EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 89 



straightened up the plants would stretch to a height of four or five feet. 

 The principal difficulty found with it is that the growth is so strong that 

 it is difficult to turn it under with a plow. It can be done by using a 

 sharp rolling coulter or by first chipping it up by the disc or cutaway 

 harrow. Not only does this crop supply a large amount of humus but, 

 judging from the tubercles upon its roots, it is evident that it must take 

 a large amount of nitrogen from the air. 



For a number of years we have tested the effect of oats when used as a 

 sort of nurse crop and last fall oats were sown at the rate of three pecks 

 to the acre across one-half of each of the above plots. In previous years 

 the results have not been very satisfactory, as the crops tested have 

 generally given better results when used alone than when sown in com- 

 bination with oats. This year the quantity of oats sown was reduced 

 one-half. It is to this, as well as to the fact that the season was com- 

 paratively favorable for most of the crops, that the difference can be 

 attributed. This year the clover and other crops sown with the oats gave 

 fully as good and generally a better stand than when sown by themselves. 



The comparative spraying operations have also been continued. Last 

 fall the results secured were very satisfactory. Where apple orchards 

 had been given three applications of Bordeaux mixture with arsenic or 

 Paris green, very little scab and almost no apple worms were found. In 

 a number of cases the trees had b.een greatly injured by the canker worms 

 but after two thorough sprayings they disappeared and no trace of their 

 work could be found upon the trees. 



Cooperative fertilizer experiments were also undertaken, but little or 

 no result was obtained either in the growth of trees or the character of 

 the fruit. The applications were made both upon sod and cultivated 

 orchards. The stable manure produced a noticeable . effect upon the 

 growth of the grass and a similar but less marked effect was noticed 

 where commerical fertilizers were used. 



During the spring a collection containing ten varieties of apple trees 

 and ten of the newer sorts of potatoes were sent for trial to some twenty- 

 five counties and placed in the handp of the secretaries of the county 

 institute societies to be tested and the results to be reported at the insti- 

 tutes. 



This work was commenced some fifteen years ago and many of the 

 trees are now in bearing. The larger portion of the first lot of trees sent 

 out were peaches and most of these were destroyed in the severe winter 

 of five years ago. A large number of varieties of Russian apples were 

 sent out between 1899 and 1895. They were distributed for the most 

 part in the northern part of the State and have proved quite hardy -and 

 many of them are very desirable varieties for that section. 



STATION ORCHARDS. 



A considerable number of the young apple trees of the Station orchards 

 bore for the first time this year. While it will require further trial to 

 determine their value as commercial sorts, many of them seem quite 

 promising, especially for home use. The cherry and pear orchards have 

 also reached a bearing age but, while a number of kinds are fairly promis- 

 ing, there are very few that will be likely to supercede the standard sorts. 

 A large number of the Japan plum trees have also borne. Eed June and 

 Wickson together with the older Burbank and Abundant are worthy of 

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