The report of Prof. Bailey, of the Cornell University Experiment Gardens, is not only interesting reading, but highly important from a horticultural standpoint. It is valuable for what it says, and doubly valuable for what it don't say. In the first place, it shows us the value of experiment stations, in determining what varieties can be most successfully and profitably grown in a given soil and situation. But what is more important, it shows the necessity of an experiment station in every township, not under state or university control, but a station conducted by every cultivator in the town, with the headquarters at the town hall or district school-house, where all can meet and hand in their reports for mutual benefit.

No fact is better known in horticulture than that certain localities are better adapted for the production of a given crop than others; some soils seem the natural home for a given variety, others not. For instance, the farmers in Suffolk county cannot be induced to grow the Early Rose Potato, because there its yield is unsatisfactory, while the White Elephant and Early Ohio, under the same cultivation, will yield more by twenty-five per cent. and upwards. The same is true with many varieties in localities where the conditions are the most favorable. Therefore it is important for the horticulturists of each locality to determine, by experiments carefully made, what is their most profitable industry and what varieties of a given class give the best results.

One of the most noticeable features in this report is the small yield of the tomato in the Ithaca gardens compared with the same on Long Island. The highest test of yield was but 27.5 pounds per plant - the lowest, from seed sown at the same time, was 10.2 pounds per plant. The variety giving the greater yield being the King of the Earlies, that of the smallest being the Paragon, one of our best croppers. Neither of these would be considered half a crop here, if planted in the same soil, which was "a high gravelly loam, heavily enriched".

This experiment shows conclusively that Ithaca is not the home of the tomato. It also shows most conclusively what varieties are best for them to grow. It establishes a fact, which every locality must establish for itself.

Varieties

The writer of the report says: "The tomato is one of the most variable and inconstant of kitchen garden plants. As a rule, varieties differ but slightly from their allies, and a considerable plantation and a critical eye are needed to determine many of even the common sorts." True, every word of it, and there is no necessity for half the varieties that are sent out, because they have no valuable properties not possessed by others.

"Varieties of tomatoes are, as a rule, short lived, Ten years may be considered the average profitable life of a variety, and many sorts break up and disappear in two or three years. This inconstancy of type is largely due, no doubt, to the haste with which new sorts are put upon the market." In proof of this, the writer says: "Almost any of the old sorts afford instances of the running out of varieties. The Tilden tomato, once popular, appears to be extinct;" also. " The Trophy shows the same tendency to become inferior, and it is difficult to procure a good stock of it. In the test of 1887 this fact was noticed The Trophy is evidently not as good as formerly. Our crop of this year, from seeds of last year's crop, showed a much greater per cent. of poor fruits than the crop of 1886. Paragon begins to show the same weakness".

To these statements we beg leave to enter a respectful protest, on principle. As to whether "varieties are short-lived," all depends upon the care that has been taken to preserve them. The same care in selection and cultivation of a variety, where the conditions are favorable to its development, as was given to produce it, will preserve it. The tomato is no exception to this rule, although there is no class where the varieties or types will suffer from neglect as quickly as the tomato.

Referring to the Trophy, we would say that this variety, in all hands, has not run out. On the contrary, it has improved, and that by the same means as were employed to develop it, viz: selection. The finest crop of tomatoes we ever saw, without regard to variety name, was of the Trophy, and that only last season, which was generally considered the most unfavorable for the tomato we have had for many years. The grower of these bought the seed from Mr. Waring the first year of its introduction and he has not grown any other since, but has each year carefully selected the earliest and smoothest for seed purposes. 1 he result is an improvement. The fruits are more even; they ripen up to the stem perfectly, and, what is more important, they ripen to the center, producing but little seed. A fault with this variety, when first introduced, was that the center of the fruit was hard and unpalatable.

That the seed now sold will not produce as good fruit as it did fifteen years ago, I am free to admit, Why ? Simply because of carelessness in selection for seed purposes. The desire of some in the seed trade is to get seed as cheap as they can, rather than as good as they can. If I were asked the cause of deterioration in this variety, I should say, unquestionably, "Five cents a packet." Some wholesale dealers are quoting this seed at less than half the price it can be grown for, if the grower is faithful to his trust.

Culture

The cultural instructions as adopted at the college of agriculture, commend themselves to the attention of all horticulturists. They are concise and complete. It is well, however, to say that we have seen the best results from such plants as are considered not worth setting at the college, "tall weak plants with a blossom on the top." In setting such, however, it is best to bend the plant down and cover it with soil to the depth of an inch, excepting about four inches of the top ; the plant will then throw out roots the entire length of the underground portion, and make a rapid, vigorous, growth; when, if the lank stem is left above ground, the plant will, apparently, grow smaller for two or three weeks after setting. C. L. Allen.

[Note. - The yields quoted of tomatoes at Ithaca were the yields of certain plants selected for experiment, and the best one is by no means the highest yield secured from tomato plants upon the University garden this year. Yet yields have not been heavy this year, owing to the bad season. The experience with the Trophy indicates that careful breeding has bred a new variety from the old stock, and it thus appears to corroborate the point made in the bulletin, that varieties are unstable.

There is no doubt that variation in soil, season, stock and treatment have much to do with immediate variation in the tomato. In this connection, it will be instructive to insert the following comment upon this portion of the bulletin, from the Rural New- Yorker :

"To show the same tomato will vary in different soils and under different treatment let us compare a few of Prof. Bailey's reports with our own. He says that the Haines (No. 64 from Northrup, Braslan & Goodwin) is too irregular. We found it fully as regular as Igno-tum. Prof. Bailey considers that "regularity of shape" is one of its "particular points of superiority." In other respects the two reports agree.

"Our report of the Shah (Henderson) and Prof. Bailey's are alike. It has no value. The fact of its being the first yellow with potato-leaf foilage is simply worthy of note. Our own tomatoes, however, were not all yellow. Some were reddish, others orange color.

"Lorillard (Henderson) at the Rural Grounds was not only very regular and productive, but there seemed no reason for designating it as not valuable as a market variety, as Prof. Bailey does.

" McCullom's Hybrid with him was a 'second early.' With the R. N.Y. it was late. Bay State (Bragg) was also late and of no notable value Prof. B. estimates it as 'one of the best recent introductions.'

•As to Prelude, both reports agree. The tomatoes are rather small, but regular in shape, very early and productive." - Ed. Am. G].