626 



The species of cultivated plauts are very much misunderstood and the 

 horticultuiist can not expect to do thoroughly good vi bvk until he has 

 definite ideas in regard to specific limitations. For instance, there 

 is much confusion as to the species of raspberries, blackberries, and 

 dew-berries, and as to the relations of these species and the modes of 

 their variation. Yet it is hard to understand how the best scientific 

 work in crossing, ameliorating, or even cultivating these fruits c£n be 

 done without a careful preliminary study of their species. The horti- 

 culturist should not only be a botanist, but be able to apply the principles 

 of botany to the perplexing entauglemeuts of the garden. 



The amelioration of our wild fruits is a matter of vast importance in 

 this country. The native edible plants of America present many 

 attractive possibilities to the scientific experimenter, especially in view 

 of the fact that important cultivated fruits, such as the apple, cherry, 

 and plum, do not seem likely to succeed in a large part of the country. 

 This matter has been much discussed, but there is still an opportu- 

 nity for the stations to devise better methods of experimenting in this 

 line. 



The forcing of plants under glass is yearly becoming a more important 

 and profitable branch of horticulture, especially in the IS'orthern States. 

 The construction of forcing-houses is even yet very imperfectly under- 

 stood, and the methods of forcing, as well as the influence of forcing upon 

 the plants and their offspring, present many interesting problems for 

 further investigation. 



Another line of horticultural work which the stations will do well to 

 undertake systematically and thoroughly, is the studyof questions relat- 

 ing to the manuring of plants. As much experience has already been 

 gained in similar work with field crops, and as the carefully matured 

 plans already made for co-operative tests with fertilizers applied to the 

 stajjle crops can very readily be adapted to fertilizer experiments with 

 fruits and vegetables, it lias been deemed ad\'isable to propose to the 

 stations to co-operate in such experiments. For this purpose a circular 

 letter (Circular No. 19) has been issued by this Ofiice calling the atten- 

 tion of the stations to this matter and presenting the outlines of plans 

 for CO oj)erative experiments. 



The need of thoroughly trained specialists for the work of the experi- 

 ment stations has been more than once dwelt upon in the publications of 

 this Office. The costly experience which has demonstrated this necessity 

 in the older experiment stations, especially in Europe, is teaching the 

 same lesson in this country. The fact is coming to be appreciated that 

 to get light upon the problems about which the farmers are asking 

 questions, the stations must conduct researches of the kind for which 

 the most advanced scientific knowledge and the most thorough special 

 training are indispensable. 



