I iMiVERSlTY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN AGRICULTURE Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://archive.org/details/notesonvegetable47crai BULLETIN 47 NAPCH 1900 . UNIVERSITY OF ILIINOB AGRICULTURE filBRABI IOWA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE EXPERIMENT STATION ^« SWEET POTATO PATCH— HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENT GROUNDS Department of Horticulture and Torestry AMES, IOWA NOTES ON VEGETABLES. CUCUMBERS EGG PLANTS LiriR BE7XNS TOMATOES SWEET POTATOES PEPPERS PRESS OF CARTER & HtJSSEY DBS MOINES, IOWA. Board of Trustees. Members by virtue of office — His Excellency, L M. Shaw, Governor of the State. Hon. K. C. Barrett, Supt. of Public Instruction. Term Expires. First District — Hon. S. H. Watkins, Liberty ville, J 904 Second District — Hon. C. S. Barclay, West Liberty 1904 Third District— Hon. J. S. Jones, Manchester 1902 Fourth District — Hon. C. L. Gabrilson, New Hamp- ton. ...... 1904 Fifth District— Hon. W. R. Moninger, Galvin 1906 Sixth District— Hon. W. O. McElroy, Newton 1902 Seventh District— Hon. W. K. Boardman, Nevada 1906 Eighth District— Hon. W. B. Penick, Tingley 1£04 Ninth District — Hon. L. B. Robinson, Avoca 1902 Tenth District — Hon. J. B. Hungerford, Carroll 1906 Eleventh District— Hon. W. J. Dixon, Sac City 1906 Officers of the Board. Hon. W. O. McElroy, Newton, Chairman. Prof. E. W. Stanton, Ames, Secretary. Herman Knapp, Ames, Treasurer. STATION STAFF. W. M. Beardshear, A. M., LL. D., President. * James Wilson, Dean of the Division of Agriculture. C. F. Cqrtiss, B. Sc., M. S. A., Director and Agriculutrist. J. D. Weems, Ph., D., Chemist. L. H. Pammel, B. Agr., M. Sc, Ph. D., Botanist. H. E. Summers, B S. Entomologist. John Craig, B. Agr., M. S. Horticulturist. John A. Craeg, B. S. A., Animal Husbandry. John Repp, V. M. D., Veterinarian. G. L. McKay, Dairying. James Atkinson, B. S. A., Assistant in Agriculture. Joseph J. Edgerton, B. Agr., Asst. in Agr. Physics. C. H. Eckles, B. Agr., M. Sc, Assistant in Dairying and Dairy Bacteriology. ^ T-,' „ tj J, '[■ Assistant Botanists. E. R. Hodson, B. Sc, ) John J. Vernon, B. S. A., Assistant Horticulturist. Clarence J. Griffith, B. S. A., Asst. in Dairying. Geo. Rommel, B. S. A , Assistant in Dairy Husbandry. H. N. Grettenberg, B. S. A., ) . T n d t> ci t Assistant Chemists. J. C. Brown, B. So., ) Charlotte M. King, Artist. *Granted an indefinite leave of absence. Notes cfn Vegetables John Craig. GENERAL REMARKS. It is probably true that the culture of vegetables is neglected to a greater extent than any other legitimate farm crop. This is due to a lack of appreciation of their good qualities, lack of knowledge of varieties, and methods of culture; and possibly to lack of opportunity by the farmer. It is scarcely necessary to say that a sincere desire, backed by energy, will surmount many of these difficulties. As a rule the area chosen by the farmer for the kitchen gar- den, is too circumscribed. This greatly increases the labor of caring for it, owing to the impracticability of using horse power. Make the garden of good size. More satisfaction will be de- rived from a garden of generous size, attached to a corn field, than the usual small square, too restricted for horse power, and dependent for cultivation on the well meant, though often spo- radic efforts of the farm boy or housewife. When horse power cannot be used, much satisfaction can be gained by employing some form of the many Avheel hoes, now common in the market. These are exceedingly useful imple- ments, and are great labor savers. After selecting a permanent garden site, it is desirable to surround it with a wind break of trees. When this is done, a strip of grass eight or ten feet wide should be left between trees and vegetables, as vegetables as well as other crops will not suc- ceed close to trees. The garden soil should be plowed deeply in the fall. It should be manured liberally every year, but rotten manure should be used only. Green manure charged with weed seeds often increases the labor of weeding very materially. The quality of vegetables grown for their roots, or as plant salads, depends on the rapidity of their growth, therefore an abundance of available fertilizer is essential. In planting the garden, perennial plants, like rhubarb and asparagus should be placed at one side by themselves ; other 309 vegetables should be so grouped as to bring along side each other, those requiring the same amount of space between the rows. For instance, onions, turnips, lettuce, radishes, carrots and parsnips, may be planted about eighteen inches apart, while corn and tomatoes should have three to four feet between rows, and squash, melons and cucumbers eight to ten feet. Another advantage of setting an area apart for the garden somewhat larger than the usual requirements, lies in the fact that a clover crop may be included in the rotation. This will be of marked benefit in regenerating and keeping up the fertility of the soil. Insect enemies must be watched. For treatment, the reader is referred to the spraying calendar