202 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that our present acreage is insufficient for testing out all of these young 

 trees. 



A recent visit of Mr. L. C. Corbett and Mr. L. B. Scott of the Office of 

 Pomology, at Washington, to inspect the work that has been done and the 

 material at hand, impressed them so favorably that they are very anxious to 

 have the work extended and desire to help financiallj^ in such an extension of 

 this work as is possible. 



There is a very pressing demand at the present time for work upon some 

 of the problems in the growing of small fruits for the southwestern section of 

 the State. Local growers around South Haven are very anxious for us to 

 undertake this work and we have reason to believe that the fruit growers in 

 the vicinity of this Station would be glad to furnish the land free of charge for 

 this work. A recent inspection trip by the wTiter in company with Mr. L. 

 B. Scott, special investigator in nursery stock propagation, impressed him with 

 the adaptability of the climatic and soil conditions in the vicinity of South 

 Haven for the production of fruit tree stocks. Inasmuch as we already have 

 a station there he is anxious to obtain an acreage for this work in this vicinity, 

 carrying on the work cooperatively as we have previouslj^ been doing with 

 the fruit breeding work. It is the hope of the wiiter that such a cooperative 

 contract may be entered into by this station to develop this work. 



At present there exists at the station grounds one of the largest and best 

 collections of species of peach trees that can be found in this country as a 

 foundation for future breeding work; also one of the best collections of pears, 

 including some very desirable fire-blight resistant stock from China which 

 the government collected a few years ago and has since ascertained its value 

 as blight resistant stock. 



During the past year we have been successful in inducing the city officials 

 to take care of the drainage that formerly flowed on to a section of this pro- 

 perty, keeping a large area in a very wet and unsuitable condition for the grow- 

 ing of fruit trees. Trees upon this block since the drainage matter has been 

 controlled have been making an excellent new growth. 



Mr. Stanley Johnston, superintendent of the station grounds, has been 

 giving much of his time to other experimental work being carried on by 

 this office throughout the fruit belt, especially along the lines of spraying 

 and dusting, by assisting Mr. Button. During the winter months he took 

 charge of the short course teaching work in horticulture. It is a pleasure to 

 express our appreciation of the services Mr. Johnston has rendered the past 

 year. 



Respectfully submitted, 



C. P. HALLIGAN, 



Horticulturist. 

 East Lansing, Michigan, June 30, 192L 



