By L. R. Taft. Pp. 43. The result of a test of 75 sorts of potatoes show "that Gardner's Early, fit for digging July 24, yielded at the rate of 275 bushels per acre. Premium, July 26, yielded 221 bushels, and Early Harvest, July 26, yielded 303 bushels. Although Gardner's Early was not planted until a week after the other varieties, it was the first of all to ripen. Early Harvest is practically as early as Premium, and is much more productive. Following these extra early kinds within a few days are a large number of varieties that are considerably larger yielders, and should be relied on for the main early crop; among them are Lee's Favorite, Aug. 3, 376½ bushels; Timpe's No. 4, Aug. 3, 400 bushels; Timpe's No. 6, Aug. 3, 345½ bushels; Polaris, 345 bushels. Of other varieties that ripen about the same time as the above kinds, with a yield of about 300 bushels per acre, are Clark's No. 1, Gregory No. 1, Early Oxford, New Queen, Morning Star, June Eating, Mrs. Cleveland, Faust's 1889, Putnam's Early, Putnam's New Rose, Randall's Beauty, Fort Collins No. 83, and West's No. 1.

Raspberries In Central Texas.

Cut-Worms.

Varieties of Potatoes In Michigan.

"Timpe's No. 4, Lee's Favorite, Timpe's No. 6 and Polaris are most productive. Thorburn ripened a week later and gave a yield equally as large.

"Of the later sorts, Summit was far ahead of any other in yield per acre, the total being 548 bushels.

Watson's Seedling gave 395 bushels, Sutton 375 bushels, O. K. Mammoth 380 bushels, Putnam's Select 370 bushels, Rural Blush 370 bushels, Bannock 407 bushels, Copper Mine 382 bushels, Dictator 415 bushels, Alaska 375 bushels, and President Lincoln 499 bushels." The century-worn discussion of methods of cutting potatoes has demanded much thought at the Michigan station during the past year. The "seed end" is again found to be as valuable for planting as other portions of the tuber, and single eyes again give poorer results than half tubers. Half tubers appeared to be better than whole ones of the same weight as the half.

Tests of different depths of planting and of different ways of applying fertilizers gave the following results :

1. Slightly better results were obtained from fertilizers placed over the seed rather than under it. 2. When fertilizers were used, the best results were obtained from level culture. 3. Wood ashes at the rate of 125 bushels per acre gave a larger yield than 1250 pounds of prepared fertilizer, consisting of dissolved bone, sulphate of potash and sulphate of ammonia. 4. The use of stable manure gave better results than either ashes or fertilizers. 5. Manure placed between the rows as a mulch gave better results than when used either over or under the seed. " The last part of the season was quite dry, and the result might have been different in a wet season. It should also be noted that for four weeks after planting the season was cold and wet, and the great number of missed hills, particularly noticeable in the plot where manure was placed in the bottom of the trench under the seed, may have been owing to the fact that the manure acted as a sponge, and holding water, caused the seed potato to decay".

"With an open, well-drained soil, we have obtained best results by planting in trenches five inches deep and covering two inches. The trenches can be gradually filled when cultivating, after the plants are up, or better yet by dragging the field across the rows with a smoothing harrow as soon as the sprouts appear. This will level the land and destroy all weeds. A second harrowing and frequent working with a Planet Jr. or other cultivator, with level culture, will give satisfactory results." Professor Taft treated potatoes with hyposulphite of soda, sulphate of iron, sulphur, sulphate of potash and ground bone, in the hope of ascertaining if any of these materials lessen the production of scab in potatoes. There was a marked increase of scab where hyposulphite of soda was used, but in the other instances the results were indifferent.

Now to Cut Potatoes.

Culture of Potatoes.

"For early tomatoes we need not look beyond the Earliest (Vaughan) and King of the Earlies (Ely). Prelude is too small. Following these are Advance and Hathaway's Excelsior. Of large, smooth, red kinds there is little choice between Perfection, Paragon, Volunteer, Bay State, Haines' No. 64, Nichols Stone, Matchless, and a number of others. Igno-tum is with us still the most solid and largest smooth tomato. Out of five hundred plants only one sported. Red Mikado is a red and regular form of Mikado. Of pink or purple varieties, Acme, Beauty and Mikado are good. Shah is a yellow variety of Mikado parentage".

