WEST CONCORD TRIAL STATION, ANNUAL RKPORT, I906. I05 



WEST CONCORD TRIAL STATION, ANNUAL REPORT, 



1906. 



FRED COWLES, SUPT. 



The past season has been very encouraging' in some ways and 

 in some ways has been disappointing. When the apple and plum 

 orchards were white with bloom, we had hopes of a full crop, but 

 the cold and damp, rainy weather relieved them of their crop, and 

 as a general rule it was a failure, although some old orchards bore 

 well. Our trees seem to be full of fruit buds for another year, and 

 we hope for a favorable season. 



Last spring we started out determined to thoroughlv test both 

 liquid and dust spraying. We gave the first spraying before the 

 leaves started. We sprayed for scab, using Gould's liquid sprayer 

 and Leggett's dust sprayer. When the next spraying should have 

 been done it rained until the trees were in full bloom, and again as 

 the blossoms fell there was more rain, and then it was neglected. 

 Ihit although not giving it a thorough test, we are satisfied that it 

 helped our orchard. W'e could see no difl:'ereiice in the liquid and 

 dust spray. 



Currants and gooseberries were a splendid crop, the Victoria 

 giving us the best yield. We like this variety of currant, as it is 

 nice sized, has a long bunch, hangs on the bushes well and is very 

 hardy. Downing gooseberry gave a bountiful crop of very large, 

 nice fruit. We keep the currant worm in check by using the dust 

 sprayer. Early in the season we use lime and Paris green ; after the 

 fruit is full grown, if worms appear, we use white hellebore. This 

 is used in the morning while the dew is on, and with the dust 

 sprayer it is very quickly and thoroughly applied. 



Plants and vines that we set have done well and made a re- 

 markable growth. We planted two acres of strawberries and never 

 had a better stand, and when covered this fall they were as healthy 

 as could be and not a break in the whole bed. W^e used the dust 

 spray, however — perhaps this was Avhat gave the foliage such a 

 healthy appearance. -• 



The strawberry crop the past season was not very satisfactory 

 only in the price, which was very good. Our standbys are War- 

 field, Sen. Dunlap, Lf)vett, Splendid and Enhance. This year we 

 are trying several new varieties. Wc have also tried the wonder- 

 ful "pedigree" plants, setting them side by side with our own, but 

 fail to see any material dififercnce, only that our plants show up the 

 best— the same varieties and same soil. We have set our plants 

 by the side of the "pedigree" plants at several places in the state 

 and fail to find am- difference whatever. But for a number of 



