748 Plant Breeding at Aberystwyth. [Nov., 



consequently have to be lengthened by every means possible. 

 Three plans are under experiment, viz., (1) resort to glass; 

 (2) sowing spring varieties in a sheltered cage in the autumn; 

 and (3) starting the seed in boxes in gentle heat or in cool 

 frames and planting out. A certain proportion of all the spring 

 varieties sown in the garden last autumn came well through the 

 winter, and flowered very appreciably earlier than the spring- 

 sown plants ; those sown in boxes did not transplant particularly 

 well, but with greater experience this method may prove of 

 assistance. 



In conclusion a word may be said as to the general arrange- 

 ment of the gardens. These are three in number, and are used 

 for more or less definite purposes. 



The Nurseries. — This is the headquarters garden, and contains 

 the large cage and box culture trenches and also the glass houses, 

 stores, potting shed and a small field laboratory. It is used 

 chiefly for the collection of indigenous plants dug up in toto, 

 for the first growing of collected seeds, and for grouping 

 selections. 



The Terraces. — This is used for small scale nationality and 

 place-of-origin trials and for the first multiplication of selected 

 plants. 



The Triangle, which is more sheltered than the other gardens, 

 is intended primarily for hybridization work, for all investigations - 

 bearing upon the fertility affinities of the grasses and clovers, 

 and for experiments generally as opposed to pedigree cultures. 

 This garden is also equipped with a small cage. 



It is hoped to bring the farmers of the adjoining counties into 

 the closest possible touch with the work of the Station. During 

 the present season, despite the difficulties connected with the 

 harvest, two parties have visited the trial grounds from Mont- 

 gomeryshire, a large party from Cardiganshire, and a small 

 party from Pembrokeshire, and it may be taken as a hopeful 

 augury for the future that as much interest was shown in the 

 small-scale — from the farmers' point of view one might almost 

 think ridiculously small-scale — trials conducted in the gardens 

 as in the oat variety and other larger and more obvious experi- 

 ments in the field. 



