88 REPORT OF THE-COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
them ripening in from 115 to 136 days, and giving yield of 10 to 100 fold for the quan- 
tity planted. One report: Hebron ripened in 120 days; yield, 250 pounds for 6 quarts 
planted ; quality, earliness, and yield equal to best Early Rose, and finer shape. The 
Alpha and Ruby are reported as early, excellent quality, but generally giving a 
lighter yield and more delicate growers. 
CaLiFornisA.—Victor planted in February, bloomed early, ripe in 100 days; yield 
moderate; very good for the table; tubers large. Alpha, early; yield light; tubers 
small but good quality. Ruby, early; yield large; good size, and fine for the table; 
some rot. Beauty of Hebron rank grower; ripe in 100 days; tubers large, smooth, 
and healthy; yield, moderate; quality fair; not so dry as some. 
OREGON.—Victor planted April 13, bloomed June 15, dug August 1; yield, 194 
pounds for 2 quarts planted; quality good. Alpha, planted May 7, grew a short time, 
then blighted, dried up. Beauty of Hebron, planted April 13, blooms freely; dug July 
29; yield rate of 200 bushels per acre; mealy and solid for the table. Another says: 
These potatoes are a great acquisition from the department, and should be distributed 
throughout the whole country. 
CoLoRaDo.—Beauty of Hebron, in Ouray County, planted May 30 on western slope 
of Engineer Mountain, 7,500 feet above the sea-level; frost September 10; yield from 
4 quarts 193 pounds; white, mealy, and most delicious tubers. 
Dakota.—Clay County reports the Beauty of Hebron the earliest and best potato 
in that Territory, surpassing the Early Rose. 
WyominG.—Laramie County reports Ruby, 4 quarts planted, dug 220 pounds excel- 
lent tubers. Hebron about the same as Ruby only white and more dry. 
From this testimony it is clear that the yield of this tuber has been greatly in- 
creased in nearly every State by the introduction of these six new varieties. 
BUCKWHEAT. 
ILLrNois.—Reports show very little buckwheat sown in this State. One report 
says 2 quarts sown July 3 yielded5 bushels good, plump grain. This grain (Polygonum 
agopyum) was originally called beechwheat from the resemblance (3-cornered) to beech- 
nuts. 
VERMONT.—In this State the Silver-hull buckwheat is reported as giving great 
growth of straw but little grain. 
OxI0.—Only one return received from this State,and it says that the Silver-hull 
buckwheat does well here. 
MIcHIGAN.—One report from this State says the Silver-hulled buckwheat succeeds 
well; from 2 quarts of seed 4 bushels of good grain was obtained. 
WISCONSIN.—Reports show that both the silver-hull and Tartarian varieties yield 
well of good grain in this State. 
Iowa.—The Silver-hull buckwheat is reported as giving good yield among experi- 
menters here. 
Kansas.—Silver-hull buckwheat is reported as doing admirably well here; yields 
largely and stands the drought better than other varieties; 24 bushels the acre of grain 
weighing 52 pounds the measured bushel is reported. 
PENNSYLVANIA.—In this State Silver-hull buckwheat is reported as succeeding well, 
productive, and very desirable. 
COTTON. 
LovIsIANA.—Of the several varieties of cotton seed, distributed by the Department 
of Agriculture to this and other States, reports from here state that the MeClendon 
Mammoth is the most prolific and gives the finest quality of staple of any planted in 
this vicinity. 
MississIpPi.—One report, on the results with the Mammoth Prolific, states that it 
was planted on clay soil, May 1, 4 quarts seed—and nearly ail germinated, grew, and 
stood up well, giving 80 pounds seed-cotton and 25 pounds lint for the seed sown; the 
staple longer than common, of a rich, cream color, and easily picked; it is in all re- 
spects a good, superior variety. 
TExas.—One party reports that Myer’s seed, received from the department, is pre- 
ferred for its large bolls and for standing un well. Anotherreports that the Mammoth 
Prolific, from the department, is the best for Texas. Another reports that the Mam- 
moth Prolific, planted April 26, on black land—700 square yards—gave 930 pounds of 
seed-cotton, of good quality, 60 bolls weighing 1 pound; this is reported here to give 
the largest yield of any of the five varieties sent from the department. 
AMBER SORGHUM. 
Missourt.—MeDenald County: Reports that of the Amber Sorghum seed a small 
portion only germinated—the stalks grew small, but made double the quantity of 
sirup of other varieties. 
