432 BOARD OF AGKICULTUKF. 



President Stevens: The next thing in order is the report from the 

 Experimental Orchard. 



Prof. James Troop: I notice by the program that I am expected to 

 report, and that Mr. Burton is also down for a report, so I suppose the 

 main part of the report of the worli done at this orchard will be given by 

 Mr. Burton. He told me that he expected to be here this morning. You 

 know he is in charge of the orchard and has been carrying on considera- 

 ble work there on various lines, raising seedling apple trees, top working 

 and testing varieties, fertilizers, etc. The committee visited the orchard 

 once during the year— last August, I believe. We visited it in a body. 

 We went over it and maae some suggestions, and that is about all we have 

 to report. I will say this, that a fence has been put up during the past 

 year by Mr. Burton, which cost $245.73. He tells me that it is a wire 

 fence with concrete posts, with wire netting around the bottom so as to 

 make it as near as possible rabbit proof and ground hog proof, although 

 I have my doubts about its being either, especially ground hog proof. I 

 wish to say that the experimental orchard is in good condition. If you 

 are ever in that section of the State, any of you, 1 wish you would take 

 the time to go and see it. I know that Mr. Burton would be glad to take 

 you over it at any time, if you would only let him know that you were 

 coming. Many of the different varieties are now beginning to bear, and 

 it will not be very long luitil we will commence getting some returns 

 from it. 



i think this is all i have to say on this subject, Mr. President. I am 

 quite sure Mr. Burton will be here to give a detailed report. 



President Stevens: Mr. Troop, I should just like to ask what work 

 you have outlined for Mr. Burton to do? 



Prof. Troop: Along the lines I have mentioned— testing varieties, top 

 working varieties, growing seedlings from selected stock, cross fertilizing 

 different varieties and growing seedlings from them. And we also have 

 a series of fertilizer experiments, mainly for the purpose of finding out 

 if possible something— some remedy— for the root rot in that section. A 

 portion of the orchard is devoted to that purpose almost exclusively. This 

 is all I think of now that is being carried out. 



President Stevens: Is Mr. Burton present? His report is next in 

 order. If he is not present we will have to pass for the present on to 

 the next, which is "A Fine Apple Orchard," by E. Y. Teas, of Center- 

 ville. 



Mr. Williams: We have arranged with Mr. Teas that my son is to 

 read my article first and E. Y. Teas will come next. 



