24 EXPEIILMEXT STATION. [Jan. 



investigation in the interest of cranberry growers, are made 

 the subjects of special cumincnt whi(;h follows. 



Asparagus Substation, Concord. 



The details of the work in progress in the substation, main- 

 tained in the interest of asparagus growers in Concord, have 

 been carefully looked after by Mr. Charles W. Prescott, to 

 whom, as heretofore, we are greatly indebted for his lively in- 

 terest and efficient supervision. The work has already given 

 ]-esults of much interest, and is likely, I believe, to prove of 

 great value. It will be remembered that it follows two rather 

 distinct lines: (1) breeding experiments, with the hope of pro- 

 ducing a rust-resistant type of asparagus; (2) fertilizer ex- 

 joeriments, designed to throw light upon the special plant food 

 requirements of the crop. 



Breeding Experiments. — In the breeding work which is 

 done at Concord the station is fortunate in enjoying the co-oper- 

 ation of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. Mr. J. B. Xorton of the Bureau 

 has been assigned by Dr. B. T. Galloway to look after the as- 

 paragus breeding experiments. It is a pleasure to testify to the 

 enthusiasm and faithful attention of Mr. Norton, who has not 

 only most energetically prosecuted the breeding work, but has 

 proved of much assistance in making observations and records 

 on the fertilizer plots. 



A very large number of crosses between selected plants have 

 been made, and among these different crosses a few have re- 

 sulted in offspring which seem to be almost absolutely immune 

 to rust. These plants will he propagated and seed raised from 

 them as rapidly as possible, with the object of producing stock 

 for trial upon a more extended scale. If, however, the plants 

 produced by some of the crf)sses continue to show the immunity 

 exhibit(Hl by the seedlings, and if they have, as may be an- 

 tici])at(Hl, the capacity to transmit their characteristics, a very 

 gratifying forward step has certainly boon made, and we may 

 confidently anticipate complete success in attaining the end in 

 view. At as early a date as possible, seed and young plants will 

 he |)roduced in quantitic^s sufficient for trial by growers in dif- 

 ferent localities. 



