TjSll S£iti0I|fT)^C. I, 1896. 



CENTRAL TRIAL STATION, ST. ANTHONY PARK. 



PROF. S. B. GREEN, SUPT. 



The season of 1896 has generally been favorable for the growth of 

 crops, and the work of the trial stations of the horticultural society 

 have shown commendable progress. These stations were never 

 in the hands of more capable men than now. I think we shall 

 get our best results by having the larger part of these stations in 

 the hands of specialists and increasing their number, instead of 

 having a few stations in charge of those who grow all kinds of hort- 

 icultural crops. The various representative climatic and geologic 

 conditions obtaining in the settled portions of this state are well 

 represented in our present stations, with the exception of the north- 

 east part of the state, near to Lake Superior. The climate of that 

 section is largely influenced by the great lakes and in consequence 

 naturally grows many kinds of fruit. It promises to develop quite 

 strongly in a horticultural way. It was originally heavily tim- 

 bered, and it is only within a few years that settlement has gone on 

 rapidly within its limits; but it is now fast being settled, and it is very 

 important that the settlers be rightly informed as to what are the best 

 fruits to grow. This is the object of our society, and I recommend 

 that our executive board make a special effort to find some suitable 

 person to take charge of a trial station in that section. The work of 

 the superintendent of the Owatonna Experiment Station is so well 

 known to you that I do not feel called on to mention it here. It has 

 certainly justified the wisdom of the legislature in establishing it. 



The last legislature made an appropriation that has resulted in the 

 establishing of two sub-experiment farms under the direction of the 

 central station. The one I reported on to you a year ago is located 

 at Crookston, Polk Co., in the valley of the Red River; the other has 

 since then been located at Grand Rapids, eighty miles north-west of 

 Duluth, on land that is typical of the granitic formation of the 

 north-east part of the state. This makes three sub-experiment 

 farms located in widely different and typical sections of the state 

 at which considerable attention is being paid to the development of 

 horticulture as well as the general agricultural possibilities of 

 their respective sections. 



At the north-west experiment farm, at Crookston, the work of the 

 year was much hindered by the heavy and continuous rains of 

 spring, but in spite of this a successful tree plantation has been 

 made of about four acres, containing about twenty species and va- 

 rieties that are of possible value for that part of this state. A small 

 planting has been made of strawberries, raspberries, Juneberries, 



