26 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



REPO'RT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



F. A. ■V\'*AUGH. 



During the year the work of the division of horticulture 

 has been extensively reorganized. These changes have been 

 necessitated partly by new conditions and partly by a change 

 in the administration of the division. The principal inno- 

 vations are three, as follows : — 



1. The abandonment of miscellaneous variety tests, and 

 the substitution, in their place, of systematic studies of 

 varieties from all soui'ces and under all conditions. 



2. The establishment of definite lines of experiment 

 designed to develop the principles underlying the practice 

 of fruit and vegetable culture. 



3. The opening of an extensive system of permanent 

 records, which are expected to hold together the work of 

 successive years, to assist in the interpretation of current 

 observations by oflering a comparison with previous results, 

 to make possible the accumvilation of comparable data through 

 a period of years, to make the results of experiments at all 

 times available, and, in genei*al, to secm'e definiteness of 

 aim, clearness of interpretation and consectivity of work in 

 all the experimental operations of the division. 



There is no need of publishing at this time a full pro- 

 gramme of the experimental work ah'eady determined on. 

 It may be proper to say, however, that the work is planned 

 to cover certain important practical problems in the propa- 

 gation and (iultivation of orchard fruits, particularly apples, 

 peaches and plums, and similar investigations in the culture 

 of small fruits and vegetables. 



As has been the practice hitherto, every effort will be made 

 to furnish prompt and reliable information in response to the 

 many inquiries which are sent in from day to day. 



