Report of Chambers Experiment Station. 163 



crops every year since they came into bearing, but last year they 

 blighted some. In fact, this was the case with all the bearing trees. 

 The Roman Stem were loaded with fine apples as usual. The prettiest 

 tree I have Is an Iowa Blush. It is just coming into bearing at seven 

 years of age. This variety seems to be slower in coming into bearing 

 than some others, but when it gets to be of some age, it is a good tree. 



Cherries. 



Of the eight varieties of sour cherries that we are testing, the most 

 satisfactory are the following, in the order in which they are named: 

 Early Richmond, Montmorency, English Morello, Wragg and Ostheim. 

 The Terry has failed to meet my expectations. The only sweet cherries 

 we have (the Yellow Glass and the Vilne Sweet) are a failure. 



plums. 



The Wolf Plum holds its own at the head of the list of plums. All 

 other kinds were a total failure last year on account of a late freeze; 

 although there are several of the Americannas which do well here. 

 The hardiest of the European and Japanese varieties seem to be hardy 

 in tree, but rather tender in fruit bud. 



Pears. 



We are doing but little with pears at this station. We have some 

 cross-fertilized trees which have not yet come into bearing, being only 

 three years old. The trees are doing well, making a good growth, and 

 showing no signs of blight. 



Experiment With Fertilizers. 



We have been experimenting with wood ashes, alone and in combi- 

 nation with different kinds of barnyard manure for several years. 

 These experiments have been on bearing apple, cherry and plum trees. 

 My time will not allow of a full report of this work, but briefly stated, 

 I find, that for apples on light, sandy soil, a mixture of ashes and 

 horse manure, half and half, or one part of sheep manure to two parts 

 of ashes, gives good results. For plums on rich land (and this is the 

 only kind of land suitable for this fruit) the same treatment given to 

 apples will succeed quite well. For cherries, more ashes and less 

 manure is required. In fact one bushel of wood ashes to the tree, well 



