VARIETIES OPERATED UPON. The following varieties were operated upon : Pollen of Wagener, Pistil of Red Astrachan. Pollen of Red Astrachan, Pistil of Greening. RESULTS. The apples on some of the varieties dropped quite generally, so the success was not what we might desire. However, specimens were preserved from all but two of the crosses, but seeds were saved in but seven, the codling moth having destroyed the seeds in one specimen. It was quite noticeable that the apples upon the Talman Sweet crossed with other pollen were about the only specimens upon the tree. Both crosses between Talman Sweet and Wagener exhibited the effects of the cross in the color and flavor of the fruit. Talman Sweet upon Astrachan also produced a modified fruit. The seeds saved will be planted another year, and cions from the seedlings be placed in bearing trees as soon as possible, so as to test the value of the experiment by the quickest mode of producing fruit. POTATOES. Soil was prepared as evenly as practicable, and potatoes were planted in sections of six hills each. The planting was done May 7th and dug September 7th. Each section was weighed and the results noted. It was thought to ascertain, if possible: 1st. If removing tubers would not ensure better seeding of the tops. 2d. If removing blossoms would not affect the produce of tubers. 3d. If the tomato could not be grafted into the potato. 4th. What is the effect of planting at various depth. 5th. If there is any difference in using different ends of the tubor for seed. 6th. If any advantage accrues from manipulating with the tops by layering, pruning, or training to a stake. TABLE. The table which follows exhibits the plan and its results for this trial: 7 The pruning was done very hastily, by simply slashing into the vines with a knife. The variety of potato in all instances was Campbell's Late Rose. CORN. Corn was planted in similar sections, at different depths, with and without compressing the soil upon the seed. The result of this trial was manifestly in favor of the planting on the surface with an inch of dirt as cover, compressed with the foot. The soil was as dry as dust when the corn was planted. PEAS. Peas were planted at various depths, varying from one inch to one foot. The deep planting withstood the drouth the best and perfected the most pods. Planted at six inches, they never came up. A few were planted a foot deep, and were yellow and worthless. Those nine inches deep did as well as any. SQUASHES. Marblehead squashes were planted, and during the season the vines were clipped beyond the young squashes in a number of instances; but though careful observations were taken, and the trial made with no prejudicial circumstances, no effect could be detected. SQUASH BUGS were captured with much success by placing chips or shingles near the hill. At night they went under them for protection. Early in the morning they were all quiet, and in a position to be easily killed. NURSERY. The department thought it desirable to have a corner of ground employed for the propagation of some of the shrubbery upon the grounds, and other ornamental plants, also for increasing a few varieties of fruits. There were added a little material from the Kew seeds planted last year, and about a thousand small evergreens. The object of the nursery is two-fold: 1st. The growing of such stock as we shall need in future ornamentation and orcharding. 2d. It is a means of instruction to the students. A majority of our young men accord something of mystery to the simple processes of nursery business, and here they see the work going on, and if desirable obtain some skill in the propagatio n and care of nursery stock. ARBORICULTURE. Among the plants in the nursery are small bushes, maples, chestnuts, etc., which it is decided to plant in rows just east of the grove which is north of the brick dwelling-houses. Quite a large variety of nuts and seeds have been collected and ready for spring planting. This is the beginning of an artificial forestry. We intend to cultivate and thin as seems needed. By the time the trees are ten or twenty years old, people of some parts of our State will be glad to know of the results. We have already received inquiries in regard to treeplanting for timber by citizens of this State. These questions could only be answered by information gleaned from books,-the experience of others. BOTANIC GARDEN. For this we still hope that the day is not distant when it will be thought best to keep up at least one good garden in the State. They are of untold value to every man of science and culture, to the farmer and mchanic. CHOICE POTATOES. We have for some years kept up a collection of 50 to 80 varieties of potatoes, mostly from seed raised year after year on similar soil, on various parts of the college gardens. It is certain that all of these which have been so treated have deteriorated. They are not as productive nor usually of so good quality as formerly. EXPERIMENTS. Some of these have this year been planted side by side, on similar soil, all well manured in the hill with a good shovelful of well-rotted manure, and a handful of unleached ashes. Among these potatoes were some of the newer and choicer varieties,-fancy potatoes. We put but little stress on the results here published. They were planted at same time, about the 20th of May, and dug when ripe. Three hills of each weighed: Black Chenango.. Snow ball.... 6 lbs. 2 oz. 5 lbs. 7 oz. Tyrell's Seedling No. 1 (he supposed equal to Early Rose).... 4 lbs. 12 oz. Brownell's Beauty (seed one eye to hill), good yield and nice quality. Early Vermont, on eye to hill, excelled the Peerless and probably every other in yield. In the last three cases there was an error made in not saving 3 hills separately. LENGTH OF ROOTS OF PARSNIP. Some parsnips were pulled up with roots going down four feet. How much further some of the small roots extended (some further, of course), we did not ascertain. CORN ROOTS. Some late sweet corn was examined Aug. 17. The soil a fine sand, the bottom some would call quicksand, inclining to hard-pan. Corn roots extended down under plants one foot nine inches. They extended three feet six inches to one side, and there the roots were fifteen inches below surface. PEACH TREE ROOTS. In soil much like the above, a peach tree, in August of the second summer, had roots seven feet four inches from tree. The tree was about six feet high. JUNE GRASS. At same date, on light, poor sand, in dry weather, the grass was making no growth. Of course there were but few active roots. The best ones were about three feet down,-some a little over four feet. STRAWBERRIES. Most of them were set last fall, moved from the site of the new greenhouse, and bore but little. We have twenty of the best varieties. ASPARAGUS. We have started a new bed, which does well, in the new vegetable garden. CURRANTS. The old bushes, after bearing, were dug up. The new rows, on lower moist land, have done first rate. We have enough of six choicest varieties. We keep the land heavily mulched. CURRANT WORM. This pest, so troublesome in the East, has just arrived this season among us in very small numbers. GRAPES. We have on a terrace south of the College about twenty-five varieties. They have been set now two years, and well cultivated. They have mostly made a good growth. The flowers were all picked off. We trim the vines in autumn and bury all of them with a few inches of soil. It is but little work, and in our gravelly soil they all keep nicely. We have procured a lot of Concords to plant along the river bank for the boys. CHERRIES. Some sweet cherry trees are still living, and this year have borne plentifully. Birds took nearly all the fruit. EXPERIMENTS. Quite a quantity of seeds were saved of cherries which grew on different trees close by each other. These branches, while in flower, were tied together so bees visiting them would most likely cross-fertilize them. We shall watch the result with much interest, as by this process Prof. Kirtland of Cleveland originated many fine sorts. Our Dukes and Morellos are small, but doing well. Some additions have been made by gifts of Ilgenfritz & Co., Monroe. PLUMS. A few of three varieties have been set this season. PEACHES. We are not in the peach belt, nor on a favored hill. EXPERIMENTS. We have eight or ten trees artificially protected. Some (two) in boxes for forcing; two protected by corn shocks; two buried as they were planted in an oblique position. Other methods will be tried. PEARS. The trees were nearly all dead, all worthless, and removed last spring. APPLES. The orchard was again plowed shallow early in the spring and cultivated till some time in August, when it was left. |