EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 390 



KEPORT OF THE SOUTH HAVEN PUB STATION FOR 1907. 



FKANK A. WILKEN. 



Special Bulletin No. 46. 



Prof. L. R. Taft, Horticulturist : 



The following report upon the work of the South Haven sub-station 

 for the year 1907, is herewith respectfully submitted: 



The past season was cold and backward, and with an unusual amount 

 of rain. Coming after the destructive freeze of October, 1906, it has 

 been an especially hard year to the horticultural interests in this fruit 

 belt, the frozen district. 



In both January and February the temperature got so high as to draw 

 the frost out of the ground. In March, also, we had a warm spell, 

 which threatened to bring what remaining peach buds there were into 

 blossom. In a few locations they did show color. Soon after, how- 

 ever, it turned cold and seemed to remain so throughout the season 

 except for a few hot days in August. During early spring we had a 

 comparatively small amount of rain, but from the latter part of May 

 on we had an unusual amount. 



Due to the cold weather the blossoms were three weeks behind their 

 usual time for appearing, and lasted through an unusually long time. 

 Many of the blossoms were frosted, especially those of the cherries 

 and early strawberries. 



The work at the station progressed very satisfactorily although much 

 of it was of a repairing nature. Large apple trees that were crowded, 

 especially in the north-west block, were taken out. ^lany trees of all 

 kinds were reset and numerous minor changes and repairs were made 

 on the grounds and buildings. 



Several co-operative experiments were started but it was hard to 

 get any of the fruit growers interested unless the experiments especially 

 concerned some problem on their place. Some tests started are to con- 

 tinue for several years. Other tests giving results this year will be 

 reported in another place. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



The freeze in May frosted nearly all of the blossoms on the early 

 varieties. Both of Ihe patches, the old and the new, also showed ser- 

 ious injury from the work of the white grub last year. The above con- 

 ditions caused the poor crop we had this year. Due to the wet season 

 the berries were somewhat soft and insipid. They failed to hold up 

 well when placed on the market. The difference of time of fruiting 

 between the early and late varieties was uot as great as in other 

 years. 



The old standard varieties such as the Senator Dunlap, Warfield, 

 Clyde, Bederwood, Uncle Jim or Dornan, Brandywine and Sample con- 

 tinued to bear well. The Bederwood was, as nsunl. the most productive 



