from both lots was the same; while of the Surehead and Harvest Home, the average weights were seven per cent. and thirteen per cent. respective greater from the mulched plants.

Deduction: Indications point to an advantageous use of a mulch in growing cabbages especially in a dry season.

4. SHALLOW CULTIVATION VS. DEEP CULTIVATION: The value of thorough cultivation has in recent years been greatly emphasized, though not unduly so, but as to just what is implied by thorough cultivation there may be a difference of opinion.

It has been our practice to use the cultivator with much freedom in the cultivation of nearly all garden vegetables and where the plants are set out carefully in straight rows the cultivator is usually run as close to the plants as possible without disturbing them. This becomes in many cases a method of root pruning. In order to determine, if possible, whether this method of cultivation has any specific effect upon the results obtained, twenty plants from each of four varieties were given the cultivation described above while four similar lots were given only such cultivation as could be furnished with a common hoe, though with the same frequency as the plants receiving deep cultivation.

The results are given in table IV.

Referring to the figures relating to the maturity of the different lots, it will be observed that of the first two varieties, the percentage of the cracked heads from the plants receiving deep cultivation was noticeably large, giving evidence of a greater maturity of the deeply cultivated plants; on the other hand the evidence of the third variety is contradictory and of the fourth, neutral. The difference in the percentages of immature heads gives evidence of the same fact; in three instances the proportion of immature heads was greater from the plants given shallow cultivation.

The effect of the different methods of culture did not seem to manifest itself in the size of the heads, as in two cases the results favor deep cultivation, while in the other two the larger heads were produced by the plants receiving shallow cultivation.

Deduction: Deep cultivation appears to hasten the maturity of the plants as evinced by the greater percentage of cracked heads from the deeply cultivated plants and by the greater percentage of immature heads from the plants given shallow cultivation. The size of the heads does not appear to be influenced by the different methods of culture.

VARIETIES.

Harvest Home: (Northrup, Braslan, Goodwin Co.) This is a late variety of good size, heads fairly solid, nearly spherical in shape. Ballhead: (Improved Danish Ballhead Winter, James Vick's Sons). A rather small variety, shape nearly spherical, very hard and solid. Medium early.

Reynolds' Early: (Gregory). A medium early variety of good size, moderately firm and vigorous. Said to be the result of an artificial cross between the Scheweinfurt Quintal and Cannon Ball cabbage. This is a desirable variety for its season.

Lupton: (Maule). A sport form Excelsior Flat Dutch found in the fall of 1888. It forms a large, solid, flat head; plant strong and vigorous with a short stem. A very satisfactory variety for late use.

The other varieties mentioned above are satisfactory sorts but have no distinctive characteristics and require no special mention.

RECAPITULATION.

1. The size of the seed seems to have some influence upon the size of the head; the larger seed, as a rule, producing the larger head.

2. The tying up of the outer leaves appears to have no influence upon the maturity of the head, while it produces a marked decrease in the size and almost invariably causes the head to decay.

3. Mulching with straw or some similar material in a dry season tends to increase the size of the head.

4. Deep cultivation seems to have little if any effect upon the size of the head, but plants so treated appear to mature earlier and more uniformly than plants receiving shallow cultivation.

REPORT OF BOTANIST AND ENTOMOLOGIST.

Prof. F. L. HARVEY.

Professor W. H. Jordan:

DEAR SIR:—I have the honor to submit herewith my eighth annual report as botanist and entomologist for the experiment station.

The work of the season has been along the usual lines, embracing field work upon injurious plants and insects,laboratory investigations upon the life histories of insects and plants, preparation of material to illustrate lectures upon insects and weeds, lectures, preparation of articles for the press, correspondence and preparation of this annual report.

The most important field and laboratory work was upon the life history of Trypeta (Epochra) Canadensis (Loew) a fly doing much damage by stinging currants. This consumed considerable time during the summer months and the results of the study are given in the body of the report.

Boxes for storing specimens showing stages in the life history of a single insect, or small group of insects, have been made and the work of collecting and preparing specimens is in progress. These will be useful for comparison in study and determination of species and to illustrate talks upon insects before winter course students and farmers meetings.

A complete collection of weeds and forage plants is in process of preparation and will be useful for naming specimens sent for determination and to illustrate lectures.

