When, early in 1890, the writer first proposed the composite sample— or as it is now generally called, improperly, the “composite test” — as a means of rendering practicable the “value plan” at creameries, he was particular to emphasize, by repetition, the statement that to insure accuracy “the daily samples must be, for each patron, proportionate in amount to his daily deliveries” (Bulletin No. 9). Without this precantion it is evident that the composite may fail of being what it is intended, namely, a miniature of the entire delivery of the patron for the period.

In the directions for carrying out the plan (same Bulletin) it was suggested that a convenient size for daily samples would be, in most cases, one-tenth as many cubic centimeters as the number of pounds in the delivery; and it was proposed to measure the samples in a graduated cylinder. This, the reader must bear in mind, was in the very infancy of the value system; we have now a much easier way of taking proportionate samples, which will be mentioned further on.

In February of the present year the Station received from a cheese manufacturer of the State two samples of rennet extract, with request for analysis and an explanation of the superior efficiency of one of them, suggesting the possibility that an extra (added) amount of free acid might be the cause. In accordance with custom, the request was complied with so far as possible. In June the same gentleman sent two more samples, and in August several more. Some of the results of investigation were so remarkable that the writer, now interested and desirous of getting at the truth, suggested duplicate samples, to avoid the danger of erroneous conclusions from single samples. Most of the samples were sent by the same gentleman; a few were obtained from other reliable sources by the writer himself. Nearly all were received in pint jars or bottles, unsealed— “broken packages” in fact. The sender of these assured me by letter that he was “very particular about every one of them, and could swear that they were exactly as recorded,” adding that they were taken from the original packages by himself and were “exactly as received.” One sample came to the writer direct from 'the manufacturer; it was the best examined of that make.

About ten years ago the Iowa Agricultural College imported from Russia types of the Rosa rugosa family, varying materially from the varieties introduced from China and Japan. The Russian forms prove hardier in the north, are more graceful in habit, and are finer in bud, flavor and foliage than the Japan varieties. Prof. L. H. Bailey, of the Cornell University Experiment Station, says in American Gardening (June, 1892, p. 342), of these types:

“The form of rugosa from Russia, when grown side by side with the ordinary type, is about two weeks later to bloom, and a little darker in color. Where the ordinary rugosa has only two or three buds and flowers in a cluster, this one averages about four or five. The buds show a rich dark red between the narrow sepals, and besides being very long they are very pretty. * * * The blossom from which our engraving is made measures six inches across. * * * The double form of the rose introduced by Professor Budd seems to belong to the rugosa strain, and is known as R. cinnamomea. The blooms are six inches across, quite double, crimson in color, not quite so glowing as the type of rugosa, but more fragrant. The leaves are slightly serrated, bright green and leathery.”

During the past few years the use of the Sand cherry (Primus pumila), as a stock for the cherry and plum, has been much discussed, but as yet we have had no convincing experience favorable to its use in cherry propagation. But in Utah and in various parts of the prairie States we have plum trees on this stock of several years’ growth, which favor the belief that our cultivated varieties will unite perfectly with its wood, come into bearing earlier, and become dwarfed in size of tree.

With a view to more exact conclusions we grew, in 1892, about five thousand stocks from seed gathered in northwest Nebraska. The seed was washed from the pulp, dried for three or four days in the shade, mixed with sand in boxes, and put out for winter freezing. The seedlings made a fine stand and their growth the first season was about equal in height and diameter of stem to our seedlings of native plum. In the fall of 1892 we took up the largest of the seedlings for crown-grafting, leaving the others for budding.