CENTRAL TRIAL STATION, ANNUAL REPORT, I906. 83 



netting is for protection against mice, which otherwise might be 

 troublesome when the trees are mulched. 



In the same orchard and between the trees, about 5,000 plum 

 seedlings have been planted. In addition to this about 4,000 plum 

 seedlings were grown from seed saved in 1905. These were all 

 from selected varieties. 



In connection with this subject of plums, mention should be 

 made of the work done at Mr. Nils Anderson's place, near Lake 

 City. We found here that he had a good collection of native plums 

 and several varieties of Japanese plums that were growing near 

 together, and which were undoubtedly crossed in the bloom, as 

 they were in flower at the same time. A considerable amount of 

 hand-crossing was here done, and in addition to the seed from 

 these all the plum pits grown on Mr. Anderson's place were saved 

 for our use. They are now stratified and will be planted the com- 

 ing spring. In all about twelve bushels of plums were obtained 

 from this place, and they consisted of the following varieties : 



Abundance, Burbank, De Soto, Wolf, Weaver, Swedish Dam- 

 son, Shipper's Pride, Grencon Plum. 



The following crosses were made by hand: 



Abundance x De Soto. Burbank x Wolf. 



Abundance x Wolf. Shippers' Pride x De Soto. 



Burbank x De Soto. Shippers' Pride x Wolf. 



The buds were opened and emasculated one day and pollinated 

 the next. In most cases the flowers after being emasculated were 

 bagged with cloth or paper bags until the fruit had set. Then they 

 were removed, but the tags were left on the branch for identifica- 

 tion 



Seedling Ot-chard at Minnesota State Experiment Station. 



On one tree of Abundance most of the flowers were pollinated 

 with Wolf and De Soto pollen, but not bagged nor marked. 



When the plums were ripe they were gathered, marked and 

 shipped to the Experiment Station. Here the pits were removed 

 and stratified. 



