COMMITTEE OX JX^ ESTIGATION 



53 



The Pennsylvania Station has in progress a long list of investiga- 

 tions in relation to vegetables, especially asparagus, early cabbage, 

 late cabbage, tomatoes, and is also making a study of the inheritance 

 in the various vegetables commonly grown. 



The Oregon Station has been and is working on problems in grow- 

 ing broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, early tomatoes, etc., and gives 

 particular attention to the problem of improving the potato crop, 

 and the methods of its culture. 



The Rhode Island Station is now especially studying the effect of 

 the composition of potato tubers, as concerns nitrogen, upon the 

 ultimate yield, and also the effect of various methods of fertilization 

 upon the nitrogen content. An experiment is in progress designed 

 to show the effect of given crops, among them vegetables, upon 

 those which follow. Thus far the effect upon onions has been 

 ascertained, but it will take thirty-five years' work to complete the 

 experiment. 



The Virginia Truck Experiment Station is devoting its entire 

 efforts to vegetable problems, and is now working on methods of 

 controlling insects and fungous diseases, crop rotations, commercial 

 fertilizer problems, methods of irrigation, plant breeding, and market 

 problems. 



In view of the extensive list of bulletins issued, and the account 

 of work in progress at the stations, we would hardly be justified in 

 claiming that the stations are doing but little for the vegetable grower. 

 Some of the stations, such as Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, 

 Maryland, etc., all states in which market gardening is carried on 

 extensively and has become a most important industry, have made 

 great and persistent efforts to help the grower of garden crops. 



In "The New Onion Culture" I gave, some years ago, a list of 

 bulletins issued by the stations on matters relating to onions and 

 onion culture. At that time the Department in Washington and 

 sixteen of the stations had already issued bulletins on the general 

 culture of the onion; fourteen stations, bulletins or reports on- "the 

 new onion culture;" twenty-eight had reported variety tests; eight, 

 tests of seed germination; eight, matters pertaining to onion diseases; 

 and eleven, matters pertaining to insects injurious to the onion. 

 This does not show that there is much reason for the onion grower to 

 complain. Yet I only mention this as an example, as I have not in 

 like manner compiled the work of the stations with respect to other 

 special vegetable crops. 



