DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE. 187 



throughout the country. The most satisfactory test was in the case of a 

 new sweet corn, Ballard's Early, which was compared during the season 

 with the Early Minnesota. Both were grown on the same soil, side by side, 

 and were given the same culture. Early Minnesota was planted May 22, 

 and picked first August 7. Ballard's Early was planted June 2, and picked 

 first August 1, being over two weeks earlier than the Early Minnesota. The 

 ears are as large as that variety, more uniform, and the quality is certainly 

 superior. This sweet corn has been bred up by Mr. A. Ballard, of North 

 Lansing, Mich. 



We grew the following early peas: Ferry's First and Best, Bliss' Ameri- 

 can Wonder, Prince of Wales, Maule's Earliest of All, Carter's Stratagem. 

 The most desirable of these for earliness and productiveness was Ferry's 

 First and Best. Maule's Earliest of All appeared to differ from it only in 

 diminished productiveness. 



Our best lettuce, as to tenderness and flavor, was Finch's Perfection, 

 although Ferry's Prize Head was little inferior. Our poorest lettuce was 

 the Oak-leaved. 



Maule's Sure-head cabbage is remarkably vigorous, but the heads are soft. 



The Giant Rocca onion is very uneven in size owing to lack of maturity 

 in this climate. The flavor is mild and pleasant. For market, a failure 

 here. 



III.— NOTES ON SOME HARDY AND DESIRABLE ORNAMENTAL TREES 



AND SHRUBS. 



The climate of Lansing appears to be uncommonly severe for this lati- 

 tude (43° nearly) in Michigan. Last winter the mercury sank to — 32°, 

 and many times in quick succession it was below — 20*^. That, how- 

 ever, was an unusually rigorous winter. Moreover, the college campus 

 lies in an open and exposed country, and the winter winds are very 

 destructive. It is only the hardiest plants which can endure long, and the 

 following list, although including few elegant plants and no novelties, 

 must be useful to those who would ornament in cold climates. The 

 plants here mentioned have been set and trained by my predecessors, 

 chiefly by Dr. Beal, who has also published occasional notes in regard to 

 many of them. 



EVEKGKEENS. 



The Norway Spruce is, of course, the leading evergreen for this climate. 

 It varies much, some of the weeping forms being especially attractive. 



The Arhor Vit(B must be placed second on the list. It is alwa3'S hardy 

 and easy of cultivation. Its leading fault is its yellow color in winter. 

 With age and increased fruitfulness it often assumes a straggling and un- 

 comely aspect. The so-called Siberian Arbor Vitm is the best of the named 

 sorts which have been tried here. Its especial value lies in its very com- 

 pact and rotund form, and in the bright green of its winter color. The 

 varieties known as ericoides, globosa, Hoveyi, and pyramidalis are hardy 

 and desirable. The last is especially desirable for small and neat enclo- 

 sures. The Chinese Arbor Vitce has not proved hardy. 



I should give the white spruce, Abies alba, the third place among 

 evergreens. As compared with the Norway spruce, it is much more 

 refined, a slower grower, more dense and regular in outline, and lighter 

 in color. 



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