394 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Pyrus sinensis. 



There are bat one or two varieties of this species on trial here, and these 

 have been included in the foregoing list, rather than tabulate them 

 separately. 



Zache possesses the long slender stem, the oblate form, and the firm, 

 coarse, granular flesh which usually characterize this species, and for that 

 reason is assumed to be of pure sinensis parentage. It will be desirable, 

 if at all, for culinary uses. Like certain others of the species, the very 

 large, rich, glossy foliage,, may even render it desirable as an ornamental 

 tree, 



Keiffer possesses peculiarities of both tree and fruit, which indicate a 

 probable hybridization, with sinensis as one of the parents. If valuable 

 at all in Michigan it is for strictly commercial purposes, upon quick, warm 

 soils and to catch the trade of those who are won by looks rather than 

 quality. Farther south, with longer seasons, it is improved in beauty, 

 size and perhaps even in quality. 



APPLES.— Pyrus. 



The pruning of apples was com nenced on March 29, and completed on 

 or about April 3. 



On June 2 apples (and pears also) were sprayed for scab and codling 

 moth, using Bordeaux of ordinary strength, with three ounces of Paris 

 green in each 40 gallons of the mixture. The spray with this mixture was 

 repeated on June 18 for the same purpose, and was again applied on July 

 6 to 8. s 



The green aphis has been but lightly troublesome upon the apple, 

 though a few were discovered, mostly upon small trees. These were effect- 

 ively treated with tobacco decoction on June 18. 



On September 25 Woolly Aphis, Schizoneura lanigera (Hausm), having 

 appeared upon a few twigs of apple, a decoction of tobacco stems was 

 applied, and this not proving fully effective they were again sprayed, this 

 time effectively, with kerosene emulsion. 



The three sprayings, though apparently effective against scab, appeared 

 to be less 60 as a preventive of codling moth, a large percentage of the 

 fruit betrayiDg the presence of the larvae — a result perhaps due to tardy 

 or inefficient spraying, or perchance to the adulteration of the poison used. 



No insect depredations have been observed, aside from those noted in 

 connection with spraying. 



There are at present two hundred and ninety-five varieties of apples on 

 trial upon the station grounds, of which nineteen are either crabs or sup- 

 posed hybrids and are tabulated separately. Of the remainder, one hun- 

 dred and thirty-five have bloomed or fruited during the current year, while 

 one hundred and forty-one have not yet shown bloom, and are not included 

 in the tabulation. 



In grading for quality, upon the scale 1 to 10, varieties are compared 

 with those of the same species only. 



