EXPERIMENT STATION BULLlETINS. 225 



JAPAN WALNUT (Juglam Seiboldii). 



This was planted in 1890, and has now produced its second crop of nuts, 

 which are smaller and less roughened, outwardly, than the butternut, 

 though similar in quality and general appearance. The tree also some- 

 what resembles the butternut, in both foliage and habit of growth, though 

 decidedly more vigorous. It is entirely hardy here. 



PECAN {Hickoria olivcefarmis) . 



Nuts from Iowa were planted here in the autumn of 1888, and, so far, 

 have withstood the cold of our winters perfectly. The young plants grew 

 slowly for the first year or two, which we understood to be its usual habit. 

 More recently they have shown abundant vigor. 



Seeds of Stuart Pecan, a large, thin shelled seedling originating in 

 Texas, were received through the Division of Pomology and planted in 

 1893. The plants have been "earthed up" for protection during the past 

 two winters, since, coming from so far south, their hardiness must be con- 

 sidered uncertain, at least for the first few years. 



FIGS (Ficus carica). 



Plants of Brunswick fig were set out in the spring of 1893, to test the 

 practicability of growing this fruit in open air in this climate. The plants 

 have been trained as bushes, carefully laid down and covered during win- 

 ter, and have made moderate growths each year, setting more or less fruit, 

 which has, each season, been overtaken by freezing weather before matur- 

 ity. From this experience it seems probable that success is only practi- 

 cable with the use of a much earlier variety. 



ASPARAGUS {Asparagus officinalis). 



Of the six or seven varieties of asparagus on trial here Palmetto has 

 shown a constant superiority in both size and productiveness, with Con- 

 over a close second. 



A more recent variety, offered by D. M. Ferry & Company, has been 

 this year added to the list, but needs another year or two become fully 

 established. 



RHUBARB {Rheum rhaponticum). 



Two or three varieties, claiming to be specially early, were planted to 

 test their merits in this particular, but have not, so far, justified such 

 claim. 



Linn?eus proves to be equally early, and of quite as good quality, with 

 greatly increased size as well as superior productiveness. It has long 

 stood at the head of the list, and is yet without a superior. 



Plants of a variety received from S. S. Bailey of Kent county, Michigan, 

 understood to be a seedling of his, prove to be of fine quality, large size, 

 and of unusually dark green color. It seems worthy of extensive trial. 



South Haven, Michigan, ) 

 December 31, 1894. ) 

 29 



