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REPORT OF ACTING HORTICULTURIST.* 
The former horticulturist, Mr. Goff, having severed his connec- 
tion with this Station on April first, it devolved on me to assume — 
certain of the duties of the office in collecting data, continuing the 
taking of notes, and other routine work connected with this 
department. The spring opening very early, gave no time for the 
planning of new lines of work, in consequence of which there is 
embodied in this but little beyond the records of plant growth and 
descriptive notes of the newer varieties of fruits and vegetables. _ 
The season has been very unfavorable for the development of 
plants of the cucurbit family, the melons being destroyed by a 
fungoid blight which attacked them early in their growth, while 
cabbage, celery and plants of that class have made a fine growth. - 
In 1888 it was thought best’ to change the testing grounds of 
small fruits, and in consequence of the removal of all such as 
were then grown here, with the addition of many newer varieties 
of the several kinds, it is impossible to give a complete descrip-— 
tion or exact data in regard to their growth or yield that would 
be reliable until such plants become established in their new 
quarters. The very thorough study and complete description of 
the leading varieties of vegetables made at this Station in previous 
years cover the ground so completely that it has been thought 
best to confine ourselves to the newer introductions only, and to 
follow more closely the study and testing of fruits than heretofore, 
although it will be the aim of this department, as in the past, to 
thoroughly test novelties, as they are introduced, and publish the 
results of our observations. : 
STRAWBERRIES. 
The following named varieties of strawberries were planted in 
the spring of 1888. Many of the older varieties were taken up — 
carefully from an old bed and replanted at once, causing buta 
slight check in their growth. Others were shipped from long ~ 
distances and at different times, causing the planting season tobe _ 
*C.-E. Hunn. 
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