issued by the Iowa Agricul- tural Experiment Station. In purchasing seeds it is usually wise to select what may be called 4 'standard varieties of home-grown seeds. " There is much pleasure and interest connected with the testing of new varieties, and a few should be tried each year, but this work mainly belongs to the sphere of the Experiment Station. The information set forth in the following pages was gained by careful trials made last season in the Experiment Station grounds. It will be the policy of the Horticultural Department to study a few types of vegetables each season from the cultural as well as the variety standpoint. I. CUCUMBERS. The following are the details of a variety test of Cucumbers. The seed was planted in drills ten feet apart, in rather light sandy loam, on May 21th. Five hills of each variety were planted and the plants thinned to three vines to the hill. The table gives data relative to vigor and yield of vines, the latter being based on a scale of one-tenth points, the latter figure expressing maximum vigor. The figures representing the yields at different periods of the picking season, are important, as they indicate the approximate season of the variety. For instance, a variety which gave the largest picking between July 31st, the date of the first picking, and August 17th mid-season, should be classed with early varieties, and those giving the larger yield after that period, should properly be rated with late varieties. The figures therefore are worth studying. t^COt^^OOOCClOlOTO-^COr-iOCOOCDrH^'MlOOO «OOXI>i0' , *'^CD!>JH05CCC0-^Tj^H OrH Tfl lOi-H Oi 03 t-Hi(N [- t- l> CQ M b- CO iO»OI>(N^ C0C£)l>'-'C0M>OOO l X)»0:0 0i(Mt^'^iOCD»CL0'*rH OS C~ t-h CO CO OJ t-H CO i-h i-H CO HHCOrtW-- i-l CO M Qioososoo^xooco-^oo^ooioiooaoooLCio as oo p^ 1 p be >-» bi p"3 p -— 00 no ■+ J oo grnS S^CO b£ -^CO0O-'*-^ > -+- 5 OC £ : : * ; 2 CO c— 2 ir— cd 3 be CD P p - p o .-si J3 P -^ o GO i ^£ p S Oh go. .2 v -* J3 So, 9a b£P § so fl « oq P Sh O O r 1 & ogfg P i o, *a el 172 c° p ^ —- ~ ^ CD CD 311 DESIRABLE VARIETIES. Early,— Boston Pickling, Evergreen and Green Cluster. Mid-Season.— Cool and Crisp, Tailby.Hybrid, White Spine, Commercial Pickle. Late.— Long Green, Short Green,[Giant Pera. General Notes.— Cucumbers usually succeed admirably in the fore part of the season, in this part of the state, but owing occa- sionally to drought and frequently to the attacks of aphis, they fail in mid-summer. To lessen the injur- ious effects of drought and save soil moisture the ground should be cul- tivated as long as possible. It will pay to run the cultivator the same way during the last two or three cultivations so that it may run close- ly to the vines without undue injury or disturbance. It will also pay during dry weather to go over the rows with a rake stirring the sur- face of the soil near the hill out of the reach of the cultivator. This will prevent the ground from crack- ing and will do much towards sav- ing soil moisture. The most injurious insects of the cucumber are the striped squash bug which attacks the young plant soon after it appears above ground and plant lice which infect the undersides of the leaves, causing curling and wilting about mid-summer or later. The beetle was controlled by using Bordeaux Mixture, in which twice the amount of lime called for by the formula was used and Paris Green at the rate of 1 lb. to 100 gallons of Bordeaux. With this mixture the plants were kept thoroughly coated for two or three weeks after developing their true leaves. Plant lice (Aphis) were more difficult of treatment. We were suc- cessful however in preventing serious injury by the careful use of tobacco water to which was added 1 lb. of whale oil to each 50 gallons of infusion. The tobacco water was made by soak- ing tobacco stems, (cigar manufacturer's waste,) in water at the rate of five gallons of water to each pound of tobacco. If home FIG. 1 WHITE SPINE. A standard mid-season variety Reduced two-thirds, 312 grown tobacco leaf is available it is preferable to the waste article. In applying this the operator should remember that it only kills by contact and there i s little benefit t o be expected from spraying it only upon the upper surface of the leaves. In order to accomplish the result aimed at we found it necessary to bend and attach to the hose a piece of brass tubing about four feet in length to the lower end of which the nozzle was screwed so that the spray might be thrown against the lower side of the leaves. With this curved tube attached to fif- teen feet of rubber hose connect- ed with a force pump, the work was done with comparitive ease and perfect satisfaction. T If the area to be sprayed is small, a knapsack pump will do the work, but for market gardeners a bar- rel pump placed on a stonejboat or cart, will be found more satisfactory in the long run. FIG. 2. GIANT PERA. Reduced two-thirds. II. EGG PLANTS. Believing that this delicious vegetable is well adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the greater portion of Iowa, a preliminary test was made of the leading varieties last season. Of course it is grown to a greater or less extent, but not nearly as widely as it should be. Previous to this my experience with egg plants had covered several years in the east, where although the frostless season is as long as that in central Iowa, yet the mean temperature being considerably lower, they were grown with much less success than at this station because the egg plant is essentially a heat loving plant. The following table gives information as to time of sowing; pricking out; when the fruit ripened; the approximate yield and the average weight of the fruit of each variety. The plants were set out on May|26. 