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THE INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHT.

This experiment has been in progress throughout the past year, and I find confirms the data of last year. I shall endeavor to publish the coming year the data which has accumulated during the past two years.

THE ENGLISH CUCUMBER.

During December I received some seed of the "Telegraph." and "Scion House" varieties of English cucumber, and planted them, paying $1 for two packages, containing 6 seeds each. From these we secured six plants of "Telegraph" and two of "Scion House." These were planted in house "C" on January 3d, and reached maturity about April 1st. The fruits have proved profitable and interesting. They are seldom met with in this country, because they are too tender for our out-door climate. By careful handling and training along the rafters of the greenhouse they are kept out of the way. One of the largest measured 24 inches in length, weighing 2 and lbs.

MUSHROOMS.

The growing of mushrooms under the benches was again undertaken, and although the usual care and attention were given, we had but little success. The trouble, I think, was in the spawn.

GREENHOUSE PRODUCTS.

An interesting and important experiment is again shown in the fact that the greenhouse, besides offering all the facilities for scientific research, proved to be more than self-supporting, and in fact a profitable investment, the sales for the year amounting to $375.00. When we again consider that this experiment had the disadvantages of being connected with other experimental work and of being some distance from city markets, it should receive even greater credit.

TESTING OF VARIETIES.

Testing of lettuce proved beyond a doubt that the Grand

Rapids variety is the best and more profitable to grow. When it becomes generally known by our gardeners under glass, I am convinced that it will supplant all other varieties known at the present time.

Home-grown seed proved to be very important in securing good seed for use. It can be easily grown and is inexpensive.

We have tested on a rather large scale all of 23 varieties of turnip-rooted radishes. This experiment is not yet completed, and is under the supervision of Mr. J. M. Johnson, a senior student in agriculture, who is testing them for size, flavor, color, length of maturity, etc., effects of fertilizers, size of top, and is preparing a complete, scientific treatise on the subject.

This experiment was started in the greenhouse, and the greater part of it carried on indoors.

The remaining tests of varieties indoors have been on tomatoes and parsley.

Turning to tests of varieties out of doors, there are so many that I will not go into detail this time, only to give the number of species under test. I may say first that it was only through the opportunity afforded by the large garden spot east of the Station Building, which was turned over to my department, that I was enabled to carry on these experi

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When one considers that each of the varieties means a number of plants, and that the majority are raised from seed planted in trays in the greenhouse and transplanted at least once before setting in the garden, together with the taking of notes on sowing, transplanting, keeping each variety separate, etc., it is easily seen that a great amount of time

and care is required. Care is also exercised in looking after the proper time for planting of each variety of seed in order to have it of suitable size and age for use when desired; also much time is spent in going over the numerous catalogues of seed firms and n.aking orders.

POMOLOGY.

The following list constitutes the fruits that have been purchased and planted in the large garden for test purposes. They will also afford us an opportunity of exemplifying the characteristics of the varieties when people and classes desire to know such.

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Besides growing plants for test purposes, a great many have been grown for the benefit of the public. The demand for plants has grown even beyond our present facilities. Last year the demand was very fair, and I fully doubled the number of plants of last year for this season and then found we did not have enough. We have sent plants all over the northern part of the State and no small number into Pennsylvania. The plants grown for this purpose were cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, egg pant, peppers, sweet potatoes, and we are now getting our late cabbage and celery plants ready for sale. These plants did not in themselves require as much

care and painstaking as those grown for experiment purposes, yet their great number made that expenditure of time necessary. All of the early varieties which were placed in cold frames, including some 42 varieties of tomatoes alone, besides egg plants, etc., were entirely frozen, and we were compelled to plant them over, besides handling them again. This was due to the exceptionally cold saap which occurred on the 26th to the 30th of March. While these plants are of no scientific value to ourselves and require merely mechanical work and plenty of it, on the other hand I believe I am right when I say that they bring the Station, as a whole, before more people, create more interest in our work, and in fact open more avenues of usefulness to them, than any other one thing the Station is doing at the present day. Again, it proves the fact that it is profitable and more than self-supporting, together with being a great convenience to all people interested in Horticulture. The present season, we have kept a registry of nearly all the people who have purchased plants, and from last June up to the present time over 1,200 sales have been made. When one realizes that these purchasers are but a fraction of those who visit the houses, it is plainly seen that this department is of great importance to the Station and of great interest to the people at large. It is one thing to do scientific work, and it is another to educate the people to an appreciation of its value. The work of the Horticultural Department, I feel, is doing both.

FLORICULTURAL WORK.

I feel that this department has gained a presentable degree of proficiency along this line of work. While no great amount of experimentation has been carried on, it, like growing of plants for the pulbic, has filled its place worthily, exciting interest in the refined and beautiful in nature, besides furthering horticultural evolution throughout the State. Floriculture is a profitable occupation, as our small efforts have proved it to be. We have attempted some work in bedding and decorating our grounds, which speaks for itself.

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