Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-06-30

or the various departments % tho
Delaware College Experiment station
have just submitted to Director Har-
ry Hayward. Of the station their re-
ports covering the work done in their
departments during the fiscal year
ending June 30. These reports are
unusually interesting to the farmers
Of the State as they tell of the many
experiments that are being made and
the results obtained relative to yari-
GUS crops and fruits that can be
grown in the State. Those who sub
mitted reports are: Professor Charles
A. McCue, horticulturist; Professor
A. Il. Grantham, agronomist; Or.
Thomas F. MAINS, of the department
of plant pathology and soil bac-
teriology, and Professor Firman
Thompson, of the department OF
chemistry.
Because of the great success OF the
college farm peach orchard during
the past two years the report OF Pro-
fessor McCue, the horticulturist. is
of special interest The report gives
many details relative to the expert
ments that are being made with fruit
at the college farm and also recon-
nut tulAuIt III DtidWdAHs ho
report in part follows:
lowing to the full crop of peaches
We have secured during the past year
great deal of valuable information
regarding the plant food and cover
crop requirements OF the peach. The
most striking feature brought out was
the value Of nitrogen in peach pro-
duction. The work of studying varie-
ties has not been as satisfactory as
we would like to have II. The work
entailed in handling the commercial
crop Of peaches was so great that but
little time was left for note taking.
There must be some relief from the
commercial aspects of the fruit crop
before thorough and efficient observa-
tion of experimental work can be had.
However in spite of the handicap we
have succeeded in securing the record
yield of each individual tree in the
variety orchards and hope to continue
this work
1--WE already have records showing
that many Of our peach varieties are
untitled for Delaware conditions and
also that there are several very prom
Using varieties in the orchards, among
these might mention Miss Lola
Francis and Ray
I'VE strongly believe that there is a
place for nut culture in Delaware
and in accordance with this belief
we have established a test orchard
Of pecans at Laurel. two varieties OF
English walnuts are Included in the
test"
Study Peach Culture.
Professor A. f. Grantham. agrono-
mist. in his report says. in part:
The various systems of crop rota'
lions are being studied with a view
of determining: First, the effect o.
different rotations on the fertility o.
the soil; second, the commercial re
turns from various systems of crop
ping. Eighteen different rotation
varying from two 20 fve years II
length are being compared. Sixty
four twentieth acre plats we're USED
The result from some of these ruta
lions indicate conclusively the valu
of crimson clover and red clover j
maintaining the fertility of the sol
No stable manure or nitrogen In an
form is used on these plats, eXcep
where potatoes are included in IN
rotation. yet the yields are excellent
showing that green manure supple
mented by ample quantities of phos
phate acid and potash will give splen
did crops One feature that has com
I to our attention is the fact that re
clover demands considerable potas
for best results. We have had n
difficulty in securing stands of re
clover where to 10 per cent. of poi
ash was used in the fertilizer 70
, wheat. The rotations in this exper
! ment are so planned as to use a
, many green manure crops as poss
, BILE during the course.
"The response of wheat to the var
: GUS elements Of plant food and thei
combinations is an important part {
r the wheat Investigations. II has bee
I found that phosphoric acid is the el'
ment which seems to play the mos
I important role on ordinary soils
: developing wheat. Thus under thes
! tests we have found that phosphor
acid gives a greater stimulus to II
! wheat crop than any other single fel
tilizer. The value of green manu-
8 and its relation to wheat growing
Z being studied both alone and in col
Z Injection with the mineral elements
' plant food Several tests With n
: trate of soda as top dressing f
Y wheat have shown that under ord
|. nary conditions where wheat has r.
: ceived the proper amount of miner
4 fertilizers in the fall, profitable r
. suits may he expected from the M
8 of a top dressing OF 125 TO $50 p0un'
: OF nitrate Of soda per acre.
, 1.-THE study of wheat rsrieties hi
progressed far enough to enable l
to determine somewhat definitely Il
best yielding stratus. II appears tn
most of the leading varieties are Of
bearded sort. One or two smooth VI
n rieties. namely Leaps Prolific an
Perfection, have equalled our be