313 EGG PLANT YAKIETY Black Pekin . . . Fordhook Imp. SpinTss Imp. N. Y. Purple. . Long Purple Long White New Improved Round Purple Round White Scarlet Chinese Solanum Striatum Vaughan's Imp. N. Y. Imp. W. Pearl Thor.. . Burpee Thor . . Thor . . Thor . . White. Thor . . Thor . . Thor . . Thor . . Vaugh, Vaugh, SEED SOWN April 5.. . March 24. April 5 . . April 5.. . April 5.. . April 6. . . April 5. . . April 5. . . April 5 . . April 5 . . March 24 . March 24. April 29 10 April 14 10 April 2910 April 29 10 April 29 May 12. April 29 April 29 April 29 April 29 April 14 April 14 August 20 August 30 August 15 August 25 August 25 August 28 August 15 August 13 August 10 August 26 August 12 August 25 9 CO X d 16 46 38 26 57 35 47 90 37 16 % § > < lb. oz. 2 6 4 10 10 8 3 14 1 8 Of the large varieties, among the best last season, were Fordhook Improved and New York Improved; of medium size were White's Improved and Round Purple. Scarlet Chinese and Solanum Straitum are only interesting bonatically. CULTURAL NOTES. Soil. — The best results are attained on a rich sandy loam, although egg plants may be grown quite successfully upon black prairie soils. Growing the Plants.— These should be started in hot bed or in green house. It is very important that the plants should not receive a check before or after setting out. If seed is sown rather early in the hot bed, and the bottom heat should fail late in spring during a period of cool weather, the plants might be seriously injured by such a check, though not frozen. From the middle of March to the first or even middle of April is quite early enough to sow the seed in this locality if a good warm house is available. The plants ought to be strong enough for transplanting "pricking off" a month after seed sowing. At this time the first true leaves should be partly developed. When pricked off they may be transferred to flats or to two inch pots. They should be subsequently transferred to larger pots when the roots begin to crowd. Last season we set plants in the open on May 26th. On account of the wet character of the season a later date would probably have given better results. 314 If the land is valuable, as in the case of city gardens, the plants may be set 2x2 feet apart; this, however, is crowding them somewhat and 3x3 feet is a better average distance. Cultivation should be thorough, which means that the ground should be stirred every five or six days with the cultivator. Enemies. — The only enemy which attacks the plants seri- ously is the potato bug. The egg plant is preferred by this voracious feeder to its natural food, the potato plant. Close attention must be given to prevent injury when the plants are young. The best remedy I have used is Paris Green at the rate of one ounce to ten gallons of Bordeaux mixture. It sticks to the leaves for a long time, when applied with Bordeaux mixture; if used alone it may be applied as strong as one pound to 100 gallons of water, using with it one pound of lime. COOKING EGG PLANT. Egg plants would be more highly and generally appreciated if cooks were more familiar with the manner of cooking it. A common question is: How is it cooked? The following recipes supplied by the Domestic Economy Department repre- sent various methods of serving this delicious vegetable: Stuffed Egg Plant. — Cook egg plant fifteen minutes in boil- ing salted water. Cut a slice from top and with a spoon remove pulp, taking care not to work too closely to the skin. Chop pulp, and add one cup of soft stale bread crumbs. Melt two tablespoons of butter, and add one tablespoon of finely chopped onion, and cook five minutes; or try out three slices of. bacon, using bacon fat instead of butter. Add this to chopped pulp and bread, season with salt and pepper, and if necessary moisten with little stock or water; cook five minutes, cool slightly, and add one beaten egg. Refill egg plant, cover with buttered bread crumb, and bake twenty-five minutes in a hot oven. Egg Plant Fried in Butter. — Cut the egg plant into slices one-quarter of an inch thick after the skin has been removed. Sprinkle the slices with salt, pile them one upon another on the back of a dish, place on them a plate holding a weight; let it stand one hour to express the juice. Then dredge with flour, or dip in egg and bread crumbs. Put a pan over the fire with enough butter to cover the bottom to a depth of half an inch thick when melted; when the butter is smoking hot, put in the egg plant, fry it