The Cheshunt Research Station

Abstract

THE annual report for 1937 of the Experimental and Research Station at Turner's Hill, Cheshunt, Herts, announces a new auxiliary venture. It was recognized that the control of virus diseases of cucumbers and tomatoes could only be accomplished by the use of seed from disease-free plants. A Seed Growers' Association is therefore to be formed to carry on this commercial side of the Station's activity. A capital of £3,000 has been subscribed, and will enable the venture to start. Many experimental trials which have been prosecuted in previous years are continued to give conclusive results. Such are the effect of restricted rooting upon early fruiting of the tomato, the use of electric light to hasten growth of cucumber seedlings, the use of soil heating for several crops, and the use of a surface rooting medium for tomatoes. Entomological investigations have included studies of rose thrips and onion thrips, and the use of a species of Scolothrips as a predatory control of red spider mite. Extensive mycological researches include the record, for the first time in Great Britain, of a leaf-spot of marguerite caused by the fungus Ramularia bellunensis. Physiological estimations of tomato seedlings have also been accomplished, and more general problems of soil nutrition have been studied.