DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 105 



I'OT.VTOES SENT TO THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. 



At tlio time of sending the last lot of grasses, about two hundred and fifty 

 varieties of potatoes wore also sent. Tliese were rather small in size on account 

 of the season. They would not have been sent had not plates and space been 

 engaged when tlie prospect seemed good for a nic3 crop. They were all labeled. 

 Twenty of them were new sorts, lately originated at the College. 



For a list see the following page, 37 of this report. 



THE STATE FAIK. 



Partly on account of exhibiting at the centennial and for other reasons, the 

 College made no attempt to make fm exhibition at the State Fair. On my own 

 responsibility I sent a fine banana, in frnit. This attracted a good deal of at- 

 tention, and many stopped to read the label which gave the names and explained 

 the habitat, mode of growth, etc. From the State Fair the i)lant went to the 

 Kalamazoo County Fair. 



THE GREENHOUSE AND ORNAMENTAL 1MW&. 



But few changes have been made since my last report. The sjiecies and va- 

 rieties have been somewhat increased by exchanges, by purchase, and by three 

 small boxes from the agricultural department at Washington. 



The walls for the two propagating ])its are still covered up, waiting for means 

 to cover them with wood and glass. They are mucli needed. 



The cuttings and small plants obtained last year are mostly doing well, and 

 many of tlicm are beginning to make quite a display. 



Tlie houses continue to attract many visitors. The llower beds have done 

 better than last year, as the season has been more favorable. On May 23d, 

 after our l)edding plants were put out, a fi'ost injured many of them, and killed 

 others entirely. On June seven a frost killed a few tricolor geraniums and 

 coleus. 



Late in August another frost did some damage, though most of the plants re- 

 mained in good condition till October sixth, and some of them later. 



On account of our frosty location and the short summers here, little attempt is 

 made to use some of the bedding plants which are considered of most value 

 farther south, or in places with longer summers. Among these are scarlet sages, 

 dahlias, vinca alba, and vinca rosea. 



MOST PROMINENT PLANTS. 



Verbenas with us are very satisfactory for bedding. They arc easily managed 

 and ilower profusely for a long season. We bend them down and keep them 

 next to the ground bv small stakes. In this wav the stems throw out roots. 

 Those raised from home-grown seeds do best, as they are more thrifty and free 

 from mildew. The difficulty in raising them from seeds is this : we do not know 

 what colors we shall get. Some of the best varieties are velvet mantle, sambo 

 (black), cojrulca (bine), bride (best white and sweet scented), defiance, a good 

 old scarlet variety, which is in great demand. Tlie Mrs. Woodruff is crimson. 

 For bedding and ribbon beds we are especially well pleased with variegated sage 

 (Salvia officinalis var.), alternantheras, variegated sweet alyssum, centaurea 

 gymnocarpa, cineraria acanthifolia. Some of our 



RIBBON BEDS 



this summer have been made up as follows : Pelargoniums known as General 

 14 



