242 ANNUAL KEPORT 



in an oat field was set apart for exclusivly experimental purposes, and 

 placed under my entire control ; this has been surrounded on three sides, 

 or nearly so, with evergreen trees eight to ten feet high, trimmed up four 

 feet and set twenty feet apart, which were well cultivated through 

 the season, and though the drouth was severe, yet every one grew, 

 proving the efficacy of cultivation as a protection against drouth. 



I had previously sent out postal cards to our leading horticulturists 

 soliciting contributions, and had ordered a small bill from Prof. Budd 

 of Iowa, and one from Robt. Douglass & Son, Waukegan, 111. 



£ received a hundred seedling apple trees from P. M. Gideon, and 

 set about two hundred of my own raising and two hundred root grafts 

 •of several varieties. These trees, numbering in all about two thou- 

 sand, covered about a quarter of an acre of land They were well 

 cultivated, and the ground was sowed to oats in August with a view 

 of securing partial winter protection. 



Of trees not yet thoroughly tested in this locality, I have planted 

 the Catalpa, Russian Mulberry, European Alder, Black Cherry, Gold- 

 en Arbor Vitae, White-tipped Arbor Vitae, Little Gem Arbor Vitae, 

 Austrian Pine, Hemlock, Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce, Douglass 

 Spruce and Siberian Fir. I have planted seeds of Siberian Larch, 

 Siberian Fir, Nordman's Fir and Norway Pine, which have proved an 

 entire f&ilure, attributable, I think, to late planting and want of vi- 

 tality in seed. I have also planted small quantities of seed of Duch- 

 ess, Tetofsky, Dartt's Hybrid, Orange and Greenwood Crabs, Hard 

 Maple, White Ash, Butternut and Black Walnut. 



Since entering upon my duties I have concludad that the growing 

 of trees from seed must of necessity become an important adjunct to 

 a successful experimental tree station. So much knowledge and skill 

 is required to grow evergreens, birches and some other deciduous trees 

 from seed, that men have made it a business of itself, and I raise the 

 question whether it is not best to leave this branch to those men and 

 use our energies in other directions. 



Of this plat of land nearly one acre had been entirely abandoned 

 to quick, or quack grass, as commonly called by former cultivators. 

 This was broke the first of June, backset in August and dragged 

 many times over. It is expected that plowing and dragging and rak- 

 ing off roots in spring will make it fit for a crop next season, and that 

 very thorough cultivation thereafter will keep it in good condition 



Whilst our main object may be to test trees as to their genera) 

 adaptation to our climate as it is, yet if we can do anything to either 

 soften our climate or strengthen the trees, it seems desirable for us 



