52 
OUR EXPERIMENTAL GROUNDS. 
early sorts many of them less than three feet high, the late varieties eight and nine feet 
high. An acre is devoted to Watermelons and Cantaloupes, the testing and judging of which 
requires much experience. One-half acre is devoted to Squash. One-half acre to Cucumber. 
One-half acre is devoted to Cabbage. One-half acre to Turnips. Two acres devoted to 
Tomatoes. This last being of very particular interest, compri.sing many hybrids or crosses of 
•approved varieties, the best qualities of several being united in one. 
Cross Section of Scarlet Cross Tomato— (See pages 49 and 50;. 
The tests of insecticides being particularly interesting, more interesting than instructive 
because of the conflicting results consequent upon conditions of rainfall and heat after the 
application of the poisons. 
The test of ornamental flowers of Annual and Biennial form embellishing the whole with 
colors of dazzling beauty. The trial of grasses, all very practical ; one bed of thirty different 
sorts in blocks of ten by ten feet, having stood for five years, clearly indicating the relative 
periods of desirability of each .sort. 
Trial Beds at Bloomsdale. 
The seeds on trial in these ;^xperimental Grounds comprise all the so-called novelties or 
varieties offered in the catalogues of the many seed merchants of the United States, as well 
also as those recommended by foreign seed merchants and growers as adapted to the Ameri- 
can climate. Ofttinies the same vegetable appears under half a dozen distinct names and as 
distinct descriptions, only to be recognized as an old acquaintance ; sometimes of merit, at 
other times a sort long turned down. It is to inform ourselves upon the subject of relative 
merit and upon the subject of name that we conduct so large an experimental ground as nine 
acres, a very expensive little farm in itself, but worth ten times its cost. 
