96 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



SAMUEL T. MATNARD. 



The lines of experimentation carried on by this division 

 have been kept strictly within the limits of practical horti- 

 culture, devoting especial attention to the growth of common 

 fruit and garden crops, and their protection from insect and 

 fungous pests. 



New varieties of fruits, vegetables, ornamental trees, shrubs 

 and plants of promise have been obtained and tested under 

 varying conditions, and many new seedlings produced. For 

 the work of testing varieties a large collection of standard 

 varieties from different sections of the country have been 

 obtained, that, when a new variety is to be tested, careful 

 comparison may be made under conditions where the exact 

 value of standard varieties is known. As far as possible, 

 new varieties are grown under many varying conditions, 

 and very careful inquiry is made of their behavior in many 

 localities. 



Previous reports have given the number of varieties of the 

 different kinds of fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc., under ex- 

 periment, to which have been added the following number 

 of new varieties the past season : apples, four ; pears, five ; 

 plums (domestic), three; plums (Japanese), seven; plums 

 (American), seven; peaches, five; quinces, two; cherries, 

 four ; grapes, four, besides numerous seedlings ; blackber- 

 ries, three ; red raspberries, two, and a large collection of 

 seedlings ; strawberries, twenty, and many seedlings ; chest- 

 nuts (Japanese, Spanish and native varieties), eight; 

 walnuts (species and varieties), six; several new hardy 

 ornamental trees, shrubs and plants, and many new varieties 

 of ornamental plants for the greenhouse and summer out- 

 door decoration. 



