48 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



attractive packing of fruit for market is emphasized. Thinning fruit 

 to produce a better quality is strongly recommended. Analyses are 

 given which show that a bushel of small apples removes more plant 

 food from the soil than a bushel of large ones. 



The minimum, maximum, and average yield of apples, the expense of 

 production, and gross and net returns from crops per acre in 1893 and 

 1894 are given for the three sections of the State. The average net 

 value of the apple crop for the two years, without considering the 

 expense of shipment and selling, was from $40 to $50 per acre. As an 

 example of possible results from good methods of management may be 

 cited a single orchard of 30 acres which gave a net return of $97.50 

 per acre. 



The bulletin concludes with a number of practical suggestions as to 

 methods of management. 



Fruit culture in South Dakota, N. E. Hansen South Dakota Sta. 

 Bui. 50, pp. 40). — This is a popular bulletin intended to serve as a guide 

 to planters in the State. Descriptions of the varieties of apples rec- 

 ommended by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society are given, 

 together with remarks on their hardiness in South Dakota. Notes are 

 given on the behavior of several varieties which fruited at the station 

 in 1890. The relative merits of budding, whole-root grafting, and piece- 

 root grafting are discussed, the latter being recommended. A general 

 discussion is also given of soil, location, and exposure of orchards, age 

 and size of trees for planting, time and met hods of planting, cultiva- 

 tion, pruning, injuries from mice, rabbits, borers, and climbing cut- 

 worms, with remedies for each, etc. 



Under the head of plums, remarks are made on the improvement of 

 the wild plums and on the varieties which have originated from them. 

 The relative merits of different stocks for budding plums are discussed, 

 the only one considered reliable by the author being Prunm amerieana. 

 Location and soil for orchards, and pinning and care of trees are con- 

 sidered. Brief notes are given on several varieties of plums which 

 fruited at the station in 1890. 



Remarks are made on the possibilities of cherry culture in the State. 

 Notes are given on the varieties and culture of grapes, currants, goose- 

 berries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. The improvement 

 of native fruits is briefly considered. 



The bulletin also contains reports from a number of fruit growers in 

 different parts of the State. In these reports, made in response to 

 inquiries sent out by the stations, the several growers give their expe- 

 rience with fruit culture in the State. 



Thinning fruits, S. T. Maynard, J. H. PUTNAM, and S. W. 

 Fletciiek (Massachusetts Hatch Sta. Bul.44,pp. 24-26). — Two Graven- 

 stein apple trees of uniform vigor and productiveness and two uniform 

 Tetofsky apple trees were selected and the fruit of one tree of each 

 variety was thinned July 1, the other trees being left unthinned as 



