356 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of trees of the different varieties of apples, crab apples, pears, cherries, 

 plums, prunes, and apricots set out at the station in 1895 and 1890, the 

 number now living - , and the number dead. 



Straicberry culture. — A description is given of experimental x>lats for 

 strawberry culture. The objects sought to be accomplished by variety 

 tests are noted. The results of a test of 58 varieties of strawberries 

 are tabulated, showing date of blooming and ripening and yield of 

 fruit. A table is also given comparing the yield of 19 varieties which 

 averaged above one-half pound of fruit per plant. A brief note is 

 given on the behavior of each variety tested. 



Chrysanthemums in 1896, L. H. Bailey and W. Miller (New 

 York Cornell Sta. Bui. 136, pp. 300-320, Jigs. 7). — General remarks are 

 made upon the province of the station in testing varieties, exhibiting 

 flowers, and the like. The station takes the position that the real 

 measure of a variety is " the composite character which the whole 

 patch gives under good care," rather than the peculiar character of a 

 single bloom selected from a large number of plants given the utmost 

 care and forcing. Some of the present tendencies and needs in the 

 development of varieties are pointed out. 



A few hints are given to home growers of chrysanthemums. Cul- 

 tural and varietal notes are given on the tests of 1896. Among the 

 introductions of 1896 the greatest advances in form were made in the 

 whites. No true pink flowers have been obtained in chrysanthemums. 

 The intensity of color in the so-called pinks is thought to be dependent 

 upon little-understood conditions, including individual vigor of the 

 stock, time of rooting the cuttings, kind and quantity of food supply, 

 and shading. Descriptive notes are given on 24 varieties which seem 

 to have special merit. Lists of varieties that proved unsatisfactory in 

 the test are also given. A number of varieties are illustrated. 



A talk about dahlias, W. Miller {New York Cornell Sta, Bui. 128, 

 pp. 99-136, figs. !)). — A brief history of the evolution of the dahlia is 

 given, together with suggestions as to lines for future improvement. 

 The author believes too much attention has been paid to color and not 

 enough to form. The several hundred varieties produced in the first 

 80 or 90 years of dahlia culture were all color modifications of one type 

 of flower. The form of the flower has been only recently modified, to 

 present more freedom and grace. The author suggests that the dahlia 

 should be developed along the same lines as the chrysanthemum has 

 been, that the season of bloom should be lengthened, etc. 



Methods of culture and propagation are considered. A test at the 

 station in 1896 included 354 varieties. Brief notes are given on 40 of 

 these, which are recommended on the basis of 1 year's behavior. 



A second account of sweet peas, A. P. Wyman and M. G. Kains 

 (New York Cornell Sta. Bui. 127, pp. 63-95, figs. ;.?).T-The letter of trans- 

 mittal by L. II. Bailey includes a graphic representation by W. T. 

 Hutchins of the probable evolution of the modern varieties of sweet 



