22 [ ASSEMBLY 
tion which must be entirely unnecessary in the majority of cases. 
Thus, in the catalogues of eight extensive seedsmen one variety of 
cucumber appears under the following names: Long Green, Improved 
Long Green, Improved Long Green Prickly, Extra Long Green Smooth, 
Long Green Smooth From Athens, Long Green Prickly, Long Green 
Turkey, London Long Green. Again, we find Early White Spine, Im- - 
proved White Spine, Peerless White Spine, Improved Harly White 
Spine, Improved Early White Spine or Arlington, Extra Long White 
Spine, Early White Spined, Extra Long White Spined, Improved 
White Spined, White Improved Spine. 
It is no exaggeration to say that such a use of names tends toreduce 
vegetable nomenclature to a farce. We find no such abuse in the 
catalogues of our nurserymen. If the Northern Spy apple is offered, 
it is not called Extra Large Northern Spy, Improved Scarlet Northern 
Spy, or Extra Large Red Northern Spy. 
It may be urged that the altered name as applied to a cucumber is 
intended to designate a new and improved variety. If so, we simply 
say that it would seem to be the policy of the introducer of an im- 
proved variety to give it a name that cannot be confounded with the 
names of older and inferior varieties. 
We may suggest that in the description of varieties offered in our 
seed catalogues, that whatever be said, be scientifically accurate, as this 
would have far more influence upon the public than series of epithets 
so glowing that they cease to discriminate the differences which occur, 
and thus tend to bewilder rather than to enlighten the reader who 
is seeking for knowledge. 
To attain results in experiments in pomology necessarily requires 
much time. Thestation has initiated an attempt to ascertain whether 
we can utilize observations concerning the character of wild and im- 
proved fruits in the direction of governing the production of varieties. 
We have seedling strawberries, raspberries and currants growing from 
seed taken from many-seeded individuals and few-seeded individuals, 
some of which may be expected to fruit another year. Other attempts 
at experiment will be found in the report of the horticulturist. 
In the study of varieties in the garden we have made some progress 
toward description and classification, as appears in the following pres- 
entation. We have also experimented with varieties as shown in the 
horticulturist’s report. 
T’o have the applications of science, says Professor H. A. Rowland, 
the science itself must exist. ‘This remark is peculiarly applicable to 
agriculture. ‘Too often in the search after practical experiment we do 
not recognize as a fact that we already know too little of the reasons 
which underlie the various processes which occur, to succeed in our 
interpretations of cause and effect. Before much real practical advance 
can be made in bringing agricultural pursuits within the domain of 
applied science, much work of a purely scientific character must be 
accomplished, and unpopular as it may be for the worker, yet that 
worker who inyestigates agricultural problems, not from the economie, 
but from the reason stand point, is doing the best work, and the work 
which in the end will be found most profitable in its applications. 
It is wise in all our work to recognize all our short comings, and 
to recall to our minds with frequency what limitations to advancement 
