EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS 65 



CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS. 



As in previous years, arrangements have been made with parties in 

 various portions of the State who will carry on work in testing different 

 varieties of small fruits and potatoes. The number of persons to whom 

 plants and seeds can be supplied is comparatively small, as arrangements 

 for this work can be made with but one person in each county. 



LITTLE PEACH. 



As has been noted in previous reports, a disease to which the above 

 name has been given is doing much harm in portions of Allegan and Van 

 Buren counties. While the exact nature of the disease has not been ascer- 

 tained, it is evidently quite distinct from any of the common diseases of 

 the peach. In order to ascertain what could be done to lessen or prevent 

 injury from the disease, a number of experiments were undertaken in 

 three orchards near Douglas, Michigan. The treatment consisted in head- 

 ing back the trees in various degrees and in the use of a number of 

 fertilizers. In carrying on this work we were greatly aided by C. B. 

 Welch and H. Gr. Welch and by the owners of the orchards — Messrs. 

 Purdy, Howland, and Phillips. 



ASSISTANTS. 



During the year there has been no change in the assistants in this de- 

 partment and Messrs. H. P. Gladden and M. L. Dean have carried on the 

 work in lines similar to those reported last year. At the close of the 

 season's work in 1898 they prepared the bulletins giving the results of 

 their experiments. 



BULLETINS. 



During the last six months the results obtained from the field experi- 

 ments conducted during the season of 1898 were published as bulletins. 

 No. 168 was entitled "Michigan Fruit List," but in addition to giving a 

 list of more desirable fruits it devoted considerable attention to the plant- 

 ing and care of the trees. Bulletin 169 contained the report of the South 

 Haven Sub-station for 1898, while Nos. 170 and 171 treated respectively 

 of the Tests of Small Fruits and of Vegetables improved during the past 

 year. 



L. R. TAFT, 

 Horticulturist. 

 Agricultural College, Mich., 

 June 30, 1899. 



REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



Professor C. D. Smith, Director of the Experiment Station: 



Sir — I herewith place in your hands the report of the work of the 

 Chemical Department of the Experiment Station for the College year 

 from June 30, 1898, to June 30, 1899. 

 9 