brown on both sides and serve it hot. Fried Egg Plant. — Pare an egg plant, cut in one-fourth inch slices and soak over night in salted water. Drain, let 315 stand in cold water one-half hour, drain again and dry between towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, dip in batter, or dip in. flour, egg, and crumbs and fry in deep fat. Egg Plant Fried in Batter. — Peel, slice and salt the egg plant as directed in the recipe for egg plant, fried in butter; have ready the frying kettle half full of hot fat; when ready to fry, dry slices of egg plant between towels, dip in batter and fry until brown in the hot fat. Drain them on brown paper, serve hot. III. PEPPERS. This group of vegetables, while not worthy of first rank as food plants, vary so much in characteristics that the work of treating them is very interesting. Their culture is practically C - J ^1 ( Fn. 3. that of tomatoes. The plants should be started in the hot bed and transplanted to the open when all danger of frost is over. The soil should be a warm sandy loam. The plants should be 316 set in rows three feet apart and two feet apart in the row. No special kind of culture is necessary, and fortunately the plants are nearly exempt from insect attack. There is great variation in form and color, the larger varieties are much less pungent than the small fruited kinds. The accompanying table gives information regarding the time of ripening and the characteris- tics of the fruit. The seed was obtained from Thorburn of New York. Ten plants of each variety composed the test. For home use the best varieties are Red Chili, Rubv King, Golden Dawn, Long Cayenne. Seed sown April 8, plants "pricked off" April 26 and set out May 26th. VARIETY RIPE REMARKS Elephant Trunk Large Bell Large Squash Long Cayenne Mam. Golden Queen. . . Monstrous August 20 August 11 August 14 August 14 August 25 August 9 August 22 August 14 August 26 Irregular, cylindrical, straight or curved. Large, irregular, scarlet. Tomato like, bright scarlet. Fruit small, conic, upright Strong grower, large, conic, irregular, yel. Same as la*-t but red in color. New Celestial Procopp Red Cherry Long, pointed, scarlet. Small ovh.I. bright rpd. Red Chili August 26 Small, o.vlindrina.l. so.arlet. ln.t.p. Ruby King August 14 August 21 August 15 August 6 August 15 Scarlet, elongated, irregular. Same as Long Cayenne. Yellow, conic, irregular. Large, irregular, conic. Globular, small, scarlet, late. Red Cluster Sweet Golden Dawn . . . Sweet Mountain Sweet Spanish IV. *LIMA BEANS. While these can by no means be looked upon as horticultural novelties yet I fear that in many portions of the country such a ranking would be eminently proper. The Lima Beans should be much more generally grown in this latitude. It is true that they are more susceptible to cold than snap or string beans but it is also true that they are much finer in flavor, therefore any additional effort, if such is necessary, put forth in growing them is well repaid. Lima beans are of two classes, 1 climbing, 2 drawf forms. *Consult Bulls, 87 and 115 Exp. Sta. Cornell University 317 Climbing — These represent older forms from which the dwarf forms appeared as sports. There are three types of each, pole and dwarf, showing that the sport still retained certain characteristics of the form from which it sprang. These types are, (a) Sieva or Carolina, a small slender grower; (b) True Limas, large, flat, slender Limas with broad pods, and (c) the Potato Limas with smaller and more swollen seeds and short plump pods. The Dwarf Limas are a comparatively new and indeed very valuable addition to our list of garden vegetables, possessing desirable table quali- ties of the Pole Limas, their dwarf stature very much lessens the labor of cultivation. The leading varieties of Limas were tested last season. No special effort was made to secure a complete collection yet the following list comprises those found in the catalogues of several prominent seedsmen. The subjoined table gives data relative to the time of sowing, and the yield of each variety. Fifty seeds of each kind were sown on May 24-th. The seed was obtained from Johnson & Stokes, Philadelphia; Burpee, Philadelphia; Thorburn, of New York and White, of Des Moines. FIG 4. LARGE WHITE LIMA. Reduced one-third. 318 The yields are not accurately indicative of the productiveness of the dwarf varieties on account of the weak vitality of some of the seeds. Those marked (*)did not germinate satisfactorily. VARIETY Carolina Jersey Extra Early Horticultural Lima Siebert's Dreer Pole Shotwell Imp. Thick Shallcross Market Queen. J ackson Wonder Bush . . . Henderson's Bush German Cluster Selected Large White .... Willow Leaf Thorburn's Dwarf *Ford , s Mammoth Podded ^Burpee's Bush *Salem Improved *New Wonder Bush ^Selected Large White . . . RIPE SHELL BEANS GREEN PODS lb. oz. lb oz. August 15. . . 7 9 4 August 25 . . . 3 2 3 13 August 8 . . . 2 11 13 August 15. . . 2 5 2 6 August 20. . . 2 1 5 6 Sept. 1 2 o 10 August 25 . . . 1 14 6 1 August 15. . . 1 12 August 10. . . 1 9 August 25 . . . 1 4 5 6 August 20.. . 1 4 3 6 August 25 . . . 