OWATONNA TRIAL STATION. 1 35 



D. H. No. 13 shows great promise as a hardy tree, and the 

 fruit is a hardy keeper. For a winter apple the Banana is fast 

 approaching the front ranks. It is an excellent eating apple, and 

 the tree (now in the twelfth year) is very hardy and bears no 

 indication of blight. 



Another variety that bids fair to take a leading place on the 

 list of hardy varieties is the Phoenix No. 50. The fruit is about 

 the size of the Wealthy, green in color and will keep very well 

 to the middle of February. The tree does not blight. 



The Seed. M has furnished very satisfactory results as a 

 prolific bearer. The fruit is of a very fine flavor, yellow in color, 

 with a reddish tinge on the side exposed to the sun and keeps 

 tmtil January ist with ordinary care in picking. The tree shows 

 some evidence of blight. 



The Duchess Seed, is proving a hardy tree, inclined to spread, 

 a very satisfactory bearer and fast grower. The fruit is yellow, of 

 excellent flavor and keeps until Jan. ist. 



The Hotchkiss Seed, showed fruit for the first time this year. 

 The fruit is red in color, of good size and an excellent winter ap- 

 ple. The tree is a sturdy, upright grower, and you may expect 

 some good reports from this variety in the near future. 



Out of 1,500 seedling apples originated at the station, four 

 hundred have shown fruit. Of this number I would recommend 

 that fifty be given further trial. Out of the balance there are 

 about one hundred that have shown some promise, and they will* 

 be grafted this winter along with a number of each of the fifty 

 varieties already mentioned. 



Owing to my illness during the time the fruit was ripening, 1 

 was unable to look after some of the varieties that came into 

 bearing for the first time this summer, and thieves broke in and 

 stole them before their merits could be ascertained. I am con- 

 fident that we will be able to report favorably from many of these 

 next season, as they have been girdled and, therefore, will cer- 

 tainly produce fruit next year. 



The above report is made with the assistance of one of the 

 oldest employees of the station. 



Soft Snails in Gardens— The liberal use of air-slaked lime and un- 

 bleached wood ashes at the rate of two tons to the acre will lessen the injury 

 from snails. As a rule, they are the most troublesome where the ground is 

 wet, and thorough underdraining might also be of advantage. If the snails 

 appear after the crops are planted the sprinkling of air-slaked lime or wood 

 ashes over the plants will destroy the snails. The addition of Paris green at 

 the rate of one pound to 50 of ashes or lime, in case it can be used with safety 

 to the plants, wiU also be beneficial.— L.R. Taft, Michigan. 



