REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



To the Director of the Coryiell University Agricultural ILxperivient 

 Statio7i. 

 Sir : 



The experimental work under m}^ charge for the past year has 

 concerned itself chiefly with studies of various phases of fruit- 

 growing. At the home station, the Japanese plums have 

 received continued attention, and it is expected that a fourth 

 report will be issued the coming fall. \'arious treatments and 

 studies in the experimental orchards, especially those corcerned 

 with tillage and fertilizing, are our staple subjects of inquiry. 

 A new vineyard is now planted, in which similar studies are 

 making. The testing of varieties of fruits has never been a 

 pait of our work, except in a few special lines (as the Japanese 

 plums) to which we have been able to give very systematic study. 



In Oswego County the experiments in fertilizing and spray- 

 ing strawberry fields still goes forward ; and results of much 

 importance have been secured. It is desired to have another 

 season's experience before publishing, however. At the present 

 time we control an experimental acre in three places in the 

 county. 



The forcing of fruits is a subject of inquiry. We are con- 

 tinuing the stud}' of winter strawberry-growing, upon which 

 we have already published one bulletin ; and in the present 

 season we have fruited peaches and apricots under glass. Other 

 kinds of fruit are now ready for forcing. I must call your atten- 

 tion to the fact, however, that we have no houses which are well 

 adapted to this work. 



In vegetables, we are studying a variety of problems. For 

 two years we made tests with celery in some of the bottom lands 

 of Orange County upon which onions, — which has been the 

 staple crop, — have failed. The purpose was to determine 

 whether celery can be grown commercially on that soil ; and, if 

 so, to instruct the people how it may be done. The result has 