1 3 1 Sept. 8 1 10 Sept. 6 11 8 8 August 31 . . . 8 2 5 Sept. 1 / 3 . 15 August 31 . . . 6 1 3 August 20 . . . 3 1 14 NOTES ON VARIETIES. The value of the following notes upon variety characteristics are much enhanced by the observations of Miss Gertrude Coburn, Professor of Domestic Science, who tested each kind from the standpoint of the ease with which it cooked and its quality when cooked. These tests showed that the true Limas are much higher flavored* than the Sieva or Carolina, the small seeded section. Unfortunately the true Limas are smaller yielders and are a little late for this climate. It is, neverthe- less, worth while to spend some effort in cultivating these high flavored varieties. Burpee 1 s Bush Lima. — A strong dwarf grower; some ten- dency to run; leaves non-glabrous; pods three to four inches long; scimitar shaped; late, seems to be a light bearer. Miss Coburn says: u Large, flat, thin skin, good flavor; cooked tender in forty minutes, when dry sixty minutes, with soaking over night were required; desirable." Carolina (Sieva). — Leaves smooth, dark green; fair grower; early. Type of Henderson's Bush. Pods small, narrow; an early variety. "Bean small, creamy white; flat, tough and skinned with little pulp; tough after ninety minutes cooking ; not desirable." — Miss Coburn. Dreer 319 Lima. — Light green ; non -glabrous leaves; strong grower; pods nearly straight. " Bean medium size, swollen ; greenish white ; good flavor ; cooked tender in sixty minutes; tough skinned but desira- ble in general." — Miss Coburn.. Extra Early Jersey. — Inter- mediate type; light green; non- glabrous ; pods large, curved; . fairly early. "Bean large, rather thick, greenish and well shaped; cooked tender in sixty minutes; rather mealy; good flavor; desira- ble." — Miss Coburn. Ford's Mammoth Podded. — "Cooked tender in fifty minutes; dry, soft, good flavor; desirable." SMALL WHITE LIMA OR CAROLINA. MisS Cobum. German Cluster Pole. — Leaves somewhat downy; vigorous grower; fairly prolific; late; pods large, three to five inches long. "Bean of medium size and thickness; greenish white; good flavor though watery; cooked tender in thirty minutes, green or dry and soaked; desirable." — Miss Coburn. Henderson's Bush. — Leaves glabrous, dark green ; pods small; beans small, white; flowers appearing till frost; this is a very early variety; plants thoroughly bush, do not run. "Beans small, flat, white; scarcely tender after soaking over night and cooking sixty-five minutes ; tough skinned and of poor flavor." — Miss Coburn. Horticultural Lima. — Pole; very early; rather weak grower; leaves non-glabrous; rugose; pods medium to large; beans pink. "Beans small, reddish brown, turning dark when cooked; small rounded; pulp granular, not very pleasant ; scarcely tender after 120 minutes' cooking." — Miss Coburn. Jackson's Wonder Bush. — Leaves dark green, smooth, somewhat glabrous; pods narrow, elongated; type of Hender- son's; prolific. "Bean medium flat, brown, spotted; tough skin; mealy, well flavored; pulp required ninety minutes to cook tender. " — Miss' Coburn. 320 New Wonder. — Leaves dark late, does not set well; unproductive; pods scimitar shaped. "Bean large, flat; thin skin; good flavor; cooked tender in twenty-five minutes when green, or in fifty minutes after soaking over night when dry; desira- ble.' 1 — Miss Coburn. Salem Improved Lima. — Leaves large, light green; plant vigorous; pods two and one-half to four inches long, curved ; late. "Bean large, flat, green, well rounded; good flavor; cooked tender in forty minutes; desirable." — Miss Coburn. moderate grower: FIG. 6. HORTICULTURAL LIMA. Selected Large White. — Medium sized leaf; light green; non- glabrous; fairly vigorous; (seed poor); pod large, broad. "Bean very large, flat, greenish white; tender, but does not break in pieces; sweet and well flavored; cooked tender in sixty minutes Avhen green; in forty-five minutes when dry and soaked. 1 ' — Miss Coburn. Selected Long White. — Leaves dark green; smooth or nearly so; intermediate in size; pods nearly straight, do not fill well; late. Shallcross Market Queen. — Foliage light green; pods large, nearly straight; late; rather light bearer. "Bean medium size, rather thick; greenish white; tender and of good flavor; cooked soft in forty minutes; desirable." — Miss Coburn. Shotwell Improved. — Leaves large, light green; intermediate; very vigorous grower; pods large, husk thin, well filled; mid- season or late. "Bean medium size, very thick, greenish white; cooked tender in forty minutes when green; in sixty-five min- utes when dry and soaked; desirable. 11 — Miss Coburn. Sieberfs Lima. — Pole; leaves medium, shiny or nearly intermediate; fair grower; pods large, curved. "Bean large, 321 thick, greenish; good flavor desirable. " — Miss Co'burn. cooked tender in sixty minutes; Thorbum's Dwarf. — Plant light green; leaf non- glabrous, white below; a very slight ten- dency to run; pods short, two to three inches long, two to three beans in a pod; flowering period continues till frost. "Bean medium size, thick; good flavor; cooked tender in forty minutes when green; desirable. 