WEST CONCORD TRIAL STATION, ANNUAL REPORT. 57 



WEST CONCORD TRIAL STATION, ANNUAL REPORT. 



FRED COWLES, SUPT. 



The past season has been an unusually wet one, and the re- 

 sults of our efforts have been varied ; there have been failures as 

 well as successes. It required a great deal of perseverance to 

 keep weeds down, which we consider one of our enemies, but the 

 continual use of hoe and cultivator did the work. But we find 

 that these conditions which make weeds thrive also make useful 

 plants and trees do well. 



The past spring we set out for trial the following trees and 

 plants: twenty seedling apple trees, Estaline apple, high bush 

 cranberry, buffalo berry, elderberry, Russian olive, yellow wil- 

 low, laurel-leaf willow, hydrangea paniculata, rugosa alba and 

 California privet. Without any exceptions all are doing well. 



We are testing the following varieties of apples : 



Wealthy bore some, but not as heavily as we had hoped; 

 though trees in the neighborhood bore too heavily for the good 

 of the trees. It blights some. 



Peerless bore a good crop but were afflicted with a scab. 

 These trees were set in cultivated ground, while trees set in sod 

 bore heavily and were free from scab. Did this difference in the 

 soil have anything to do with the difference in the apples? Free 

 from blight. Very hardy. 



Patten's Greening bore a heavy crop. This we consider an 

 extra good cooking apple, but the keeping quality is uncertain. 

 While some turn black on the tree, others are sound and good in 

 the cellar now, Dec. ist. Tree seems hardy and quite free from 

 blight. 



Northwestern Greening. The trees on our grounds have been 

 set four years and bore lightly, but those in the vicinity bore 

 heavily, being set longer. One tree set eight years bore four 

 bushel in 1901 ; in 1902, the ninth year, about two bushel and in 

 1903 it bore fourteen bushel. It seems to be quite an early and 

 annual bearer. So far it proves to be a hardy tree and free from 

 blight. 



LongHeld tree blights. It is an early, annual and heavy bearer, 

 and keeps until this season, Dec. ist. It is small but good for all 

 purposes, especially baking. 



Harry Kaump. A very pretty tree, hardy, free from blight, 

 bears quite young; color yellowish green; a little larger than 

 Longfield. 



