82 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Experiments with our native wild red cherry (Prunus Penn- 

 sylvanica), show it to be a very promising stock for the cultivated 

 cherry. Specimen trees on the college grounds at Ames and in 

 other parts of the west, of both sweet and sour cherries, from six to 

 ten years of age, show a perfect union. The only objection is that 

 it sprouts, but this is troublesome only at first; as the trees come 

 into bearing the sprouting tendency is checked. 



But there is need of a dwarf stock for both plum and cherry. The 

 native sand cherry (Prunus pumila) has been mentioned as likely 

 to answer the purpose. The experience in Utah and various parts 

 of the west with trees of several years growth indicates that it will 

 be desirable for the plum. The union of the wood is good; the trees 

 are dwarfed in habit and come into bearing earlier. The experience 

 with the cherrj^ on this stock is more limited and appears less 

 favorable. 



With a view to more exact conclusions, some experiments have 

 recently been made in this line at the Iowa Agricultural College, 

 which are not yet concluded. A report of progress up to date is 

 given in an article by Prof. J. L. Budd and the writer in Bulletin 

 No. 22 of the Iowa Experiment Station, a synopsis of which is here 

 given. 



In 1892, about five thousand stocks were grown from seed gathered 

 in northwestern Nebraska. The seed was washed from the pulp, dried 

 for three or four days in the shade, mixed with sand in boxes and 

 put out for winter freezing. The seedlings made a fine stand, and 

 their growth the first season was about equal in height and diame- 

 ter of stein to our seedlings of the native plum, In the fall of 1892 we 

 took up the largest of the seedlings for crown-grafting, leaving the 

 others for budding. 



RESULT OF CROWN-GRAFTING. 



PLUM. 



Long Blue. (No. 20 Vor.) Russian. Of 75 side grafts, 50 grew, or 

 G6.6 per cent. Growth poor and slender, compared with those worked 

 on native plum roots. Height, from 7 to 16 inches, branched; aver- 

 age, 10 inches. 



Wyant. Native (Prunus Americana). Of 290 side grafts, 120 

 grew, or 41 per cent., about as thrifty as those on native plum roots. 

 Height, 7 to 31 inches; average, about 18 inches. 



Pottaivattatnic. Native (Prunus Chicasa). Of 191 side grafts, 

 63 grew, or 32 per cent. Height, 10 to 28 inches, averaging about 18 

 inches; strongly branched. 



Ogon. Japanese. Of 79 whip grafts. 31 grew, or 39 per cent. Height,- 

 8 to 21 inches, averaging about 12 inches. 



Of 79 side grafts, 43 grew, or 54 per cent. Tallest, 23 inches; average, 

 about 16 inches, branched. 



Early Red. Russian. Of 390 whip grafts, 190 grew, or 48.7 per 

 cent. Height, 7 to 27 inches; average, about 12 inches, much 

 branched. 



Of 427 side grafts, 293 grew or 68.6 per cent. Average height, 12 

 inches, much branched. 