1 ' — Miss Coburn. Willow Leaf. — Leaves lance- olete, willow like, dark green; pods small, narrow. "Bean small, flat, white; hard little pulp; cooked tender in forty- five minutes; poor flavor; not desirable." — Miss Coburn. Culture — The culture of Lima Beans is essentially that of ordinary beans, except that they cannot be sown quite so early. Attention must be paid to this point, as, if checked or stunted by cold or wet weather in the fore part of the season the suc- ceeding growth is rarely satisfactory. Choose then a friable soil in a protected situation and. plant when the ground has become thoroughly warmed and the weather well settled. The dwarfs may be considered safer for short and cold seasons than the pole varieties. The latter are larger growing, are more sus- ceptible to cold and require a longer season to mature. The dwarf varieties may be treated like bush beans, sowing them about two inches deep in rows three feet apart. The pole varieties may be planted four or five beans in hills three to four feet apart or in continuous rows, though in the latter case the labor of "poling " is increased. FIG. 7. THOR. DWARF LIMA, Rather late. V. SWEET POTATOES. The growing of sweet potatoes in the south east part of this state is an important industry. The island of Muscatine in the Mississippi River is largely given up to the cultivation of sweet potatoes and melons. The sweet potato, although essentially a 322 southern staple, demands attention from experiment station workers. Preliminary tests were made last season with a view of ascertaining what varieties might be cultivated in this latitude with some degree of profit and satisfaction. The kinds noted below were tested. In fchis connection it is proper to say that the Department is indebted to Theo. Williams, Benson, Nebr. for the entire collection. Mr. Williams not only makes a business of growing sweet potatoes but is keenly interested in testing and studying variety characteristics. In this experi- ment the tubers were sprouted in hot bed where they were placed about May first. In the table the varieties are arranged in order of yield beginning with the largest producer of No. 1 tubers. In the variety notes which follow the table, are given valuable date, again collected by Miss Coburn while studying the table merits of the different kinds. These notes are well worth studying. The soil on which the crop was grown was not rich, having previously grown nursery stock, was not manured, but thoroughly prepared. Before planting, the sur- face was ridged and the plants set in the usual way, on June first and second, fifty plants of each kind composing the test. VARIETY Florida Benson Red Jersey Yellow and Red Bermuda Nigger Choker Early Carolina Southern Queen Yellow Sugar Yellow Jersey Big Stem Jersey Vineless Bronze Yellow (Yellow Spanish) Yellow Nansemond WEIGHT — POUNDS NO. ONE NO. TWO 79 66.5 53.5 44.5 40 38 32 28 14.5 14 11.5 8.5 9.5 15 35 8 28 42 16 28.5 41.5 40.5 10 36.5 29 TOTAL YIELD IN LBS. 88.5 81.5 88.5 52.5 68 80 48 56.5 56 54.5 21.5 45 32 NOTES ON VAKIETY CHARACTERISTICS. Benson. — (Originated with Theo. Williams, Benson, Nebr.) Leaves like Southern Queen; tubers large, white, yam type; smooth. Very few small potatoes ; this is a promising variety the quality being good. u Skin brownish yellow, very sniooth. * Flesh light yellow, firm, fairly dry, very sweet." — Miss Coburn. *Oooked by steaming until soft enough to be easily pierced with a fork, then baking until slightly browned. 323 Big Stem Jersey. — Foliage like Yellow Jersey. Tubers of Yellow Nansemond type, rather shorter and somewhat better developed. "Skin brownish yellow, very smooth; flesh green- ish yellow, very wet, slightly stringy, sweet." — Miss Coburn. Bronze or Yellow Spanish. — Leaf stems purple; tubers mere thickened roots as a rule; un- marketable for the most part. Skin russet, thin, fairly smooth, flesh grayish, firm grained, firm, only slightly wet; sweet and pleasant to taste; quality good." A sprout from black Spanish. — Miss Coburn. Early Carolina. — Strong grower; tubers pure yellow, short and plump, well devel- oped, and with few side shoots. Skin brownish yellow, thin, smooth. "Flesh yellow, slightly wet and stringy, only slightly sweet, not very agreeable." —Miss Coburn. "A North Carolina sort, one of the best for north. "■ — Williams. Florida (Providence, Bunch Vineless.) — Practically vineless; tubers large, yellowish white, a few small rooty specimens; majority large, fairly smooth; apparently not a heavy yielder, but really the most productive of the collection. "Skin brownish gray; tuber large and thick; flesh light greenish yellow, coarse, but rather dry, and very sweet. " — Miss Coburn. "Best in quality of all sweets to boil, needs highland or sand." — Williams. Nigger Choker (Black Spanish). — Weak grower; long pur- ple leaf stems; tubers large, dark and irregular in form; many roots. "Skin dark red; tuber very long; flesh almost white, fine grained, wet; very sweet, pleasant flavor. " — Miss Coburn. Productive