Besides the local lectures to winter students in agriculture upon injurious insects and fungi, several appointments to lecture have been filled in various parts of the State; two for the Pomological Society at Presque Isle, two for the Board of Agriculture at West Rockport and Washington in Knox county, three at North Berwick, Saco and Cornish in York county; one at Turner Centre in Androscoggin county and one at North Jay, Franklin county, and two for granges at Fryeburg Centre and Monmouth. The subjects treated were Native Cranberries,Orchard and Farm Insects, Fungi and Weeds. At most points two subjects were considered.

An article upon Cattle Lice was written for the Lewiston Journal besides articles for other State papers, and also several papers of a technical nature upon the plants and animals of Maine were contributed to natural history journals.

As you are to sever your connection with the Maine Experiment Station at the close of the year I wish to thank you for the interest you have always taken in my work and for the liberal provision which has always been made to aid me in my investigatons and to express my regret thet such pleasant personal relations cannot continue.

DIRECTIONS FOR SENDING SPECIMENS

will be found in the annual report of the Experiment Station, 1888, page 194 or in the Maine Agricultural Report 1888, page 158.

CORRESPONDENCE.

It is the duty of the Station Botanist and Entomologist to answer questions regarding plants and insects that are of economic importance. Any citizen of Maine may avail himself of this privilege. Correspondence is therefore invited. We would particularly like to have farmers send us specimens of weeds they find in their fields as we wish to study the distribution of weeds in the State.

Below will be found notes upon the plants, and insects of importance that have claimed attention during the year. Those requiring detailed consideration are treated in the body of the Report. The usual tables of record of plants and insects are given below.

NOTES ON PLANTS.

BERTEROA INCANA, a cruciferous weed mentioned in our last report seems to have established itself, as specimens were received again this The various species of the mustard family are abundant in

season. Maine.

THE DICHOTOMOUS CATCHFLY, which was received from so many sources last year was not reported this season. Being an annual and such a coarse conspicuous plant the farmers probably.cut it before seeding, and will have no further trouble with it.

THE COMMON ST. JOHN'S WORT, was received from South Rumford. This species is common in Maine, and is a pernicious weed. A perennial with a tough root. It is common in pastures, roadsides and thickets.

THE WILD CARROT was found to be quite abundant in Knox county where it has become well established along neglected roadsides.

THE COMMON EVENING PRIMROSE is quite abundant in various parts of Maine. It was considered in Board of Agricultural Crop Bulletin for August, 1895. Its large yellow flowers built on the plan of four and its size make it a conspicuous weed. It is not so common as the sundrops mentioned in our last report.

THE YELLOW BED STRAW was received for the first time the past season. It occurs as a weed in fields in Carroll.

THE CANADIAN GOLDEN-ROD is a common coarse species very abundant in fence corners and about pastures and thickets. It is usually associated with two or three golden-rods, asters and compositae.

THE CONE FLOWER OR YELLOW DAISY as it is called in Maine is distributed throughout the State. It was introduced with grass and clover seed from the West.

THE SCABROUS HAWKWEED a native species was received from several parties. It is related to the Orange Hawkweed, but is not nearly so bad a weed. The native species is found in open woods, thickets and grass lands. It has yellow blossoms and a leafy stem. The Orange Hawkweed has dark orange flowers.

THE GIANT LAURAL (Rhododendron Maximum, L.,) was received from Mr. C. S. Phinney of Standish. This is a rare species and the letter regarding it printed in the body of the report will be interesting.

THE CLOVER DODDER reported last season, seems to be abundant having been received this season from Kennebec, Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.

THE CREEPING THYME was reported for the first time. It is a weed belonging to the mint family.

THE ENGLISH PLANTAIN is still being shipped into the State in clover seed. It was found in two samples of seed examined the past

season.

THE BLACK BINDWEED, a common twining plant belonging to the same family as the smartweeds, docks, sorrels and buckwheat, was received from Piscataquis county. It is a plant introduced from Europe, and the seed abundant in western oats.

BASTARD TOAD FLAX was reported from Sanford. It is not common in Maine. We have not seen it in Eastern Maine.

There has been no great damage done by fungi in the State the past season. The APPLE SCAB was more or less prevalent as usual. Not a single letter was received about other fungi. The dryness of the season would no doubt account for it.

NOTES ON INSECTS.

THE LONG-NOSED OX LOUSE was reported as very abundant on cattle in the vicinity of Thomaston, and from specimens sent by Mr. A. W. Batchelder, we were able to describe and figure the egg of this species which was not known before. This species is rare, the species found on cattle being more commonly the short-nosed louse, or sometimes the biting louse of cattle. An article upon cattle lice written for the Lewiston Journal is found in the body of the report. THE WOOLLY-LOUSE OF THE APPLE was reported as feeding upon raspberries.