Horticulture. 41 



It is very difficult to estimate with accuracy the probable expense 

 of giving a course in which most of the illustration material must 

 be purchased ; consequently the departmental appropriation was 

 used largely for teaching essentials, and such as remained over for 

 experimental work. In future, our position will be much more sat- 

 isfactory. So much for a general statement. 



(a) Studies and iivvcstigations on the home grounds. 



(i) Forcing-house investigations. Influence of acetylene light 

 on plant grozvth. — This study covered three years, being concluded 

 in April, 1907. In this work the department received hearty co- 

 operation from the Union Carbide Company, of Chicago, who fur- 

 nished several tons of carbide of calcium for the work. The results 

 are now practically ready for the printer. 



The use of ether in the forcing of plants. — These studies covered 

 two years by graduate students, working under my immediate super- 

 vision. Interesting results are now being compiled for publication. 



(2) Monographic studies of the peony. — -This comprises a co- 

 operative study of the cultivated peony conducted between the De- 

 partment of Horticulture and the American Peony Society. It in- 

 cludes a careful study of the culture, character and nomenclature 

 of the vast list of cultivated peonies. A first report has been issued 

 in the form of a check-list of all peonies named in leading horticul- 

 tural publications. A bulletin containing cultural directions and 

 careful descriptions of select list of varieties is now ready for the 

 press. This work is to be credited to Professor J. Eliot Coit, now 

 of the Arizona Experiment Station. 



(3) Garden Beans: A Monograph. — This is the title of a manu- 

 script by C. D. Jarvis, and is a painstaking efifort to classify the 

 cultivated varieties of garden beans. It is ready for the press. 



(b) In the State. 



(i) Orchafd surveys, (a) Niagara county. — The orchard sur- 

 vey of Niagara county commenced three years ago, has been con- 

 tinued each season since and was finally concluded in September, 

 1907. This includes an examination of the principal apple and 

 peach orchards of the county. The data are being compiled for 

 publication in the near future. 



(b) Orange county. — A beginning on a survey of the fruit coun- 

 ties of eastern New York was made by a study of the apple, peach 

 and grape of Orange county. A searching examination of the or- 

 chards of one township was made, and this was supplemented by a 

 more rapid survey of prominent orchards in the northern centi-al 

 part of the county. In both Niagara and Orange counties, the 