only on rich moist soil; tubers require more heat to germinate them than other kinds." — Williams. Bed Jersey. — Weak grower; tubers regular in shape, smooth, pinkish red, short and plump. "Skin red, smooth; flesh green- ish yellow, sweet, almost mealy, good," — Miss Coburn. "Of FIG. 8. BENSON. Reduced three-quarters. commercial purposes at the General Grant, Ely, Yam, 324 best quality and shape even on land too rich for the Yellow Jersey." — Williams. Southern Queen. — Medium runner, leaves large; dense mat of foliage; tubers type of Benson, large, fairly smooth, inclined to run to roots. "Skin, greenish brown, rough; flesh yellow, very wet, coarse; not very sweet nor pleasant.'' — Miss Coburn. "Very popular in the South." — Williams. Vineless. — Grows in hills, quite upright; tubers yellowish white, small, light cropper. "Skin white; meat creamy white, slightly wet, sweet and good. " — Miss Coburn. "A sport of a late type of Southern Yel- low Yam and worthless at the north. " — Williams. Yellow and Bed Bermuda. — Large leaved, upright grower; tubers mostly red, medium large, very irreg- ular as to form, long, rather warty; light yield; late; yam type. Yellow Bermuda; long, irregular, unattract- ive in shape; skin brownish yellow. "Flesh yellow, wet, coarse, not very sweet nor good. Red Bermuda; skin greenish brown, rough; flesh yellow, very wet, coarse; not very sweet nor pleasant." — Miss Coburn. "The most worthless of sweet potatoes." — Williams. Yellow Jersey. — Regular type; tubers small, smooth; early; not quite as large as Early Carolina; throws out a good many sprouts; not equal to Red Jersey or Early Carolina; skin light, yellow, thin, smooth; flesh pale yellow, wet, stringy, fairly sweet. Yellow Nansemond. — Vigorous grower ; healthy ; tubers rooty; very slightly developed; very much elongated. "Skin light brown, slightly rough; flesh light greenish yellow, not fibrous or wet, but not mealy nor very sweet." — Miss Coburn. "A name formerly applied to yellow sweet potatoes when FIG 9. RED JERSEY. Reduced three-quarters. 325 Nansemond Company held the commericial palm for quality." — Williams. Yellow or Sugar Yam. — Leaves finely cut; vigorous grower; tubers white; variable in size and form, many small ones. "Skin brownish yellow, rather rough ; flesh very wet, coarse, sweet; not desirable," —Miss Coburn. "This is of the type that all southerners prefer for table use." — Williams. BRIEF CULTURAL DIRECTIONS. The sweet potatoes belong to the Morning Glory (Ipomoea) family. It is a native of the south and therefore requires considerable warmth to bring it to successful maturity. FIG. 10 YELLOW CAROLINA. Reduced three-quarters. sandy soil is most favorable — one having a large percentage of vegeta- ble matter preferred. Cold clays or heavy, imperfectly drained soils are entirely unsuitable. Preparation. — The soil should be very thoroughly pulverized to a depth of five or six inches. If it is naturally loose and friable a shallow- er stirring may be preferable, Propagation. — The commonest way to grow sweet potato plants is to prepare a hot bed in the usual way; after the first heated period is over the tubers are placed quite closely together but not touching upon the soil covering the manure. They are then covered with three inches of soil, the bed covered with glass and watered as often as necessary. The buds or shoots which develop are removed and transplanted to the field when the ground is warm. Transplanting. — The commonest method is to set the plants in ridges, but some growers prefer to set on the level. It is FIG 11. YELLOW NANSEMOND. Reduced three-quarters. 326 probable that the ridge system is the most desirable at the north and especially in heavy soil. The rows or center of ridges* should be about three and one-half feet apart and the plants set eighteen inches apart in the row. FIG. 12. Showing types of leaves, a Florida; b Yellow Jersey; C Red Jersey. Cultivation. — This should be thorough. Frequent shallow cultivation will save the soil moisture and often do much towards- 329 adding to the yield of No. 1 tubers. The question is often asked, shall we allow the vines to take root or must they be moved to prevent rooting. The concensus of opinion in the south now is that it does not pay to move the vines, except under unusual circumstances, as when the soil is rich and cultivation is dis- continued early in the season. In our experiments this year FIG. 1?. Showing types of leaves, a Vineless; b Benson. there was no appreciable difference between rows in which the vines were undisturbed, and those in which the vines were moved twice. Manuring. — It is probable that potash is one of the most important fertilizers for sweet potatoes. In New Jersey, horse manure, at the rate of from ten to twenty tons per acre is used. It should be well rotted before applying. Phosphatic manures 328 with leguminous or green manuring is now being generally prac- ticed with good results. Harvesting. — Dig only when ground is dry. Great care should be exercised in digging the crop in order to save the tubers without bruising. ' The