REPORT 
OF THE 
HORTICULTURIST. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The chief work attempted in the station garden the past season 
has been: 
1st. The continuation of our test of varieties and the determina- 
tion of synonyms. 
2d. Testing seeds gathered at different stages of maturity; from 
different parts.of the plant; and seeds maturing at different times; 
in order to note the influence of these conditions upon the resultant 
lants. 
: 3d. A continuation of the testing of insecticides ; and 
4th. Making an examination of the root systems of our garden 
lants. 
, Besides this general work, many special experiments have been 
performed upon the different crops grown in the garden, the details 
of which will appear in the proper places. 
In the first division of our work, we have been greatly aided by a 
gift from Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., of Paris, of about five 
hundred varieties of vegetable seeds. The efforts that these gentle- 
men have made in establishing synonyms in their own trial grounds 
is the very best certificate that the seeds received from them are both 
true to name, and of distinct varieties. We have thus felt secure in 
using these varieties as standards with which to compare others of 
doubtful purity. 
A more favorable season, and the acquisition of many new 
varieties have enabled us to carry the work of description and class- 
ification much further than was possible in 1883. The results of our 
work, though gradually assuming shape, are not as yet sufficiently 
complete for presentation. 
The Importance of Accurate Nomenclature. 
’ We need hardly say that it is extremely desirable that each 
variety of vegetable should be known among both seedsmen and 
