191G.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 17a 



characteristics and in very high degree the capacity to resist 

 attacks of rust. Roots and seed of some of these strains of 

 rust-resistant asparagus have been produced in sufficient quan- 

 tity to allow a considerable distribution in the spring of 1915. 

 The experiment station placed in the hands of 99 different 

 individuals either roots or seed, or both, as follows: 68 lots of 

 roots of 50 each, and 217 ounce packets of seed. The individu- 

 als sharing in this distribution agreed to make careful observa- 

 tions and to report results. It is, of course, as yet too early to 

 have thoroughly tested the new stock, but reports were called 

 for at the end of the last season, and these, in general, are very 

 favorable. Unfortunately, 1915, as regards testing capacity to 

 resist rust, was not in most localities characterized by general 

 and virulent attacks, but a considerable number of the parties 

 testing the new stock reported it less affected by rust than 

 other varieties under cultivation. There will be an additional 

 supply of roots and seed for distribution next spring, and within 

 a few years it will be possible to apcumulate data which will 

 show clearly whether the new varieties will prove permanently 

 and generally valuable. 



The details of the work connected with the investigation as 

 to the plant food requirements of the crop have been looked 

 after by Mr. C. W. Prescott with his usual faithful attention. 

 The total yield of the plots during 1915 was not quite as great 

 as in the previous year. The average per acre, however, was 

 at the rate of 7,314 pounds, while the yield of the best plot was 

 at the rate of 8,679 pounds per acre. Six plots (l^o acre each) 

 gave a yield at rates exceeding 8,000 pounds per acre. There 

 was relatively little rust in the asparagus districts in Concord 

 in 1915. The small reduction in yield as compared w^ith 1914 

 is easily accounted for by the excessive drought which prevailed 

 during the cutting season. 



There has been little rust on asparagus of any kind in Con- 

 cord during the past three years. Conditions have been such 

 that the crop has indicated the full, normal effect of the differ- 

 ent fertilizers and fertilizer combinations used. Under such 

 weather conditions as have prevailed, and since the weather 

 conditions have not been to any considerable extent abnormal, 

 with the exception perhaps of the drought of 1915, it is believed 



