ANNUAL REPORT, 1932 59 



The Boston Market Gardeners Association has continued to use the Field Sta- 

 tion as headquarters for their monthly executive committee meetings. 



The annual Field Day was held on August 3 with 888 farmers attending. 



The Plant House. (P. W. Dempsey.) Interest in the plant house is increas- 

 ing. Growers of both ornamental and vegetable plants are finding it of much 

 value, and many amateur gardeners are also finding this type of structure econom- 

 ical to build and operate, and derive considerable pleasure from their winter 

 garden. A new up-to-date plant house was built during the fall according to 

 our latest plans, and an effort is being made to interest commercial concerns to 

 standardize all the parts of the structure they sell. 



Growers who have lost their source of heat (fresh manure) are now interested 

 in installing hot water heating systems in their frames. The plant house offers 

 such superior conditions for growing seedlings that the grower is advised to con- 

 struct a plant house and use his frames to increase his capacity. 



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



(P. W. Dempsey.) Work on this project was continued in both the greenhouse 

 and hotbed. Interest on the part of growers is bound to increase as they become 

 acquainted with this mild, controlled source of heat. Improvements in methods 

 of use and type of equipment are constantly being made. Commercial growers in 

 several states have installed rather extensive outfits. 



From the results of this work it is recommended that growers go slowly in mak- 

 ing an investment in installation and equipment, a trial bed or bench of from 4 to 

 10 sash being suggested. Operating costs at a current rate of 3 cents per kilowatt 

 hour have been rather high. The cost of maintaining the temperature of a 

 propagating bench (sand) 3 feet wide and 5 inches deep at 60" F. with the air 

 temperature 50° F. was one cent for each running foot each 24 hours. Cost of 

 the hotbed was $1.60 per sash for the season March 10 to May 20, with the 

 minimum temperature 45° F. Hot water has proved as satisfactory and much 

 lower in operating cost — 50 cents per sash. Work will be continued to gain more 

 essential knowledge of advantage to the grower. 



Vegetable Variety Trials. (P. W. Dempsey.) Over fifty .strains of sweet 

 corn were planted on two different dates. The outstanding feature in this year's 

 trials was the number of new strains of Early Golden Market, introduced some 

 seven years ago by Gill Brothers of Portland, Oregon, appearing under different 

 names — Early Sensation, Yellow Sensation, Extra Early Yellow, Golden Hum- 

 mer, Extra Early Golden, and others. These strains are certain to become popu- 

 lar since they all mature before Bantam and bear a large ear of Bantam quality. 

 Golden Sunshine is but little different in general characteristics and is constantly 

 gaining in popularity. In later-maturing varieties there is considerable interest 

 in "Top-Crossed" and "Inbred" strains of sweet corn. The strains mature a heavy 

 crop of excellent-quality ears of even size, and are of particular value for the 

 cannery. 



Forty-four strains and varieties of beets were seeded in two plantings. More 

 attention is being paid to inside color of the root than formerly. Ohio Canner is a 

 variety showing promise for a particular trade. It is rather small in size, of 

 excellent quality, very dark in color, and matures evenly. 



Eighty strains and varieties of tomatoes were planted, half of the plants of each 

 strain being staked and half grown flat. The new variety, Pritchard, introduced 

 by the United States Department of Agriculture, did not show up as well as ex- 



