384 BOATID OF AGRICULTURE. 



chance for bearing Avhile growtli is so rapid. "We Ihinli best to keep up 

 cultivation anoiher year; then seed down to clover and try to force them 

 into bearing. None .of these seedlings have died from root rot. Have lost 

 about forty in top-worker and variety plats, in the last two years from 

 this disease. These were replaced this fall and treated with different 

 remedies for experiment on root rot. Some treated with a gallon of sand 

 around the roots; some with a pint to a quart of Pamunky phosphate, and 

 some with Tennessee rock. In my own orchard some trees already 

 affected with root rot were transplanted with sand. Three trees thus 

 affectecL were planted in i)ure sand on the farm of Wm. Turley, River 

 Vale. The observation of orcnards in sandy land free from root rot has 

 led me to experiment with sand. 



Last spring we set a plat of sixty Winesaps for testing the effect of 

 different fertilizers on the growth of trees. Fertilizers furnished free by 

 German Kali works. If of no other benefit these Winesaps will surely 

 furnish a nice source of revenue for the orchard. 



Another imi)ortant experiment commenced was to test the bearing 

 qualities of trees propagated from abundant and shy bearing trees. Va- 

 rieties were Grimes and Genet. 



All trees, except the seedlings, are protected from rabbits and gi'ouud- 

 hogs by inch mesh poultry netting. 



Nothing positive has yet been done in regard to fence provided for 

 by our last legislature. Every imaginable kind of fence and post has 

 been duly considered. We are trying to make no mistake. The fence 

 must be rabbit proof and lasting and at the same time within the 

 appropriation. The indications now are that we will use cedar posts and 

 the Brown fence. 



Only pedigreed apple seeds were planted last winter. Of these, none 

 grew except Genet pollenized by Grimes and Rome Beauty. 



President Stevens: The next will be the report of the Trustee of 

 Purdue University, Sylvester Johnson, of Irviugton, Indiana.' 



Sylvester Johnson: A year ago I made an elaborate report which was 

 criticised on account of its length. This year there will be no ground 

 for criticism along that line. 



As your representative on the Board of Trustees of Purdue University, 

 I make the following report. Purdue is not only maintaining its high 

 standing among the similar institutions of this country, but it has set 

 its mark high and is rapidly approaching the enviable position to which it 

 aspires. It is growing in the number of students and in permanent im- 

 provements. It is widening its work especially in domestic arts and 

 sciences. It has even gone so far in the interest of the farmer as to 

 establish a school of instmction in butter making for farmers' wives at a 

 mere nominal cost. It is giving the farmers themselves great opportuni- 



