148 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



gies to more exhaustive elemental studies wliicli will assist us in the 

 solution of some of these problems. 



Respectfully submitted, 

 CHARLES E. MARSHALL, 



East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1909. 



Bacteriologist. 



REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



To the Director: 



Sir — I herewith submit a brief report for the year ending June 30, 

 1909. 



A bulletin entitled ''Can the General Farmer Afford to Grow Apples, 

 and the Suggestions on Improving and Spraying Apple Orchards" by 

 S. B. Hartman and H. J. Eustace was issued in the early spring. There 

 are many apple orchards in the state that should give good returns if 

 properly cared for, and there was a large demand for information along 

 this line. Mr. Hartman, a graduate of the college and a successful fruit 

 grower and farmer, had for several years been caring for orchards in 

 his neighborhood, and had correct accounts of the expenses and returns. 

 He was induced to put this data into bulletin form, and to this was 

 added such general information as would be useful to a farmer in caring 

 for his orchard. 



A circular giving directions for treating seed potatoes for scab was 

 sent to all the newspapers of the state early in the spring. 



Experiments are now under way with potato fertilizers; on potato 

 spraying; fruit tree and grape vine fertilizers; orchard spraying; apple 

 propagation; bud selection to secure hardiness and disease immunity 

 in the peach ; the value of sterilizing greenhouse soils ; and a comparison 

 of the methods of storing nursery stock. 



Many of these experiments are being conducted in sections of the 

 state where they will be of the most interest and value to the community 

 and have a direct bearing upon the local industry. 



Further experiments will be started as rapidly as is consistent with 

 careful work, and such problems as are of the most economic importance 

 to the horticultural interests of the state will have first attention. 



It is a matter of serious regret that after 20 years of the station's 

 existence there was no horticultural work under way, that all the 

 experiments had to be started recently, and that the past publications 

 are of such a nature as to be of very little value at the present time. 

 There is a demand for general information regarding the horticultural 

 crops of the state, and a series of bulletins to meet the need will be 

 prepared as soon as possible. 



I take pleasure in acknowledging my appreciation of the services of 

 Mr. C. P. Halligan, assistant horticulturist, and to you for loyal sup- 

 port and encouragement in our efforts to bring up the horticultural 

 w^ork of the station. Respectfully submitted, 



H. J. EUSTACE, 



Horticulturist. 

 East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1909. 



