80 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 315 



Electricity as a Source of Heat in the Hotbed and Propagating Bench. (P. W. 



Dempsey.) Very little interest in electrical heat has been shown during the past 

 year by commercial growers or amateurs. Growers have been very slow even to 

 give the method a trial, perhaps because of a prevailing belief that electricity as a 

 source of heat is excessively expensive. It may also be due to the possibility of 

 failure of continuous service because of storm or breakdown. Even in places 

 where power companies have supplied equipment and current free of charge for 

 demonstration, growers are still using their former methods. 



Users of this equipment cannot afford to pay more than 3 cents per kwh. for 

 electricity either in the hotbed or propagating bench. At this rate, the cost of 

 the Field Station hotbeds has averaged $1.75 per sash (3 ft. x 6 ft.), March 1 to 

 May 15; and the cost of the propagating benches has averaged 1 cent for each 

 running foot of bench (3 feet wide) for each 10° above air temperature each 

 24 hours. 



Vegetable Variety Trials. (P. YV. Dempsey.) The sweet corn trials this year 

 were associated mainly with the new hybrid, topcrossed, and inbred strains, 

 especially regarding their resistance to the Stewart's Disease so threatening last 

 year. Owing to the absence of the disease this year no resistance records could 

 be taken, but a good opportunity was afforded for observation of other variety 

 characteristics. These new crosses are superior to their parents in yield and 

 uniformity and all are of excellent quality. Unfortunately, they are considerably 

 later than the original varieties. The future alone will determine to how great 

 an extent these new strains will replace the older varieties. 



Although the tomato trials each year include a number of new strains, there is 

 still need of a good early tomato. Marglobe has its place as a standard midseason 

 and late variety, but growers are still looking for a satisfactory early variety. 

 Abel, Bestal, Lincoln, Harkness. and Early Lightening were tried this year for the 

 first time and will require another season's trial before definite recommendations 

 can be made. As many Massachusetts growers are particularly interested in 

 trellis tomatoes now, an earnest effort is being made to produce a superior strain 

 for this purpose. The Field Station Comet has proved satisfactory in the hands 

 of growers throughout the State both in the greenhouse and on the trellis outside. 



Ornamental Display and Test Gardens. (Harold E. White.) Public interest 

 in the ornamental gardens since they were established in 1931 has increased to 

 such an extent that it has become necessary to have an attendant on duty in the 

 evenings from 5 to 8 o'clock during June, July, August, and September. Records 

 kept of evening visitors alone through these months show a total of 1425. The 

 best of the new perennials and many of the worthy older ones are added from time 

 to time. All the plants are clearly labeled and a list of sources from which the 

 plants may be obtained is available at the office. 



Horticultural Schools. (Harold E. White.) The horticultural schools initiated 

 four years ago are of two types. The one is designed to provide florists with 

 cultural information derived particularly from research. The other is an answer 

 to a request from home gardeners who desire instruction regarding the beautifica- 

 tion of their home environment. Each school is held for two days, and the con- 

 tinuing interest can be gauged by the attendance of 150 commercial florists and 

 483 home gardeners this year. 



Consultation Service. The demand for information on the part of the general 

 public has become so pressing that it has been necessary to appoint one member 



