144 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



FEUIT KEPOET. 



BY T. T. LYON. 

 Bulletin No. 88, December, 1892. 



To Prof. L. R. Taft, HorticuUurist : 



Sir— I herewith submit my report of operations, under your direction, 

 at the South Haven Fruit Testing Sub-station for the year 1892: 



The winter of 1891 and 1892 proved a comparatively mild one. Hence, 

 although somewhat enfeebled by the protracted drouth of the previous 

 autumn, trees and plants generally came through in apparently fair con- 

 dition. A season of almost continuous rain commenced during the last 

 days of March, which continued till growth was well under way, keeping 

 the soil thoroughly saturated with water, seriously injuring, and in many 

 cases utterly ruining trees and plants, especially strawberries and other 

 small fruits. 



The very general scarcity of the larger fruits during the grape season, 

 had doubtless increased the tendency to the pilfering of this fruit while 

 ripening. This linally became so serious that a watchman was employed 

 for a few nights, with the apparent effect of somewhat checking 

 depredations. 



The bloom of most classes of fruit trees was unusually profuse, giving 

 promise of a bountiful crop, especially of small fruits, peaches, plums, and 

 cherries; but, apparently from the prevalence of cold, wet weather during 

 the blooming season, the germs largely failed to develop and thus fulfil 

 the early promise. 



The purpose had been to give the trees and plants a thorough spray of 

 copper carbonate prior to the growing season, but the material was received 

 so late that only the plums, quinces, and a portion of the grapes were 

 reached prior to the advent of the rainy season, which arrested the appli- 

 cation, leaving no opportunity for a renewal till growth had become too 

 far advanced for the purpose, though later sprayings were given with 

 Bordeaux mixture. 



Circumstances indicate that much benefit might have resulted from a. 

 general application of the spray of copper carbonate, and I deem it highly 

 desirable that another spring the application be made general. 



The result of the partial, and in many cases the entire failure of the 

 crop of fruit, has been to render it impracticable to deduce trustworthy 

 comparisons as to relative productiveness, hence these are generally 

 omitted. 



Considering the several classes of fruits as nearly as practicable in the 

 order of their maturity, we come first to the 



STRAWBERRY— Fmg^aria. 



The column headed " Productiveness " in the following table, is copied 

 from that headed " Matted Rows " in the report of last year: 



