/ 
The subject of the nomenclature of our agricultural plants is one 
of prime importance, and much work has been devoted to this mat- 
ter, as also to the connected question as to what points in our vege- 
tables are diagnostic; that is, what points of description there are 
which are stable as against the changes induced by season and fertil- 
ity of the soil. The botanist is able to identify a variety of plant, 
without regard to whether the plant is depauperate or vigorous, and 
it seems reasonable to infer that equal success may be expected in 
our study of agricultual varieties. The more our experience with 
cultivated plants, the firmer our belief is in the stability of types of 
varieties, and our observations all tend to prove the importance of 
variety to the grower, and the necessity of identification as prelimi- 
nary to the recommendation of anyone sort. In the report of the hor- 
ticulturist will be found much descriptive matter, as well as experi- 
mental determinations which are well worth the careful attention of 
the progressive agriculturist. 
The subject of ‘‘ duplicates” is one which is deserving even of a 
tedious discussion, as the whole value of our deductions derived 
from plat work must be based on this study. Single or even mul- 
tiple trials extending over but few seasons are incapable of telling 
which is the better of two fertilizers used until we can interpret 
correctly the divergences which occur between crops grown upon 
plats arranged for and treated as duplicates, and even where this 
difficulty is surmounted we must wisely recognize what of our results 
are local only, and what can be used for purposes of generalization. 
The whole matter of fertilization experimentation upon the plat sys- 
tem is one which must be studied carefully for many years beiore 
we can even hope to advance beyond the present illusory position 
which is so befogging to the public, and whose published results are 
often so belittling to experimenters. Such results as are obtained 
may however prove of service in formulating future advance if the 
figures gained are grouped and studied in accordance with the teach- 
ings of the mathematics of averages and probabilities, and if cor- 
rected in accordance with the influences that may be logically as- 
cribed to the physical conditions of moisture, temperature and 
actinism. This view of the position inculcates the idea that the 
same area of plat cannot be equally efficacious for different sorts of 
plants, but that the number of plants under observation must be a 
leading factor, and that the areas used must be so diversified as to give 
for each trial a sufficient number of plants to allow of the applica- 
tion of the mathematical doctrine of equalization through which 
extremes appear equally upon either side of the mean, and accidental 
results can thus be eliminated from the conclusion. The doctrine 
of chances must enter into agricultural studies to a greater extent 
than has been customary, before we can secure results which will 
admit of safe generalization. That the Station has not carried out 
these views in full is only to be explained by the fact that the method 
is yet under study, and our circumstances do not yet admit of close 
application. 
The report of the botanist is noteworthy from the conclusions ar- 
rived at with reference to the cause of pear blight; the difficulties 
attending this investigation can only be appreciated by experts, but 
the success of the demonstration cannot be questioned by the pear- 
