10 
existence of the conditions that we have outlined as respects 
the soil and air temperatures. A very limited experience 
with greenhouse plants suffices to give indication of the 
importance of bottom heat and a cool air temperature as 
contributing to root growth, and the influence of a high air 
temperature with a comparatively cool soil temperature 
toward promoting growth in the foliage. The observant 
farmer may also note the application of these principles in 
certain of his crops, perhaps best to be observed in the corn 
plant. It has been a nearly constant observation of mine, 
and I have met others who have also noted a like circum- 
stance, that upon soil which we know to be fertile, the corn 
pliant yields better when early planted during the spring 
seasons when there is considerable alternation in tempera- 
ture, than later when the temperatures as between soil and 
air have become more constant. Or, as may be expressed 
from the resultant effect, it isnot well to see plants exceed- 
ingly vigorous during the early season, but better to see 
plants showing less vigor, yet healthy vigor in the foliage. 
Large early growth seems rarely to give equal results in 
crop with a slow yet healthy spring growvh. In cereals, 
the condition known as ‘‘ proudness”’ seems often to result: 
from the over-development of the leaf as contrasted with 
the root development, especially when growing in very fer- 
tile soil under the stimulus of a warm season. 
The mechanical effect of the wind upon a young plant is. 
at times quite noticeable. A transplanted plant often finds 
great difficulty in becoming established, especially if set in 
loose soil, as the wind moving the stem to and fro presses. 
the earth from contact and produces a movement in the 
roots which prevent their establishment. Under these cir- 
cumstances, compression of the ground about the newly 
transplanted plant by trampling has been found beneficial, 
and many times this process will offset the injurious action 
of the wind. <A shingle stuck into the ground as a shelter 
will often prove of great advantage. It seems ilways more 
difficult fora plant to become established in a loose soil 
than in one which is well firmed, and this difficulty, in the 
presence of continuous wind storms, often becomes serious 
as before mentioned, but the partial remedy of firming the 
ground seems known to and practiced by but few. 
The apparently desultory nature of experimental work in 
the first years of an experimental station finds illustration 
in our reports, and seems to arise from a necessity which 
is fully recognized by your director. While in theory the 
varied work of different observers should be harmonized 
towards one conclusion, and towards the elucidation of one: 
central idea, in practice this course has seemed impractica- 
ble, through the imperfection of our data, and the confused _ 

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