New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 249 



his attention to the study of plant diseases and remedial treatment 

 for the same. Detailed accounts of the work of these specialists 

 are found in their annual reports published in this volume. An 

 account of Mr. Paddock's experiments in treating leaf blight and 

 fruit rot of cherries in Orange county is combined with a report of 

 similar treatment of plum orchards at Geneva by the Horticulturist. 



A co-operative held test of diiierent brands of commercial fer- 

 tilizers for potatoes was conducted in Suffolk county by Dr. Van 

 Slyke and the results of the test were published in Bulletin 93. 



Two circulars designed to give information about destructive 

 insects were issued so as to call attention to these pests just before 

 they were expected to appear. Circular No. 1, by F. A. Sirrine, 

 treated of the cabbage maggot and No. 2, by Y. H. Lowe, treated 

 of the corn worm. Circular No. 3 issued to the press May 15, 

 1895, gave a brief account of the progress of the work. Besides 

 these circulars the following bulletins were issued : 



Bulletin 86, by S. A. Beach and W. Paddock, on Treatment of 

 Injurious Insects and Fungous Diseases. 



Bulletin 87, by F. A. Sirrine, on The San Jose or Pernicious 

 Scale. 



Bulletin 93, by Dr. L. L. Van Slyke, on Comparative Field-Test 

 of Commercial Fertilizers used in raising potatoes. 



I. TESTING FRUITS. 



In testing fruits a systematic record is kept for each variety 

 showing for each year the time of blossoming, the period of mar- 

 ketable condition and the yield. Descriptions are made of the fruit 

 its keeping qualities are noted, especially in case of winter fruits, 

 and other features of interest or importance are noticed such as the 

 habit of growth, liability to disease, condition of the plants, etc. 



These records are useful not only in determining the merits of 

 new varieties as compared with old standard sorts, but the notes on 

 the period of blossoming are also valuable in helping to decide what 

 varieties may be used for planting with other desirable varieties that 

 set fruit imperfectly or not at all when standing alone. It is well 

 known that strawberry growers must mingle imperfect flowering 

 varieties with perfect flowering varieties in order to secure proper 

 fertilization of the blossoms. It has recently been shown at this 

 Station that some kinds of grapes likewise need to be mingled in 



