds also 

 permits of the isolation of the special crosses of other vegetables. 

 Thus, a block of peas, beans, tomatoes, or eggplants, may be lo- 

 cated a long distance from the general breeding plots and the 

 chances for natural crossing thereby reduced, besides giving a test 

 of the crop upon a more extensive scale. 



In addition to the Breeding Grounds above described, the 

 truckers and persons with home gardens only are invited to assist 

 in the general testing of crosses of promise and in this way the 

 experiment area is extended throughout the State and, in fact, 

 the whole United States and beyond. 



