CENTRAL TRIAL STATION. 45 



Five hundred Russian cherry seedlings have been raised and 

 so have 600 seedlings of the Japanese lilac, which is a very beauti- 

 ful tree lilac having large snowy panicles, which are in bloom 

 about the 20th of June. It is perfectly hardy here, and the seed 

 which we have sown is of our own raising. 



Ginseng — The inquiries in regard to this plant have been quite 

 numerous in the past year. It should be more generally known 

 that the plant grows very slowly and that thus far few if any have 

 made any money in cultivating the plant for its root in a commer- 

 cial way. But the money which has been made in it has come from 

 the sales of the seed and the one-year-old roots, many of which 

 have been bought by amateurs and others interested in the sub- 

 ject of growing this plant. We began experimenting with this 

 about ten years ago, with roots bought from the indians in Otter 

 Tail county. These plants made a fair growth, but were killed out 

 'in the drouth of 1894. Last spring we planted 200 two-year-old 

 roots grown from North Carolina seed, but they have made only 

 a very small growth the past season. We have just bought a small 

 quantity of Japanese ginseng seed. This plant is said to be fully 

 as good as the American and nearly as salable. Later on we hope 

 to be able to report on it. 



EUREKA TRIAL STATION. 



C W. SAMPSON, SUPT. 



Grapes and all small fruits came through the past winter in fine 

 shape. Grape vines have pretty much recovered from the root- 

 killing of two years ago and bid fair to yield a large crop the com- 

 ing year. Campbell's Early fruited this season and is all that has 

 been claimed for it. In growth and foliage it is as vigorous and 

 healthy as the Concord, ripening earlier, with Moore's Early. Its 

 bunch is large and shouldered; berries large and black with a beau- 

 tiful bloom; flavor rich, without foxiness; flesh a little meaty, sweet 

 to the center, with small seed, parting freely from the pulp; skin 

 thin but tenacious; hangs to the vine without dropping its ber- 

 ries and remaining in sound condition until severe frosts strip its 

 foliage. It is really an improved Concord. 



The McPike grape is also another very promising new variety, 

 but has not fruited with me yet. I hope to report on the fruit an- 

 other year. The vine is very vigorous with healthy foliage and 

 a strong grower. 



The Dracut Amber is a very promising variety for general cul- 

 tivation in the garden. Vine very vigorous, healthy and hardy; 



