EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 301 



REPORT OF THE SOUTH HAVEN SUB-STATION, 1906, 



Special Bulletin No/38. 



Prof. L. R. Taft, Horticulturist: 



Sir: — The following report upon the work of the South Haven Sub- 

 Station for the year 1906 is herewith submitted : 



Several changes have been made in the orchards during the year. The 

 grape vineyard east of the residence was removed and a considerable 

 number of the older apple trees that have been tested for sixteen to 

 eighteen years were taken out. The original planting of all trees was, 

 at one rod square with the idea of utilizing the ground to the best 

 advantage. In most cases two trees of a variety were planted so as-' 

 to secure a fairly accurate test of each kind. From the very beginning 

 the plan has been to remove one tree of each sort as soon as they com- 

 menced to crowd seriously. This has now been done in the case of nearly 

 all of the apple trees along the north side of the grounds. In the 

 southeast block the growth of the trees has been somewhat checked by 

 heading back the leading shoots every year or two so that, although 

 the trees are fifteen years old, they have not grown together. Many 

 of the trees have borne five or six good crops and as there are 160 trees 

 to the acre, while there would have been only thirty or forty trees if 

 planted at the usual distance, it can be seen that the close planting of 

 an orchard has its advantages. It will not be desirable to allow the 

 trees to grow for many years more at this distance. One-half of the 

 trees should soon be removed and they can then be left for several 

 years when one-half of the remaining trees should be taken out. 



While it has always been the policy to encourage the visits of fruit 

 growers, for a number of years the work at the station has been con- 

 siderably interfered with by throngs of resorters, most of whose visits 

 were prompted by curiosity and to lessen the evil two visiting days 

 each week were set aside for the general public. Persons desiring 

 information or who are interested in fruit growing are always welcomed. 



Although the season itself has been fairly favorable for the orchards 

 and fruit plantations, the peaches, raspberries and other tender fruits 

 were quite seriously injured owing to the mild winter which caused 

 many of the buds to start prematurely, with the result that they were 

 affected by the cold which followed. During the summer a somewhat 

 extended drouth prevailed and this tended to make much of the fruit 

 undersized. The freeze of October 10 has also done considerable harm 

 to the trees, especially the peaches and Japanese plums planted last 

 spring. The older trees also appear to be severely injured and it may 

 be found necessary to remove a considerable number of the kinds men- 

 tioned. The apples trees appear to be free from injury and the cherries, 

 pears and European plums have not suffered to any marked extent. 



