126 | ASSEMBLY 
The weeds were kept down with the wheel-hoe, those in the row be- 
ing pulled by hand. ‘The bulbs were not thinned. No difference ap- 
peared in the foliage of the several varieties. | 
The bulbs were pulled on the days noted in the table as ‘‘ ripe,” left 
on the ground a few days to dry, topped, and the product of each row 
weighed. 
Superiority was claimed for the samples of seed from the Messrs. 
Wells, and the results seem to justify the claims; indicating in the 
case of the Yellow Danvers, a larger yield by forty-three bushels per 
acre than the average product of the seeds from other sources, and in 
the Red Wethersfield an increase of 131 bushels per acre over the aver- 
age yield of the other samples. 
It was noted that where the bulbs grew thickest in the row there 
were fewer thick-necked specimens, or “scallions,” than where they 
were more remote from each other. 
The appearances indicated that it is policy for the onion grower to 
fertilize his ground abundantly, allowing the bulbs to grow thickly, 
rather than to plant on soil of moderate fertility, and depend on thinning 
to secure bulbs of merchantable size. ‘The bulbs will find room to 
develop, if the soil contains sufficient nourishment, even if very much 
crowded, ; | 
It appears from the table that the lowest rate of germination is ac- 
companied by the smallest yield, and that the highest three rates of 
germination are accompanied by large yields. This suggests the im- 
portance of testing different samples of seed before planting. 
The second experiment with onions consisted in planting the Yellow 
Danvers variety in rows one foot and two feet apart, respectively, for 
the purpose of comparing the yields per equal areas, the same sample 
of seed being used in both cases. Rows planted one foot apart yielded 
at the rate of 480 bushels per acre, while those planted two feet apart. 
yielded at the rate of 384 bushels per acre. 
For table use we found the White Portugal variety, synonym 
‘¢ Silver-skin,” superior to the others. ‘The bulb grows to medium 
size, is flattened, with a small neck, and a silvery white skin. The 
flesh is white, fine grained, sweet and remarkably mild. 
THE ENGLISH FRAME CUCUMBER. 
A few seeds of a single variety of English Frame Cucumber—Giant 
of Armstadt— planted in the garden May 30, vegetated June 14, 
flowered July 23, was at edible maturity during August, and October 
4. The fruit grew somewhat larger than that of the well-known Long 
Green variety, and was very tender, exceedingly crisp, and of finer 
flavor than any garden varieties tested. Although the fruit assumed 
all the appearance of ripeness the seeds proved to be but empty seed- 
cases. 
MELON. 
Eight varieties of musk melon and twelve of watermelon were 
planted in hills prepared as described for squashes. Owing to dry 
weather and heavy soil, a large proportion of the seeds failed to vege- 
tate, though none of the varieties failed entirely. The growth of the 
