148 DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



their last pickings of berries. In a low place, where the drouth was less 

 severe, the bushes did not suffer so much from the winter. 



Ornamental Plants. — As usual, Deutzia gracilis, D. crenata and Tamarix 

 ■gallica were killed to the ground. 



The European elder with variegated leaves, Sambucus nigra, in an exposed 

 place, was killed to the ground. 



Lonicera fraqrantissima is practically hardy; so is the garden variety 

 grandijiora of Hydrangea liortensis. 



The varieties of Rhododendron CataioMense stand well if given some pro- 

 tection from the winter and spring suns. A group planted on the north 

 side of a few deciduous trees has passed two hard winters without injury. 

 They are now (May 30) attractive with blossoms. 



Japanese quince is not hardy. 



A year ago, young trees of the purple plum, Prunus Pissardi, were killed 

 to the snow. Last winter they were slightly injured, except two or three 

 which were top-grafted on Prunus Americana, which were destroyed entirely. 



Pyrus hyhrida and P. do?7iesfica are hardy and attractive. The latter is 

 one of the handsomest ornamental-fruited plants that we grow. 



11. ''Waterproof Fibre" Cloth for Cold-Frames, — We used last 

 spring a good number of sashes covered with the waterproof fibre cloth man- 

 ufactured by the United States Waterproofing Fibre Co. of New York. 

 These sashes were used instead of glass sashes for the very late hot-beds and 

 the cold-frames. They gave perfect satisfaction, and present several points 

 of superiority over glass. They are much cheaper, lighter and easier to 

 handle, not liable to breakage, and the plants do not scald under them so 

 quickly as under glass. There are three grades of this cloth, selling respec- 

 tively for three, six, and nine cents a yard. We tried each grade, but found 

 that the medium grade was far the most useful. The cloth for a frame, 

 therefore, cost us twelve cents, in most cases. The frame itself was made of 

 seven-eighths clear stuff' ripped into two-inch strips, halved together at the 

 corners, and each corner was held with an iron corner, such as can be pro- 

 cured at hardware stores for ten cents a pound, or a little less than a cent 

 apiece. 



Kespectfully submitted, 



L. H. BAILEY, 

 Professor of Horticulture and 

 Landscape Gardening. 



Nov. 5, 1887. 



Donations to the Department of Horticulture and Landscape 

 Gardbning for the Year Ending June 30, 1887. 



JS. Eiclioltz, Detroit, Kansas: 



Scions of Coreless Pear. 

 L. H. Bailey, South Haven, Mich.: 



Scions of various apples. 

 Geo. W. Parks, Lansing, Mich.: 



Scions of Limber Twig apple. 



