EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. 2. JUNE. 1891. No. 11. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



The horticulturists of the stations are rightly not content to make the 

 testing of varieties the most prominent feature of their \\'ork. It is in 

 fact far from the highest form of experimenting and can not be expected 

 to yield definite and satisfactory results except in narrow lines rationally 

 and patiently worked out. Many of the experiments in methods of cult- 

 ure of various plants are also of very little consequence unless they 

 are planned with reference to certain ulterior ends. The broad basis on 

 which the horticultural work of the stations should be placed involves 

 a comprehensive study of the variations and behavior of plants under 

 culture. The influences of soil, climate, fertilizers, methods of culture, 

 treatment in forcing, etc., should be investigated in the hope of discov- 

 ering the laws of plant variation and amelioration. When these are 

 once known it will be possible to proceed systematically in the origina- 

 tion and fixation of varieties. 



One of the most attractive fields for experimentation is that of the 

 crossing or hybridization of plants. This requires considerable knowl- 

 edge of species and ingenuity in devising methods of procedure, but 

 while the difficulties in the way of success are great, the inducements 

 to undertake the task are very attractive. Even here it will be neces- 

 sary to plan investigations carefully in order that we may have a reason- 

 able hope of discovering general principles. In this, as in other lines 

 of experimental research, incidental discoveries of great practical value 

 are very likely to be made. Thus experiments in the hybridization of 

 a given kind of plant planned for the study of laws may bring numer- 

 ous new varieties, some of which may prove to have a high commercial 

 value. 



The propagation of plants is also worthy of more thorough investi. 

 gation. It is probable that improvements might be made in the treat- 

 ment of almost every species of plants now cultivated. Especially in 

 the case of the larger fruits there is good reason for believing that the 

 best methods of propagation have not been reached. In this line of work 

 the experimenter ought to be a good botanist in the sense of knowing 

 species and varieties, and of being a judge of their merits and limitations. 



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