126 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



Prof. C. D. Smith, Director: 



Sir — I submit herewith a report of the work done by the Horticultural' 

 Department for the past year. As has been the custom in previous years, 

 the results of such work as has been completed have been issued as bulle- 

 tins, and during the coming winter several bulletins will be submitted 

 that will give to the public the results of the work carried on during the 

 past season. 



The experiments with which the department has been occupied during 

 the past season have related, to a considerable extent, to the testing of 

 varieties of fruits and vegetables, as well as a large number of ornamen- 

 tal trees and shrubs for the lawn and greenhouses. We have also done a 

 considerable amount of work in the way of testing insecticides, fungicides 

 and spraying machinery, and preventing loss from insects and fungous 

 diseases to the various crops of the garden, orchard and greenhouses. 

 Experiments have also been continued in testing different methods of 

 culture — pruning, training and the use of fertilizers, etc. 



TESTS OF VEGETABLES. 



During the spring, the novelties advertised by the various seedmen 

 were secured and were grown so that they could be compared with many 

 of the older kinds. While some of them seem to have merit, many of 

 them were far inferior to the older kinds. It is evident, however, from 

 the results secured in this, as well as in previous years, that many of the 

 larger seedmen are taking much pains to improve the quality of the seeds 

 that are sent out. Most of them seem to have the proper germinating 

 power, and from year to year we have noticed less variation in the varie- 

 ties, indicating that attention was being given to the selection of a good 

 grade of stock seed. Although many of the new kinds, or at least those 

 that have been sold under new names, resemble in a general way many of 

 the older varieties, it is evident that in most cases they have shown some 

 slight variation in one or more directions, which have improved their 

 value as garden varieties. The results of the trial will be presented in a 

 bulletin later on. 



Aside from the tests of vegetables obtained from the seedmen and 

 originators, we received from the Department of Agriculture a large 

 number of varieties of water and musk melons, cabbages, pumpkins, etc. 

 These have been selected by Prof. N. E. Hansen, in Russian Siberia, as 

 promising kinds for introduction in this country. In order that the test 

 might be sufficient to show the value of the varieties for different parts 

 of tho State, the seed was divided and distributed to some of the leading 

 melon growers. The reports have not all been received, but it i& evident 

 from those that have come in, as well as from the tests made here, that 

 few, if any, of the varieties will be of any value whatever. The vines 



