EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 457 



stems and one pound of hard soap being used for eight gallons of water. 



High winds maimed and destroyed a number of trees, the greatest damage 

 being done to all plum trees with a spreading or drooping habit of growth. As 

 this damage occurs more or less each season, there are now but very few unin- 

 jured trees left in the plum orchard, though none of the Shrop Damson or Moore's 

 Artie have been affected, owing to their compact habit and their shorter limb 

 growth. 



A very heavy yield of the cherry trees was reduced to a minimum by the frost 

 of June 12, at which date the fruit of all varieties had attained various stages 

 of development. None of the previous frosts proved damaging though the blos- 

 soming season began May 20. The English Morello was a noted exception, the 

 little trees remaining well loaded and ripening a fair crop. A single tree of 

 the Wragg variety was another exception and ripened a full crop possibly owing 

 to the fact that the buds having remained dormant, the tree was finally stimu- 

 lated into activity by an application of nitrate of soda, bone meal and wood 

 ashes, and the first blossoms did not open until June 10, the delay thus enabling 

 nearly all blossoms to escape all frosts. Another tree of the same variety acted 

 in a like manner, and being left untreated, dried up as soon as leafed out. One 

 of the Dyehouse cherry trees and one of the Hawkeye plum trees died in a 

 similar manner. Investigation showed these trees to be dead about two inches 

 above and two inches below the point where the scion was grafted Into the 

 root, while the body of the trees and the root system were healthy, the dead 

 portion being considerably larger in diameter than the body of the tree and 

 being abruptly tapered upwards, indicating that the root had been growing 

 faster than the tree, though these trees were uncommonly large for their age. 

 Two more varieties of cherries came into bearing: 



Lutovka. — A large, strong, upright growing tree with branches somewhat 

 spreading. Blossomed May 28, and fruit ripened August 2. The cherries are 

 light red, translucent, juicy, slightly acid and of good quality. Size medium to 

 large, oblate, somewhat heart-shaped with wide and deep cavity and stem 

 averaging one and one-fourth inches. 



Vladimir — A small but stout growing tree with round shape. Blossomed May 

 25, and ripened fruit July 25. Fruit medium size, round, very dark red. Flesh 

 dark red, melting, sub-acid, slightly astringent and of good quality. Cavity shal- 

 low with long slender stem, averaging one and one-half inches. 



The scarcity of fruit buds of these two varieties is apt to show that both may 

 prove to be shy bearers. The plum trees were damaged by frosts more than the 

 cherries, the latest varieties being in blossom May 30. The fruit which re- 

 mained on the trees of several varieties did not ripen thoroughly, remaining in 

 a partly ripe condition from early September until damaged by frost at the 

 end of October. 



The grape vines showed much improvement during the season, the new 

 growth of some canes exceeding seven feet. To protect the young shoots against 

 spring frosts small boxes were inverted over the plants during frosty nights and 

 this gave ample protection. One vine of the Moore's Early variety ripened 

 fruit, blossoming July 4, the bunches being small to medium size and the berries 

 remaining somewhat sour. 



One tree of the following varieties of apples came into bearing: 



Gideon, blossomed May 24. 



Haas, blossomed May 27. 



Yelloio Transparent, blossomed May 31. 



Borowinka, blossomed June 5. 



The apples were too few in numbers and the trees are too young to give an 

 accurate description of the varieties at this time. 



58 



