HORTICULTURAL BULLETINS 



OF THE 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION OF MICHIGAN. 



FRUITS AT SOUTH HAVEN. 



Balletin No. 129, February, 1896. 



BY T. T. LYON. 



In submitting ttiis, my annual report of operations at the South Haven sub- 

 experiment station, during the year 1895, I take occasion to state that this and the 

 previous season have proved exceptional, from the prevalence of a severe drouth 

 during the summer of 1894, followed by inadequate rainfall during the autumn; 

 while that of the spring of 1895 was also comparatively slight. With the advent 

 of growing weather, on May 6 and 7, copious showers occurred, with more or less 

 rain during the next ten days. From that date forward only very rare sprinlsles 

 or slight showers occurred prior to September 11, while even this and subsequent 

 rainfalls have been scarcely adequate to the needs of vegetable growth. 



Under such conditions, resort has been had to the frequent stirring of the soil 

 by the free use of the cultivator. This has proved effective for the maintaining 

 of a very satisfactory growth upon trees and deep-rooting plants generally, except- 

 ing those recently planted, and such others as were carrying heavy crops of fruit. 

 In such cases, resort was had to watering, which was done by opening a trench 

 about the tree, to receive the water, and replacing the earth after the absorption 

 of the water. This proved to be a tedious and expensive process, since it was 

 necessary to haul the water from lalse Michigan, the village waterworks not being 

 within reach and the capacity inadequate. 



While yet dormant, the entire plantation was sprayed with a solution of two 

 pounds of copper sulphate in fifty gallons of water. On account of the early 

 starting of gooseberries and currants, they were sprayed March 18. April 1 to 10 

 the same was applied to raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, and tree 

 fruits generally. 



Subsequent sprayings will be noticed in connection with the several species 

 of fruit. 



So far as practicable, the "Rules of Pomology" of the American Pomologlcal 

 Society and the National Division of Pomology are applied in the correction and 

 simplifying of the names of fruits. Under these rules, in cases in which the sup- 



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