162 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. 



fifty-five apple trees, inclduing ten varieties, all of which lived and 

 made a fair growth. I was somewhat surprised to find that the Jona- 

 thans made the best growth of any kind on trial. I received also one 

 dozen each of the Concord and Worden grape, all of which lived and 

 made a very good growth. I got a good stand and an excellent growth 

 of blackberries, raspberries and dew berries. These latter, including 

 the grapes, have been sadly neglected in this part of the state, but we 

 are waking up to the fact that by proper care in selecting the right 

 varieties and by proper management, we can produce at least sufiicient 

 of these delicious fruits for home use. The grapes were kept free from 

 weeds and the soil loose by the use of the cultivator and hoe all sum- 

 mer, and after the vines were dormant in the fall they were cut back 

 to two or three buds, and covered with earth, and after the ground 

 was frozen they were covered with three or four inches of stable 

 manure. 



The berries were cultivated and hoed the same as the grapes, and 

 after the leaves had fallen they were mulched with old prairie hay. 

 I received a Crimson Rambler rose and a Sweet Brier for trial, both 

 of which lived and made a fair growth. There were transplanted at 

 this station, ornamental trees and shrubs as follows: Russian Olives, 

 White Birch, Red Wild Cherry, Hackberry, Red Elm, Hop tree, Siberian 

 Pea tree, five varieties of Lilacs, Snowball, three kinds of Spireas, and 

 one Syringa. One each of the following were lost because of being 

 planted on too low ground: Siberian Pea tree. Hop tree and Wild 

 Red Cherry. There was planted also a row of Thurlow Willow cuttings. 

 One of the trees which grew from these cuttings was measured about 

 the last of September. It measured 9 feet and 6 inches in height and 

 8 feet and 6 inches in spread of limb. It would require but a very 

 short time to make a good wind break of this tree. 



Bearing Trees. 



This has been an off year for fruit of all kinds with us; but as a 

 result of the use of ashes for fertilizer and thinning, the fruit in 1904, 

 the Ben Davis, Maiden Blush and Roman Stems were loaded with fine 

 fruit. Experiments in thinning fruit has proved that it pays well to 

 take off a part of that which forms where it is too thick, as what re- 

 mains will be larger and better colored and besides the fruit buds have 

 a better opportunity to develop. 



Varieties. 



The Ben Davis has yielded the largest crop of apples this year of 

 any kind we have in bearing. The Maiden Blush trees have borne good 



