258 



MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



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The past winter was very 

 favorable to nursery stock in 

 this locality, consequently all 

 apple trees at the Owatonna 

 Experiment Station came 

 through without injury and 

 bloomed profusely. The early 

 blossoming varieties have set 

 what will make a full crop, but 

 the late ones happened to be in 

 full bloom when frost struck 

 them on the morning of May 

 25th, and consequently they 

 will bear but little fruit. 



At the present writing, blight 

 seems to be quite prevalent 

 among such varieties as Weal- 

 thy, Okabena and Ditus Day, 

 while the Duchess and Hiber- 

 nal are affected in places, and 

 the Patten's Greening is en- 

 tirely free from it. 



When appointed superin- 

 tendent there were about 1,500 

 seedlings growing at the Owa- 

 tonna Station, but I have been 

 cutting out the ones showing 

 little or no promise until now 

 we have but few over 700, and 

 the majority of these are very 

 hardy, thrifty and free from 

 blight. 



Within the last eight weeks, 

 we have sprayed those trees 

 three different times and hope 

 to be able to gather some good 

 fruit at the end of the season. 

 I intend to break up and tile- 

 drain that portion of the sta- 

 tion that is now too wet for or- 

 chard purposes at my own ex- 

 pense this season. This land 

 will be fitted up and planted to 

 experimental stock the coming 

 year. 



June 12, 1905. 



