ANNUAL REPORT, 1930 283 



Fertilizer Studies. (R. M. Koon). The plots are located at Waltham, 

 Concord and Eastham. Five acres, in total, are devoted to the plots. A 

 comparison of fertilizer ingredients, time of application of fertilizers, 

 amounts of fertilizer to apply, relation of high phosphoric acid to matur- 

 ity, and relation of fertilizer to earliness are the principal problems being 

 investigated. Although there were variations between the plots at the 

 end of the 1930 season, there was no correlation between the variations 

 and the treatment of the plots. This experiment will continue until 1931'. 



Greenhouse Lettuce. (V. A. Tiedjens). Very favorable reports from 

 growers who tried out the Bel-May lettuce in the spring of 1929 resulted 

 in a demand for seed. The Boston Market Gardeners Association sent 

 one-half pound of the foundation stock to a California seed grower who 

 returned 60 pounds of seed last August for distribution among the lettuce 

 growers of this State. One-half of the lettuce produced in the green- 

 houses of Massachusetts during the season of 1930 is of the new Bel-May 

 cross. It is a superior hotbed variety and shows promise as a satisfactory 

 sort for the early transplanted crop in the field. 



Improvement of Vegetable Varieties through Root and Seed Selection. 



(P. W. Dempsey). The foundation seed stock of the Field Station Hutch- 

 inson Carrot was grown as usual. 



Further selection of the foundation stock of the Wyman beet was made, 

 preparatory to having a quantity of seed grown under the supervision 

 of the Oregon Agricultural College in 1931. 



Fi selections of the Blue Hubbard squash selfed in 1929 were planted 

 and several excellent specimens were produced this season. Pollination 

 was continud as before. 



Seed from the best strains of Dwarf Horticultural beans from Tast 

 year's trials as well as special strains from several new sources were plant- 

 ed. A few of the strains which showed some promise were saved for 

 special study. 



Perennial Ornamentals. (Ray M. Koon). Perennial gardens have been 

 established for the purpose of observing pest attacks, the effect of cul- 

 tural treatments, hardiness, and for the benefit of the visiting public who 

 are interested in selecting plant material for their own homes. The plots 

 include 675 varieties of flowering plants commonly known as perennials, 

 TOO varieties of Iris, 60 varieties of roses, and 23-5 new varieties of peonies 

 from the Cornell Surplus of the American Peony Society. A border of 

 380 deciduous shrubs and trees of eighty-five different species from which 

 home lovers can make selections for simple and practical landscaping has 

 been planted. 



Field Day. The annual Field Day was held as usual at the Waltham 

 Field Station the first Wednesday in August (August sixth) with about 

 SOO market gardeners and florists attending. 



