EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT. 389 



Total potatoes upon mulched ground 180, and upon the unmulched 

 area 310. By bringing the two portions to the same size the relative 

 numbers are : for the mulched soil 360 and the unmulched 310. The 

 relative weights became for mulched land 91 pounds and 67f for 

 the unmulched ground, a difference of nearly a half in favor of the 

 mulched area. 



The following table is of the amounts of scab, estimated as in 

 former years, in terms of per cent. : 



Beltl. Belt 2. Belts. Belt 4. Belt 5. Belt 6. Average. 



Mulched 65 40 70 45 45 5 45 



Unmulched 50 50 75 70 60 60 61 



It is seen that the mulched land shows less scab, which may be due 

 to the potatoes forming nearer the surface of the soil, sometimes even 

 in the mulch, where there may be fewer scab germs. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH BEANS. 



Plot I., Series V., has been continuously in bush beans since the 

 Experiment Area was started in 1894, with two crops for each 

 season, excepting for the present year. Only two sorts, namely, 

 "Green Flageolet" and "Saddleback Wax," were grown, they being 

 planted in alternate rows upon May 16th. On account of the cold, 

 wet weather, shortly after planting, the stand was not good with the 

 first-named sort and the rows of the other were somewhat broken. 



Upon July 30th it was recorded that there was much bacterial 

 blight upon the " Green Flageolet." This is among the most suscep- 

 tible of all the bush beans to this disease, but the alternate rows of 

 the "Saddleback Wax" were not exempt. This last-named variety 

 is but little inclined to the blight, and this selection of the extremes 

 In susceptibility was purposely made in order to study this obscure 

 point. 



Microscopic examinations were made of the leaves and other parts 

 of the two varieties, but enough evidence is not yet found to warrant 

 any conclusion as to the exact reason for the great susceptibility in 

 the one case and comparative immunity in the other. 



The hope of a natural cross between the two sorts, by growing them 

 side by side, was not realized, and the demonstration is made that, 

 with plants like beans, where close fertilization is easy, and possibly 

 the rule, one must resort to castration and the other accompanying 

 details of hand pollination to secure a cross. Beans, peas and plants 