"From the trials of the past two years, it would seem there is little to be gained by selecting seeds from the first fruits to ripen. It is true that during both years there is on the average a slight apparent gain from such selection of angular sorts, but eight of the eighteen varieties show a loss from such selection, and we can only regard as accidental the fact that in the angular sorts the average shows a gain and in the smooth sorts a loss, where such selection is made".

It was found that it pays to start tomatoes under glass.

" For training the tomatoes used in our experiment work, a trellis of wire was devised. It consisted of four lines of No. 12 galvanized wire, fastened two on each side of the supports. These were made of six-inch fence boards, driven into the ground so that the upper end was thirty inches high. The wires were fastened on with wire nails, one line being fifteen inches from the ground and the other one foot above this. This gave a space of six inches in which to train the vines, and by tying them occasionally to the wires they were easily kept in place. The vines were thus kept off the ground, and the fruits were exposed to the influence of the sun and air, and picking was facilitated. The trellis was quickly and cheaply made, and the materials can be used for many years".

"As obtained from the various seedsmen, there was quite a variation even in the standard kinds, both in root and tops. The Eclipse gave beets of table size several days before any of the other kinds. The type of the Egyptian is being gradually changed from its original fiat form to one nearly spherical. Fifty Day was as early as Egyptian, but less desirable. Bassano still remains one of the best second early varieties for home use or for market where pink sorts are liked. Early Crimson is similar to it, except that the tops are smaller and the flesh a darker pink. Victoria is a half long blood beet, of good quality, with keeping qualities".

Potato Scab.

Varieties of Tomatoes in Michigan.

Seeds from First-ripe Fruits;

Early Sowing.

Tomato Trellis.

Beets In Michigan.

Following are results of a test of 36 sorts of cabbage. "Landreth's Earliest, Everitt's Earliest, New Express Ely), New Express (Everitt) and Early Etampes are much alike in appearance. They mature at the same time and are equally valuable varieties. Early Jersey Wakefield from Ferry and Henderson is more conical, but in earliness and general value there is little difference. Closely following these varieties come Henderson's Early Summer, Early Summer Flat Head, New Peerless, New Cassell and Succession. The last three kinds are improvements on the Henderson's Early Summer, which they much resemble. The heads are large, solid and even in size. Succession, in particular, is very promising, as it is as early as Henderson's Summer and produces heads one-half larger. Two weeks later the Vandergaw and Reedland Early Drumhead matured, both of which made a good showing. They will probably supersede Fottler's Brunswick, Of the later kinds Bloomsdale Late Flat Dutch, Chase's Excelsior, Genuine Surehead, Joseph Mason, Large Late Flat Dutch and Louisville Drumhead all gave satisfactory results".

In cauliflowers "it was difficult to detect any difference between Puritan, Gilt-Edge, Denmark. Prize Earliest,

Best Early, Snowball and Erfurt, as they showed less variation than appeared between the same sorts from different seedsmen.

"We received for trial from H. A. March, Fidalgo, Washington, packets of American-grown Snowball and Erfurt seed. They were large and plump, gave strong, vigorous plants and furnished us results as good or better than is usually obtained from imported seed. The heads were large, solid and as perfect as could be desired. We understand that this seed can be furnished at a price much below that of European seed".

38 kinds of sweet corn were grown. "Any attempt to determine the comparative values of the different varieties would be likely to prove misleading. Among the earliest sorts are Amber Cream (Cory ?), Burbank's Early, Chicago Market, Early Cory, Durkee, Early Marblehead, Early White Cory, New Queen, Northern Pedigree, Pee and Kay, and Perry's Hybrid. Of the second early kinds are Early Bonanza, Early Conqueror, Minnesota, Maule's XX, Roslyn Hybrid, Shaker's Early, Stablers Early, Acme and Triumph. Late sorts, Henderson's Sugar, Hickox's, Honey, Gold Coin, Maule's Mammoth, Old Colony and Ruby".

Professor Taft finds the best of 36 leading varieties of lettuce for hot-bed culture to be Grand Rapids, Black Seeded Simpson, Bloomsdale Early Summer, Boston Curled, Boston Market, Landreth's Forcing and Yellow Cabbages In Michigan.

Cauliflowers.

Sweet Corn.