WINDOM TRIAL STACION. 63 



SAUK RAPIDS TRIAL STATION. 



MRS. JENNIE STAGER, SUPT. 



All of the plums sent from the central experiment station, both 

 last year and this, have thrived. Of quite an orchard of older plums 

 from which we have had plenty of fruit other years, none bore 

 except Desota, Weaver and one seedling plum, a very fine one. Of 

 the apples you sent two years ago, the Longfields and Lieby died 

 last winter, the others made a good growth this year. The Anto- 

 novka, sents everal years ago,was loaded, also all other healthy trees 

 on my grounds. In fact, apples were fine wherever there were 

 healthy trees in this locality. The seedling apple trees sent me ten 

 years ago by Peter Gideon and passed over to Mr. Cross on account 

 of want of room were a sight to behold. Loaded with apples, some 

 excellent and none extra poor, they encouraged those who had 

 despaired of raising apples to try again. 



Raspberries were poor, although all vines, including those sent 

 this spring, made a good growth. 



My grape vines, ten or twelve years old, came through last winter 

 poorly, although well covered and cared for. All of the Moore's 

 Early, Pocklington and Niagara died, as did some of the Wordens, 

 Janesvilles and Lindleys. Concords and Brightons came out better 

 but bore poorly; the 5'oung vines were just alive in the spring but, 

 notwithstanding care, languished and died in the summer. Goose- 

 berries had no fruit. Currants did fairly well. All the mulberry 

 trees were loaded with fruit, and the berries canned with rhubarb 

 make fine pies. It is useless to plant blackberries here; I have 

 persevered for ten years and never had fruit of any consequence. 



WINDOM TRIAL STATION. 



DEWAIN COOK, SUP'T. 



The raspberry crop, as usual, was poor. The Brandywine and a 

 small early red-cap seedling did fairly well. The Loudon, although 

 in perfect health, did not winter as well as several other varieties I 

 grow, but some of the lower branches bore some elegant specimens; 

 it is probably the best raspberry, all things considered, that I am 

 acquainted with, but may need winter protection here. 



The conditions were tolerably good for the rooting of the straw- 

 berry plants; new beds are looking better than last year, two and 

 three year beds looking much better. Bederwood and Crescent 

 hold their own with the weeds better than most others. 



Of grapes, the Worden fills the bill nicely; about fifty vines were 

 left on top of ground during the winter of '95 and no protection 

 given. They were but little injured and bore a fairly good crop the 

 season past. The Moore's Early and Concord under similar condi- 

 tions did nearly as well. 



Of apples, the Russian 272, Little Hat, Duchovia and 191 prove to 

 be early and heavy bearers and are the largest apples I grew, with 

 no blight. I think Little Hat should be recommended for trial. 



