254 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Fruit was formed first on the plants in box 10, noticed on 

 January 17. It first appeared in box 12 on January 18 ; in 

 boxes 4 and 9 on January 21 ; in box 3 on January 24 ; in 

 box 1 on January 27 ; in box 8 on February 5 ; and in box 



7 on February 28. 



Fruit ripened in box 10 on February 20 ; in boxes 3, 4 

 and 12 on February 28 ; in box 9 on March 1 ; and in box 



8 on March 7. 



The plants grown in the soil manured with vegetable com- 

 post, as a sort of control experiment, made a very vigorous and 

 healthy growth, but blossomed late and had formed no fruit up 

 to March 8, although retaining their promising appearance. 



Besides the above, the investigations during the close of 

 the present winter season have been extended to the following 

 garden vegetables, namely : peas, beans, onions, cauliflower, 

 radish and turnip. 



Some General Considerations for Garden Farmers. 



1. Garden crops have usually a short period of growth, 

 and for this reason need a soil rich in available plant food of 

 various kinds, to meet periodical wants. 



2. An excessive accumulation of half-decayed vegetable 

 matter, as stable manure and compost prepared from the 

 healthy refuse material of the garden, should be guarded 

 against, in order to prevent, as far as practicable, the de- 

 velopment of objectionable j^arasitic growths. Both sources 

 of manurial matter are very valuable in their way, if used in 

 limited quantities and properly supplemented by chemical 

 manures and commercial fertilizers, to meet the special wants 

 of the crops under cultivation. 



3. A liberal use of commercial fertilizers and chemical 

 manures for the production of garden vegetables and fruits 

 deserves commendation, for they enable us to meet more di- 

 rectly the special wants of any soil for the production of crops 

 raised in succession during the same season on the same lands. 

 An excessive accumulation of soluble salines has, however, to 

 be avoided, for some garden vegetables, as lettuce, etc., are 

 very sensitive to their influence (see our observation). 



4. It is advisal)le wherever practicable to change the 

 position of cliflerent garden crops from season to season, to 

 regulate the accumulation of the various essential constitu- 



