New York AqricurturaL Exprrment Station. 31. 
way. Manufacturers will find, too, that the real conditions of 
their business are different from those previously displayed on 
paper. Moreover, the relations between the farmer and the 
manufacturing plant are likely to be for some time the occasion of 
wide differences of opinion before a generally recognized business 
basis is reached. | 
DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE. 
Tests of varieties from foreign sources.— In the spring of 1898 
at the request of Mr. D. G. Fairchild, special agent for plant and 
seed. introduction for the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D. C., the Station undertook to test a large number 
of melons and a few other vegetables, seeds of which had been im- 
ported through Prof. N. E. Hansen who visited East Europe, 
Siberia and Northwest China in 1897 for the purpose of collecting 
for the Department seeds and plants which seemed likely to be . 
valuable in the semi-arid regions of this country. 
In the collection of seeds which were sent to this Station there 
were about ninety varieties of Russian muskmelons and water- 
melons, besides a number of kinds from Asia. Seeds of pumpkin, 
sweet corn, turnip and six varieties of cabbage were also received. 
Arrangements were made t6 test these vegetables at Geneva 
and to duplicate the tests on Long Island. The cabbage and 
turnip were tested under the direction of Mr. C. L. Allen of 
Floral Park, to whom we are indebted for many courtesies. Mr. 
Allen is well known as an authority on Brassicas. The other 
vegetables were tested at Southampton under the direction of 
Mr. F. L. Greene, a graduate of the Massachusetts Agricultural 
College. 
In every instance the crops were grown on soil naturally well 
adapted to their culture and the ground was carefully prepared, 
fertilized sufficiently to provide for a vigorous growth and given 
good cultivation. At Geneva the melons were started on inverted 
sod under glass and not transferred to the field till warm weather 
