454 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Honey Anchusa, determined by Prof. B. O. Longrj-ear as Anchusa Italica. An 

 ornamental plant said to be valuable as a honey plant. For attracting bees and 

 kindred insects it has few equals, the delicate colored blossoms resembling 

 Forget-me-nots, being borne in profusion on the many stout branches. The 

 plants reached a height of 2S inches, blossomed until late in October and were 

 not entirely killed by the killing frost of October 24. 



SMALL FRUITS AND ORCHARD. 



Under more adverse conditions, the behavior of strawberries was fully as 

 satisfactory as during previous seasons, for while some varieties yielded less, 

 others yielded more. 



Among the gooseberries. Houghton, Downing, Pearl and Red Jacket, in the 

 order named are the most profitable varieties, for while the other varieties on 

 trial appear to be fully as hardy, they have not been as able to resist the attacks 

 of mildew nor seem to derive any benefit from spraying with potassium sulphide. 

 Perhaps the extreme wet condition of the soil induces the periodical spread of 

 this disease, and other varieties may prove to be valuable when with more 

 land cleared, the bushes can be grown upon higher ground. 



The raspberries continue to bear a small crop. The bushes each season give 

 promise of large yields until the first fruit begins to ripen, but the canes dry up 

 before the picking season is over, and in this respect no perceptible difference 

 could be noted between this, a wet season, and the previous dryer season, nor 

 could any disease or insects be observed upon the canes during either season. 

 Eldorado, of the blackberries behaved in a similar fashion, while Erie, as 

 during the previous season, continued to blossom until late August setting little 

 fruit. 



Although first in blossoming ^nd being regularly damaged by frost when the 

 berries are one-half to two-thirds full grown, the red currants, especially the 

 North Star, bear a fair crop. Currant worms during the past season appeared 

 in amazingly large numbers and were not entirely subdued after four sprayings 

 with hellebore. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Observations taken in 1902 were continued during May and June, 1903, when 

 the strawberry plants were in blossom, the object being to ascertain more fully, 

 first, whether blossoms are immune against not only severe frosts, but even 

 such as are commonly termed as killing frosts, i. e., 26 degrees; second, whether 

 such immunity, if existing, is due to heat previously stored up in the soil and 

 liberated during frosty nights. 



For this purpose, two self-registering minimum thermometers were fastened 

 upon a post which had been erected in the center of the strawberry plots, the 

 plots being located upon ground approximately 45 feet lower than that upon 

 which is erected the instrument shelter containing the thermometers for taking 

 the daily weather observations. One of these two thermometers was fastened 

 upon the post four and one-half feet above ground, the other six inches above 

 ground. Observations were first taken May 29 when all varieties were either 

 in blossom or with the fruit buds well developed. Several blossoms were marked 

 by loosely tying a short piece of white twine below the calyx and a few buds 

 nearly ready to open were marked in a similar way, small stakes being driven 

 in the ground alongside of all thus marked. As will be seen below, the frosts 

 were not only as heavy as in 1902, but they were more numerous, and coming 

 later, Avere calculated to be more damaging. While this greater damage is made 

 manifest by the reduced yield of some varieties, the fact that the total yield of 

 all varieties was equal to that of the preceding season, would warrant the con- 

 clusion that the strawberry, though more cosmopolitan than any other fruit, is 

 better adapted for northern than for southern latitudes, since highly profitable 

 crops can be raised in spite of frosts which not only are termed as killing frosts 

 but which in southern latitudes would unquestionably destroy most vegetation. 

 This conclusion would seem further warranted by the fact that the early varieties 

 give the best yields, while the lower yields are obtained from most of the 

 varieties least subject to frosts but ripening their fruit during the warmest 

 portion of the season. The following is a record of the temperatures: 



