322 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



false cbiims for the qualities of any variety, new or old, is a breach of honesty that all 

 good citizens should discountenance. 



All accoiint of the varieties tested then follows. In regard to tomatoes 

 the rejiort says: 



The tomatoes furnished what appears to me the really valuable novelty of the season 

 — the Dwarf Champion. While this did not equal in all respects the claims made for it 

 in the catalogues, it proved a valuable and distinct new variety. The plant is dwarf and 

 comjjact in habit, the foliage appears little subject to rust, and the fruit is entirely 

 smooth, very uniform in size, and of excellent quality. In our test it ripened as early as 

 that of any variety grown. Its purplish red color will probably be objectionable in some 

 markets, but aside from this, I have no favilt to tind with it. The claim of the intro- 

 ducers, that the plant is self-supporting, is false if I may judge from our trial at the 

 station. 



Ely's King of the Earlies was worthless as compared with the many superior varieties 

 now extant. 



The Ignotum, sent out by Prof. Bailey, proved to be not very well fixed. Some of the 

 fruits were all that could be desired for quality, but others were too small to be of value. 



The Morning Star seemed to me only another name for the Mikado. 



Scov'ille'e Hybrid was of good quality, but not well fixed. The first showed much 

 variation in size, and was not always smooth. 



Bay State, Prize Belle, and Volunteer were indistinguishable from each other, and 

 from a dozen others that might be named, of which the Cardinal may serve as a type. 



Amber Gem was a pale yellow tomato of good size and quite smooth, but lacking in 

 solidity. It closely resembled a variety named in our report for 1887 under the name of 

 Golden Queen, and may be identical with it. 



The report mentions the newly introduced stachys tuberifera, saying: 



The stachys tuberifera, a so-called new vegetable from northern Af rica,was tested, but 

 can not be pronounced a very great acquisition. It belongs to the mint family, and 

 produces small, fleshy tubers, which in our trial only attained the size of acorns. Its 

 table qualities were not tested. 



C. A. Green, from the committee on ornithology, made a verbal report, 

 remarking that the committee believes that while the birds do some harm, 

 the good they do in a large measure overbalances the evil. Aside from the 

 fact that many of them are valuable as insect destroyers, birds, generally, 

 make life work enjoyable by their song. Mr. Green showed an illustration 

 of three taiiagers on a lady's hat, and he said, "It is safe to say those three 

 birds do more good than the woman who wears the hat." 



Reports from various counties of western New York were received 

 through the county committees. A few extracts only from some of these 

 are here given. 



The report from Cayuga county conveyed the information that from 300 

 to 400 acres were devoted to grapes in the county, of which a large propor- 

 tion was in bearing last season. There were 150 acres of Niagaras in the 

 northern part of the county. The AVorden is planted for local market. 

 Plum planting is also commanding attention. The strawberry crop yielded 

 the growers $100,000 last year against $90,000 the previous year. 



Mr. Cook of Genesee county, in his report, condemned the neglecting of 

 young fruit trees, which are often grown up with grass, while the trees are 

 pointing to nearly all i)oints of the compass, and farm stock wandering at 

 will through them. Spraying trees with Paris green is no longer an exper- 

 iment. He also recommended the planting of fruit trees on the windward 

 side of the house, if only as a wind-])reak, thus furnishing good fruit, pro- 

 tection to the home, with saving of fuel. Marked changes in the improve- 

 ment and beautifying of the surroundings of farm homes is indicated by 

 many well-kept lawns and an increased interest in plants, shrubs, and 



