REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



To the Director of Cornell University, Agricultural Experiment 



Station. 

 Sir: — 



In the absence of Professor Bailey, I can make only a partial 

 report of the progress of work in this Division from January ist 

 to July 1st, 1897. 



Of the out-door work the successful contest with the San Jose 

 scale is perhaps the most pressing for early publication. Two 

 thorough and timely sprayings with kerosene and water, in a com- 

 bination of one part to four, saved all the kinds of shrubs treated, 

 and we have not seen a live insect since. This experience has 

 brought out a number of points which will doubtless be welcome 

 news in the midst of the general anxiety. Among the tree fruits, 

 progress has been made in the permanent orchards which were 

 devoted to carefully planned and far reaching fertilizer experi- 

 ments. Some new varieties of Japanese plums are fruiting for 

 the first time and the Station is fortunate in having the expert 

 services of Mr. S. D. Willard, of Geneva, in judging the varieties 

 of this popular new type of plums. A new vineyard has been set 

 and importa.nt accessions made. The work in small fruit culture 

 has consisted largely of local fertilizer experiments in six straw- 

 berry fields of Oswego county, the results of which are very grati- 

 fying and of great general interest. Two beds of strawberries 

 have been set, one of new varieties, and one to continue the in- 

 door work. In vegetable gardening we are in the midst of our 

 second year of investigations with celeriac and Brussels sprouts. 

 An acre of celery has also been planted on the onion meadows 

 of Orange county in an attempt to introduce the culture of this 

 crop within easy shipping distance of the large eastern markets. 

 In floriculture the work is confined to studies of cannas, dahlias. 



