Department of Floriculture xlv 



should make no claims for exemption but should comply with the ruling. 

 It is therefore expected to close part of the range of glasshouses during 

 the coming winter. 



On July I, 191 7, M. E. Farnham was appointed instructor in floriculture. 

 He has devoted his entire time to work of an investigative nature. vSince 

 his appointment, however, he has come within the draft age and has 

 been placed in Class I; he has therefore resigned, his resignation to take 

 effect July i, 1918. On January i, 1918, E. C. Volz, instructor in flori- 

 culture, resigned to accept an appointment as director of home gardens 

 in Michigan. Because of the somewhat reduced registration of students 

 in the Department due to the conditions of the war, and because of the 

 scarcity of desirable men, a request for filling these vacancies will not 

 be made during the period of the war unless conditions in the Department 

 seem to demand it. 



Last February, as a war measure, a request came from the Depart- 

 ments of Rural Education and Vegetable Gardening, and from the States 

 Relations Service of the Federal Government, for assistance in developing 

 home and school garden projects. In response to this request. Professor 

 White, of this Department, has spent the major part of his time since 

 March i, 191S, in visiting school superintendents in western New York 

 and in organizing the work in school and home gardens. 



Owing to the shortage of labor existing since the outbreak of the war, 

 it has been possible to keep up work only on those projects in investigation 

 involving perennial plants, with the exception of some indoor studies 

 on sweet peas. 



Rose test garden. — In the rose test garden, valuable notes have been 

 taken on the hardiness and adaptability of varieties. 



The additions to the rose garden this year are few in number, and 

 consist chiefly of climbing varieties since the Department has not been 

 in a position to take care of plants of the bush varieties. The land added 

 to the garden has been leveled, ready for seeding the lawn, but this 

 work will be delayed until the drains can be put in. 



The severity of the past winter killed some varieties of roses and 

 destroyed some plants of other varieties, but on the whole the roses stood 

 the test very well. It is thought that the past winter can be regarded as 

 the supreme test, and that those varieties which came through can be 

 confidently recommended for New York conditions. 



- The garden attracted many visitors this year and it is noted that the 

 number of visitors increases each year as the garden becomes better 

 known. The Auburn and Syracuse Rose Societies visited the garden 

 this year. During the period of greatest bloom, visitors are almost 

 constantly in the garden admiring the flowers. 



