58 STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



To the Director: 



Sir — Although the early part of the season of 1893 was quite favorable 

 for the development of garden crops, the severe drought which lasted 

 from the early part of July until the last of August, cut short many that 

 matured late in the season. As might be expected, the wet weather of 

 early spring was quite favorable to the development of fungi, but, as it 

 became dryer, the injury was noticeably decreased. 



The results obtained from the experiments of 1892 were compiled and 

 sent out in bulletins. From the fact that much of the time of my assist- 

 ants and myself was taken up with closing up the fall work, and during 

 several weeks in the winter, in attending farmer's institutes in different 

 parts of the State, the preparation and disti'ibution of the bulletins was 

 considerably delayed. In spite of this, however, the bulletins were in the 

 hands of the farmers in season for their use the following year. Were 

 outside duties not allowed to interfere, the results of nearly all of our 

 experimental work could be compiled and in the printer's hands by the 

 first of January. The farmers would then receive the bulletins at a time 

 when they have ample leisure to examine them. 



The following bulletins were issued: No. 88, Fruit Report, South 

 Haven, December, 1892; No. 90, Vegetable Tests, February, 1893; No. 92, 

 Small Fruit Notes; Spraying, August; 1893; No. 100, Eighty New Straw- 

 berries, August, 1893. We also have nearly if not quite ready for the 

 printer,, the following: Peach and Plum Culture in Michigan; A Year 

 Among Fruits (South Haven); Michigan Fruit Notes; Strawberries and 

 Raspberries; The Potato and Potato Scab; Notes on New Vegetables. 



VAKIETY TESTS OF FRUITS. 



In most respects the strawberry crop would be pronounced a success, as 

 the fruit was large and perfect. Many of the varieties were considerably 

 troubled by leaf rust, and on such sorts the fruits dried up before ripening. 

 In addition to one hundred and fifty old kinds, we fruited eighty new 

 sorts for the first time in 1893, and as soon as possible after the crop was 

 liarvested, our notes and conclusions were written up and published in 

 bulletin No. 100. 



Up to the first of July, the raspberry and blackberry crop promised well, 

 but it was cut short by the drouth. The old cherry trees bore a full crop, 

 and a few of the young ones gave a sufficient number of fruits to indicate 

 the value of the variety, so far as the characteristics of the fruit are con- 

 cerned. The results with plums and peaches were quite similar to those 

 with cherries. The pears gave a small crop, but the apple trees were so 

 weakened by the unfavorable conditions of the previous year, that the 

 crop was very light. Many of the trees of all kinds in the young orchards 

 give promise of a good crop in 1894. 



INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



From the fact that the frequent rains during the early part of the season 

 rendered the application of remedies, at the proijer time, quite difficult. 