potatoes should be stored in dry, cool, well ventilated, frost-proof cellars or storage rooms. VI. TOMATO EXPERIMENTS. The records from which the following data are compiled were made by Mr. E. E. Little who faithfully carried out the details of the various experiments entrusted to his care. The objects of the experiments were to ascertain, (a) the adaptability of the leading varieties as determined by vigor of plant and yield of fruit, to this locality; (6) to study the effect FIG. 14. BEST OF ALL. Made a remarkably good showing last year. of different methods of training upon thu yield; and (c) to learn something of the relative solidity and texture of some of the leading commercial varieties. The seed was sown in flats in the greenhouse, between March 24 and April 5, and the plants were pricked off into two and one-half pots, between April 14, and April 22, and were finally transplanted to the field on May 26. Ten plants of each kind 329 were set out. The soil was a well worked, sandy loam, which had previously grown nursery stock. It was in good physical condition but could not be said to be in a high state of fertility. The fore part of the season was wet, interfering somewhat with cultivation while the latter part was excessively dry. FK3. 15. DWARF CHAMPION. A good type of early Tomato. Table I shows the relative productiveness of early and mid-season varieties. The records show that Early Ruby gave the largest yield for the first and second picking periods from August 5 to September 8. The amount of rotten fruit was fairly proportionate to the yield. Perfection and Ignotum stand high in point of yield in the first period while both fall to tenth place or lower in the second or mid-season period. 'HNt-CWIM^INfflm^H^t-lOr-iOOHWlClOCOOOOOOOCD (NCO(NHthH(N(M CM i-H o 9 % ^g ^^ SO C3 O o Ph~ rS§*3 +2 > j^ B be m i ?-* P,^ £ . PQ d » S ,5 ^ »— i o*3 "d o _ .-e r o s Ph SH Cr ^p I— i OS fe- CD jj PQQ JH | , sa co! . *> M P 8S "8 8 c Ph p-,. o 9 CD o. 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S f O-H 3?3 METHODS OF TRAINING VINES. It may be best to preface this paragraph with the statement that probably commercial growers in this state can not afford to spend time and labor in training vines after special fashions, &nd that the methods described belong essentially to the field of the amateur except when the season is short, or conditions of growth unfavorable. There are principally two questions involved in methods of training, (a) as affecting productiveness, and (6) as affecting dis- ease. Two vines of each variety in the subjoined table com- posed the test. The fruit, sound and decayed, was carefully picked and weighed throughout the season at the same time that pickings were made in the general test. FIG. 16. ATLANTIC PRIZE. Early, but rough, cavities numerous and large. Untrained. Plants allowed to grow naturally. Staked. Plants trained to a four-foot stake, usually two vines each case. Hilled. A good sized mound of earth drawn up about the base of each plant when the fruit began to set. Mulched. A covering of them, or four inches of strawy manure spread under the vines as the fruit began to set. H o - o W H pq Q CJ 02 113 H kCO £ a CO O $ Q 5% o b z H PS H 02 be fe Q 3 02 8-3 * S.2S S2fe £ 02 ^ Pc 3 W be . 3 EH fc> as fc _ S5 Ed H H C >< M < E-i H & B3 fe Q fc P O H p 3 fe H M H P ^lOCMCM^COCMrtiCOlOr^CMCOOrHU^LO^COHiCNlt-COH^t^ Q»— I — ' rH rH 1— I I— I T— I I— If— I T— I «IOMNCOO?HO-'©00-*««MOOOCS1CCOMCOH05 ~CO^CO^COCOCMt^C<]COCOCOC<1HHCOHHi— I <— • i- 1 CM CO CM "cMfl5 CM OH rH i—l i—l r— I i— I i-H i— t rH ■NXXClN00'*^NTt(OXt*O^C1'*tiNM0500 CO CM X^i-cD^COoCt-CiXfOOXOtOQCO^TtlLOCOt-OO ^^CMCMCOCO — CO^HCO H lO CI C0rHCMC0C0rH' o ftO HH a; i-H Ph 335 CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF METHODS OF TRAINING. VINES, HOW TREATED. ' YIELD S ° UND YIELD R0TTEN PER CENT K0T " FRUIT. FRUIT. TEN. Untrained 157 lb. 14 oz. 34 lb. 7 oz. 20 Staked 197 " 5 " 15 " 7 " 7.9 Hilled 184" 10 " 20 •' 14 " 10.8 Mulched 253" 14 " 44" 4 " 17.5 This summary shows that (a) the smallest yield was given by the untrained vines; and that (6) the percentage of rotten fruit on these was greater than in any other case: that (c) staked vines gave a larger percentage of sound fruit than untrained and (d) showed the smallest percentage of decayed fruit in the experi- ment; (e) hilling did not give any striking results; (/) mulching FIG. 17. TERRA COTTA. Seed cavities numerous, but well filled. greatly increased the productiveness and (g) also the tendency to rot. These are the results obtained during a year of unusually large precipitation during June, and marked by light rainfall in August and September. RELATIVE SOLIDITY OF FRUIT. The solidity and firmness of flesh are important characteris- tics of the tomato and have a special bearing upon their value 3^6 as keepers and shippers. A simple test was made to ascertain the relative weight of the fruit when compared with an equal volume of water. This test can not be accepted as giving relia- ble data upon the relative size of seed cavaties because the specific gravity of the