25 



mate below rather than above the reality, namely : Tappahannock, forty-five bruihels ; 

 Rough Chaff sixty ; Talavera, fifty per acre. 



Everything considered, the Tappahannock is, I think, the best of the three kinds. 

 With careful cultivation on our best soils, the yield may go to fifty, and even sixty, 

 bushels per acre. But, -while it seems to promise so well, further experiment will be 

 necessary to test its power to resist deterioration in this glowing climate. Some kinds 

 of wheat, very good at first, soon lose their excellence, the grains becoming smaller and 

 starchy. Such was the fate of the Sonora wheat. When first cultivated here it was 

 plump, beautiful, and very productive; but it soon deteriorated, was discarded, and is 

 now almost unknown. I do not allude to what is generally called the Sonora Club 

 Wheat, which stands up and yields well, but makes inferior fiour. 



My conclusion is that, in the light of the experience just related, the Tappahannock, 

 the Rough Chaft', and the Talavera wheat are a success, especially the first named. 



The two varieties of oats — White Schonen, one pint, and Black Swedish, one pint — 

 were received late and sown March 18, too late to expect anything like desirable re- 

 sults. Nevertheless, one kind, the Black Swedish, did very well ; the other, only toler- 

 ably. I will endeavor to report more fully after next harvest. 



The melon seeds sent, to wit: Phinney's Early watermelon; muskmelon — New W^hite 

 Japan, Achapesnorricher melon, Japan melon, and Cassaba melon, came to hand so late 

 that it was a question whether or not to attempt to plant them, in view of the very 

 eai'ly and dry spring which was then upon us, and May seemed turned into June. But, 

 selecting a place where they could be reached by irrigation, they were planted on the 

 24th of May. Some failed to come up, others came up feebly, others were scorched 

 and killed, and all Avere more or less affected by the hot weather ; and this, in spite 

 of inigation, and contrivances to screen them from the rays of the sun. Had the 

 planting been two or three weeks earlier, this would not have been necessary. This 

 statement is to show that none of the melons named had a fair trial. Early planting 

 was more essential to full development of quality than would have been climate, soil, 

 or any other condition. Those that survived did so almost against hope ; but having 

 escaped, they grew slowly, and some became tolerably vigorous. Phinney's Early, said 

 to be a "new variety" of watermelon, grew and produced fruit sufficiently to enable 

 me to say that I do not deem it a very good kind. The New AVhite Japan was admira- 

 ble. It was somewhat longer than the common cantaloupe, and would average a little 

 larger, and I am at a loss whether to style it a large cantaloupe or small muskmelon. 

 Its quality, however, was excellent, and it was new ; for it was different from any of 

 the kinds in common use. Its excellence had the peculiarity of striking uniformity ; 

 they all came to the standard, and such a thing as a poor one was not found during 

 their season, which was short in comparison with other melons, as they lasted but two 

 or three weeks. I have often seen cantaloupes sweeter, but these were sweet enough, 

 and never disappointed me. 



The next in order was the Achapesnorricher melon, '• a new and very superior green- 

 fleshed muskmelon, from the Ionian Islands, represented as being very hardy," \ising the 

 labels from the Agricultural Department. In planting, I endeavored to keep the labels 

 correctly ; and if so, then this was not a " green-fleshed" melon, but a very round, rough- 

 ribbed, thick and solid yellow orange-fleshed melon. It never became soft like other 

 varieties of muskmelons, and at last decayed without ripening to softness. This may 

 not have been its appropriate climate, and, upon the whole, I did not have for it special 

 estimation. The Japan melon did not amount to anything worthy of record. If the 

 two last named should in the future develop into importance, I will report the fact. 

 I must conclude with the Cassaba melon, and have purposely kept the best for the 

 last. This is a green-fleshed muskmelon, not remarkable for size. The rind, though 

 not exactly green, does not change to yellow. The flesh is thick, soft, and juicy, 

 but to properly describe it, is more than I will attempt. Melons may be more sac- 

 charine, but this is delicious, and, as nearly as possible, perhaps completely, defines the 

 word delicious! and I would not exchange it for any melon ever before seen, or for all 

 other melons combined. If we have mixed the labels, this may be the kind from the 

 "Ionian Islands," and not " from Smyrna." The former, (Achapesnorricher,) as repre- 

 resented, was a "green-fleshed" melon, and the seeds were considered very precious, 

 their cost being stated to have been $1 20 per pound in gold. Let the name be right 

 or wrong, it is not important for my present purpose. Time will enable us to correct 

 error in name, if any there be. This melon absolutely caps the climax, and leaves no- 

 thing to be desired. 



William E. Baker, of Ickesburg, Perry County, Peimsylvania, makes 

 the following report of experiments with seeds received from the Depart- 

 ment : 



Esteemed varieties, which Avere formerly our preference, were planted Avith those 

 received from the Department, that we might have a known standard for comparison. 

 Varieties not originally received from the Department are in italics; those from the 

 Department are marked with a t. 



