EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS 93 



lack, almost entirely, the bitter taste often found in Russian sorts. The 

 stems are oftentimes three inches long and are attached so firmly that 

 the fruits remain for a long time, upon the trees after they are ripe. 

 In season, it is one of the latest sorts, coming even after the English 

 Morello. 



Wragg has been found unusually productive this season, the branches 

 resembling ropes of fruit, so thickly were they clustered about them. The 

 trees, while young, made but slow growth and on this account did not 

 appear very promising. This trouble, perhaps, may have been due to 

 the stock upon which they were grown. Our oldest trees have taken 

 on a good form with a rounded head and rather stout branches, for the 

 Morello class. The fruit is not quite as large as Brusseler Braune and 

 the fruit stalks are shorter, but in size, color and flavor, it resembles it 

 very closely. This variety seems to be, both in tree and fruit, an im- 

 proved form of the English Morello. 



Vilne Sweet is, in growth, between the Heart and Duke classes and 

 seems to have the hardiness of the Duke with the size and flavor peculiar 

 to the Hearts. The tree is of upright habit with stout branches, and 

 seems to be hardier, both in tree and buds, than the ordinary sweet 

 varieties. 



Several of the Japan plums are now in fruit and many of the 

 varieties seem to be very promising as market sorts, as well as for home 

 use. Among the most promising are Abundance, Burbank and Red June, 

 while in sections where the peach will thrive, Satsuma and Wickson 

 have much promise. The latter, especially, is likely to be valuable on 

 account of its large size, good quality, and its habit of bearing early 

 and abundantly. Most of the other varieties seem to be hardy in tree, 

 but we have not yet fruited the new sorts like Hale, Juicy, Gold and Nor- 

 mand. The specimens of Gold received from the introducers. Stark 

 Brothers, of Louisiana, Missouri, resemble in their shape, fruit stalk, 

 etc., the native plums, but are of a much larger size. 



A large number of varieties were received last spring from the Divis- 

 ion of Pomology of the National Department of Agriculture, and were 

 planted in the orchard. Arrangements have also been made for testing 

 the comparative hardiness of the different races of peaches in accordance 

 with the scheme proposed by Prof. R. H. Price, of Texas, at the last 

 convention of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



The strawberries planted in 1896 were in a very promising condition 

 during the early part of the season, but, owing to the extreme heat 

 during the fruiting period, we were not able to secure as definite notes 

 regarding the exact date of the ripening of the different varieties as 

 we had hoped, as many kinds that are ordinarily classed as medium, 

 or late sorts, ripened with the early kinds. Among the more promising 

 of the new kinds might be mentioned Ruby, Glen Mary and Ideal. 



The same trouble was found in the raspberries, as Loudon, which 

 in 1896 ripened sixteen days later than Cuthbert, was ripe at the same 

 time this year. Ordinarily Loudon will probably be a valuable kind, 

 as the plants are hardy, very productive and the fruit is large, firm 

 and of a good quality. The only objection seems to be that the plants 



