24 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



watering in the greenhouse; the influence of different tempera- 

 tures upon the period of maturity. 



Large seeds were found to produce from 30 to 50 per cent 

 more first-class roots than did small seed from the same lot. 

 Sub-watering produced 12 to 15 per cent more first-class radishes 

 on a given section of the greenhouse bench than did surface- 

 watering on an equal area of the same bench. There was a 

 much greater loss from damping off on the surface-watered sec- 

 tion. Contrar}^ to the usual notion, the crop matured earlier, 

 and was of better quality, when grown in the tomato house, with 

 a night temperature of 60 degrees, than when grown at a lower 

 temperature. (See Annual Report, 1898.) 



Celery. 

 The work with celer}- was mainly in the way of demonstration, 

 and for the purpose of calling attention to this very useful garden 

 plant. The questions of soil, fertilizers, planting, handling, 

 blanching and storing were considered. (See Annual Report 

 1897 and Bulletin 40.) 



WINTER GARDENING. 



Principles and methods of building, heating, and ventilating 

 greenhouses, and of managing the more important crops grown 

 under glass, were discussed. In brief, it may be said, constant 

 watchfulness and the exercise of good judgment are of more 

 importance than adherence to set rules. One good man with 

 occasional help should be able to do all of the work in houses 

 covering 4.000 square feet of ground surface. In general, solid 

 beds are advocated for plants requiring no bottom heat, such as 

 cauliflower, lettuce and radishes, while for semi-tropical plants, 

 like melons, beans, and tomatoes, benches are preferred. For 

 large commercial houses, steam is the best method of heating, 

 but for smaller houses hot water is preferable. (Annual Report, 

 1896.) 



ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 



The ornamentation of rural homes is of the highest importance 

 to the people of Maine, not only as a means of adding to the 

 comfort and pleasure of home life, but as an attraction for the 

 increasing number of summer visitors and as a means of enhanc- 

 ing the value of the property. For this reason suggestions were 



