254 ANNUAL REPORT 



The following report was read by Mr. Dartt, with reference to 

 the Owatonna experiment station: 



OWATONNA EXPERIMENTAL TREE STATI0:N^. 



By Sujjt. E. E. 8. Dartt. 

 Mr. President and Members: 



The progress of this station, though not rapid, has been sub- 

 stantial during the p'ast year. The amount of $700 was appro- 

 priated for its use, $500 being for salary and $200 for expenses. 

 It was found necessary to erect a small building for shelter, stor- 

 age and general use, at a cost of $150. This left but $50 for the 

 purchase of stock and all other expenses. But to help out in 

 finances the state school board paid for a bill of young trees^ 

 about 2,200 in number, mostly evergreens, and costing about 

 $100, on condition that they should be grown to transplanting 

 size without expense to them. This gave more work to do and 

 added materially to the appearance of the grounds. At the close 

 of the year, April 1st, I shall have expended about $100 in ex- 

 cess of the appropriation. It will be seen that about $400 has 

 been expended during the year, besides my own labor, and in 

 view of contemplated improvements about that amount will be 

 necessary for another year. 



During last winter letters were sent to our leading nursery- 

 men asking them to send scions of new and promising varieties 

 for trial. Most of them responded liberally and some sent young 

 trees in the spring. The scions thus obtained, with those cut on 

 our own grounds, enabled us to graft about one hundred varie- 

 ties. Nearly all of these have made a fair growth and some of 

 them will evidently take a high position on the perfected fruit 

 list of Minnesota. The persons to whom our Society is under the 

 greatest obligations for these favors are Prof. E. D. Porter, A. 

 W. Sias, M. Pearse and O. M. Lord, of our own state, F. K. 

 Phoenix and J. C. Plumb, of Wisconsin, and C. G. Patton, of 

 Iowa. I received about one hundred and fifty varieties of Rus- 

 sian apple trees from Prof. Porter, all of which are alive, and 

 though there seems to be quite a difference in vitality, yet I think 

 it premature to report on indications of hardiness since there are 

 four or five other requirements besides hardiness, a lack of any 

 one of which makes the tree of little value. It is generally con- 

 ceded that though a seedling apple tree may be found to possess 

 all the valuable points as an original tree, yet when the variety 



