Xrial Cftatior^s 



MIDSUMMER REPORTS, 1907. 



CENTRAL TRIAL STATION. 



PROF. SAML. B. GREEN^ SUPT.^ ST. ANTHONY PARK. 



The very backward and in some other ways unfavorable springy 

 has apparently not interfered with the outlook for a good crop of 

 fruit. At this station the season is fully three weeks behind the 

 ordinary, but since the plants have come into flower the conditions 

 have been quite favorable for securing good pollination. Apples^ 

 plums, strawberries and raspberries have flowered profusely. It is 

 too early yet to determine how much of the crop will set. 



The trees, shrubs and other herbaceous plants on the campus 

 also came through the winter in much better condition than a year 

 ago and with very little loss of even the more tender kinds. For 

 some reason or other our blackberries, although covered with earth, 

 were severely injured, so much so that I thought it best to cut them 

 off at the surface of the ground. They have sprouted well and are 

 now making a very rapid growth. Japan plums, I learn, are badly 

 injured throughout the northern states. 



The work with seedling fruits which was somewhat enlarged a 

 year ago is continuing along in a satisfactory way, and we shall; 

 need the new fruit farm to take care of our seedlings this autumn. 

 There is no doubt but what the University Regents will have pur- 

 chased it by that time. It is the opinion of the executive committee 

 of the Horticultural Society that this farm should be located in some 

 good fruit section where we can grow the best Varieties in order 

 that we may have them near by to cross with the inferior but har- 

 dier kinds. It is especially desirable that we try to secure crosses 

 between the Japanese plums and other improved species with our 

 hardier but not so much improved native sorts. This would seem 

 to be a specially promising field of labor. 



Work with apples and other fruits should also receive special at- 

 tention in order that we may get varieties that are hardier than 

 any we now possess. Seedling work in this line which was under- 

 taken last year now covers several acres of land, and/ yet much of 

 the stock is in close rows where the final trial cannot be made. The 

 5,000 seedling Malinda apples, which are probably a cross between 

 that variety and the Duchess, have been planted out and are doing 



