Jan. 1922] annual report. 21 



Effect of Siccatives on Preventing Decay on the Potato Seed Piece. 



Method of treatment 



No treatment 



Gypsum 



Tricalcic phosphate 

 Sulphur 



Condition of Seed Piece after 50 Days 



Completely 

 rotten 



Per cent. 



1.5 



21.3 



14.5 



26.7 



Partly 

 rotten 



Per cent. 

 23.6 

 10.4 



24.5 

 30.7 



Sound 



Per cent. 

 74.9 

 68.3 

 60.8 

 42.6 



The data presented in the above table shows that gypsum is the best of 

 the three substances experimented with, but not one of them is, in reality, 

 better than no treatment at all in protecting the seed piece from decay. 



Snapdragon Rust and Its Control. 



In continuation of previous experiments a field of snapdragon plants 

 thoroughly and uniformly affected with snapdragon rust was divided by 

 Mr. Butler into sections and attempts made to control the malady by: 1. 

 the use of dry sulphur; 2, basic acetate of copper; 3, Burgimdy mixture; 

 4, basic copper acetate and dry sulphur; 5, Burgundy mixture and dry sul- 

 phur. 



None of the methods used gave any material protection. 



Effect of Phosphorus Upon the Time of Maturity of Tomatoes. 



One of the most important factors in determining the commercial success 

 of growing tomatoes for market is the time of maturity of the crop. Fre- 

 quently the first portion of the crop may bring much more in money return 

 than the mid-season portion, even though the total yield of the latter portion 

 may be much the greater. This is due to the higher prices which prevail 

 early in the season when the supply is limited. Under conditions such as 

 prevail in New Hampshu-e frequently the latter part of the tomato crop is 

 lost by frost injury because of the relatively short growing season. 



This project was started by J. R. Hepler (Horticulture) and Mr. Kray- 



bill in 1920 to determine whether the application of phosphorous fertilizers 



would hasten the maturity of the tomato. The fertilizer treatments of 



the plots were as follows: 



Plot 1— Nothing.. 



Plot 2- — 20 tons manure per acre. 



Plot 3 — 20 tons manure per acre. 



1000 lbs. acid phosphate per acre. 

 Plot 4- — 20 tons manure per acre. 



1000 lbs. gypsum per acre. 

 Plot 5 — 20 tons manure per acre. 



500 lbs acid phosphate per acre. 

 Plot 6 — 20 tons manure per acre. 



1000 lbs. acid phosphate per acre. 



1000 lbs. muriate of potash per acre. 



