190 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



berries, but the fruit is of medium size, irregular, round in shape; has a dull, dark 

 red color, and a flavor that is astringent and undesirable. 



It has no value as a blackberry and should not be planted near desirable sorts 

 as the effect of cross pollenization is very marked. 



CHERRIES. 



The trees blossomed very full, but the late frosts nearly ruined the crop. The 

 sweet cherries were all killed, but of the Morello sorts Early Richmond, Louis 

 Phillipe, Montmorency and Wragg matured a small amount of fruit. 



Early Richmond — A standard early variety; is very hardy and productive. 



Montmorency — A large, red cherry; is excellent for canning purposes. The 

 trees are compact strong growers and with good care bear annual crops. 



Wragg — A dark red Russian variety; is very productive and has a dark juice, 

 that unless thoroughly ripened is decidedly acid. The fruit is very attractive and 

 hangs on the trees a long time. 



COVER CROP EXPERIMENT. 



In 1902 a cover crop experiment was begun at the College, to test the relative 

 value of several varieties of cow peas, sand vetch, velvet beans, Canada peas, 

 crimson, mammoth and the June clovers, oats, rye, buckwheat, rape and flat 

 turnips. 



The orchard which was selected for the test contained apple trees which range 

 from ten to fourteen years old. The land was thoroughly cultivated during the 

 first part of the season, keeping it clean and covered with a dust mulch. On 

 August 4th, it was laid off in plots of one-quarter acre and sown to the crops men- 

 tioned above. The cow peas were sown broadcast on one section and in drills 

 on another. The other crops were all sown broadcast, the amount of seed used 

 ranging from four to sixteen quarts of the coarser seed, while two quarts of the 

 clover seed, one-half pound of the flat turnip and one pound of rape were used. 



The plots were divided and one-half of each was sown with oats to test their 

 value as a nurse crop. The seeds all made a good stirt, but the s9ason was cold 

 and wet, and the cow peas and velvet beans made but a short growth and were 

 killed by the first frost. They should be sown in .June and require a warm season. 

 The sand vetch made a rapid growth and, at the time that winter set in, the ground 

 was nicely covered. 



There was very little difference in the growth of the clovers. The rape and 

 flat turnips covered the ground quite nicely when winter came. Barley was used 

 with the Canada peas as a nurse crop and was of as much value or greater value 

 than the oats. The sand vetch started early and made a rank growth. At the 

 time of plowing, about the first of May, many of the vines were 5 feet in length 

 and formed such a matted mass that it was impossible to plow it until it had been 

 thoroughly worked and cut up with a disc harrow. It furnished a large amount of 

 vegetable matter to be worked into the soil, but in a dry season it might seriously 

 affect the growth of the trees by robbing them of food and water. However, if 

 judiciously used, it is of considerable value as a cover crop. The rape and flat 

 turnips started in the spring and developed a vigorous growth of seed stalks, but, 

 although they were of some value in holding the snow and furnished some humus, 

 they are of doubtful value as cover crops. 



The clovers started early in the spring and, as soon as the crimson clover was 

 in blossom, were plowed under. There was very little difference in the growth of 

 the two, although the Crimson clover matured earlier than the Mammoth. 



Wherever the oats and barley were sown, the difference in the amount of mois- 

 ture in the soil was noticeable during a large part of the season, and at the time 

 of plowing, the soil was much more friable and worked better. They both made 

 a rank growth and, freezing down during the winter, formed a mulch that was of 



