EXCELSIOR TRIAL STATION, ANNUAL REPORT. 49 



want a fruit of better quality and a tree hardier than the Ma- 

 linda to plant largely as a winter apple. We think quite favor- 

 ably of the Northwestern Greening. The tree is a good grower, 

 as hardy as the Wealthy, and the fruit keeps a long time after the 

 other varieties I have mentioned have perished. 



Must we not look to the seedling varieties for some good late 

 keepers that are hardy and fruit of good size and quality? The 

 premiums offered by the state fair and our society surely will 

 bring out such varieties. Our Wealthy seedlings originated 

 from Wealthy seed planted in 1876 bore fairly well this season. 

 A number of these are good winter keepers and have taken many 

 premiums as such. 



We have added to the trial orchard this year some four va- 

 rieties of plums, sent by O. M. Lord. Apple trees have gone into 

 winter quarters in the best of condition. The soil is moist, and 

 the wood is well ripened. 



Apple trees that are cultivated should be mulched, as they 

 have no snow protection. A slight mulch seems to be all that is 

 necessary. First bank the trees with earth as a safeguard against 

 mice. By wrapping with burlap many trees are saved from rab- 

 bits and sun-scald. To be a successful orchardist we must tend 

 to these little things. 



Apple seed saved a year ago and allowed to freeze during the 

 winter grew finely. These seedlings were dug this fall by plow- 

 ing from them with a common plow. This made pulling an easy 

 matter. Where the seed was not planted too thick they are 

 nearly all number one, and each will make a number of grafts. 

 We much prefer apple roots grown from our home seed, as they 

 do not root-kill so readily as do roots from southern grown seed. 



MINNESOTA CITY TRIAL STATION, ANNUAL REPORT. 



O. M. LORD^ SUPT. 



The following apple scions were received from J. R. Cum- 

 mins, of Eden Prairie, and were set on Pyrus baccata stock: 

 Kaump, Zettel, Hotchkiss, Winstead Pippin, York Imperial, 

 Oligher, Winter Seedling, Rome Beauty, Scott's Winter, Allen's 

 Choice, Superb, Zettel No. 4. The Pyrus baccata stock appears 

 to be well adapted to them. Some small trees one year old were 

 also sent by Mr. Cummins: York Imperial, Superb, seedling 

 crab, Newtown Pippin, Lyman's Prolific and Hotchkiss. 



Mr. A. B. Lyman sent to me three Prolific and two Brackett's 

 Sweet. 



