70 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



We crossed dent corn with flint corn and tlie reverse. 



We collected pollen of the ilowcrs of apples and of strawberries to see if it 

 will keep for use next year. 



We arc trying the feeding of tomatoes, petunias, and martyuias on their 

 leaves with soup. 



We shall try to hybridize alsiko, red and white clover. 



AVe have selected stools of chess and 11 nd the old kernel from which the 

 plants grew; also traced the depth of roots of barley and oats, and perhaps 

 other plants. 



AVe have purchased in a roundabout or indii-ect way a lot of vegetable seeds 

 from several seedsmen and have purchased seeds of the same sorts which are 

 sold at our groceries on commission. These we are testing with each other and 

 with seeds of our own growing, as to their vitality, purity, etc. They are tried 

 in the vegetable garden and in the greenhouse. 



We have saved seeds of some old })lants of red clover to try to establish a 

 perennial variety. 



We have crossed Duke and Morello cherries. 



AYe are collecting several kinds of timber, intending to split the pieces, set- 

 ting two side by side, one "top end" down, tlie otlier in tiie .«ame position in 

 which it grew. 



We are testing forty varieties of new and promising named varieties of straw- 

 berries; we also have a fine lot of seedling strawberries, some of which have 

 borne this year ; also some seedling gooseberries, a few of which have borne 

 this year for the first time. 



Eight of our graduates are experimenting in different portions of this State 

 under my direction. They have agreed to furnish for my report an account of 

 their experiments. 



Notwithstanding I have had three hours a day of teaching in the class-room, 

 I planned a large number of experiments in horticulture. Most of those 

 selected, like those of last year, require only a moderate expenditure of money, 

 but a good deal of time and care. I have often wished that we had more means 

 for this purpose. Tliere is a pressing demand kept constantly in my view for 

 more experiments. This comes from the highest talent in our State, — from 

 leading officers and prominent members of our State Pomological Society, and 

 from others who are alive to progress in everything wliich pertains to agri- 

 culture. 



1 tliink 1 have notes of enough experiments in my books to require all of my 

 time and that of two good assistants for the next ten years. 



I have been connected with the Agricultural College eight years, and Pro- 

 fessor of Horticulture only six. 



To those who are impatient for great results in experimenting, I may say 

 that even witii a large outlay of money (which we have not had for the pur- 

 pose), ten years is by no means too distant as a final point; while at the world- 

 renowned iiothamstead farm of Dr. J. 15. I^awes in England "twejify years is 

 not considered too long a time to wait upon any ex2)erime7it on field produce.'' 



I look over all the leading agricultural papers printed in this country, and 

 the best of ti)osc printed in England. Tlie report of the experiments made 

 in tlie horticultural department of Michigan Agricultural College has been ex- 

 tensively quoted, and during the past year especially, they have attracted more 

 attention and favorable comments from the press than tiiose made in any other 

 State. It is encouraging to know that the College is able to make some experi- 

 ments which attract attention and nieet with approval. 



