CENTRAL TRIAL STATION, ANNUAL REPORT. 43 



that there were few flowers that opened. Choke cherry No. 4, 

 which was sent out by Mr. Knudson, of Sleepy Eye, has pro- 

 duced large crops of fruit for a number of years. The fruit is of 

 large size, but seems to be of very little value either for cooking 

 purposes or for eating out of hand. However, it might be de- 

 sirable for especially severe locations, as it is perfectly hardy. 



In our seedling orchard 125 seedlings fruited. Of these fifty 

 were of fair size and of some promise. Of these perhaps one- 

 third will keep in a common cellar until the middle of January. 



PINUS PONDEROSA. 



Illustration shows the rate of growth of the Pinus ponderosa. It will be noted 

 that the plants are very vigorous in appearance. These were raised from seed sown 

 at the experiment station about nine years ago, The seed of this tree grows very 

 readily and seldom is troublesome about damping off. This is an evergreen that Mr. 

 A. Norby, of Madison, South Dakota, says that he has grown successfully when 

 planted in prairie sod at his home. It is the only pine found in South Dakota and 

 Nebraska. 



There is a form of this that is found on the west slope of the Rocky Mountains 

 and Coast Range, but it is not so hardy as the form shown here, which comes from 

 Colorado and the eastern slopes. 



The seed of this species is quite cheap. A short time ago a friend of mine in the 

 employ of the United States Government wrote me from New Mexico that he had 

 gathered about 1,500 pounds of it, which shows how abundant it must be in some places. 



About 500 plum seedlings have been planted the past season 

 in a new seedling plum orchard. These are from the best named 

 varieties, and we shall look forward to fruiting them with much 

 interest. 



Blackberries were a good crop, our Ancient Briton having 

 done especially well. Some of the hybrids between the black- 

 berry and the dewberry that originated with the late Mr. Fluke, 

 of Davenport, Iowa, have fruited the past season, but in no case 



