EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 287 



tion of sulphate of copper and a few in lime water to test durability. Iron 

 stakes made of No. 4 wire will be tried in the spring. One thousand six 

 hundred and flftyEvergreen trees were planted as follows: 500 Scotch pine, 

 500 Norway spruce, 500 white spruce, 100 red pine, 50 pieca corncolor. 

 Fully 95 per cent, are alive. 



The orchard now contains 400 trees, 55 of Russian varieties, 20 of seed- 

 lings and crabs, 12 of plums, 3 of pears, and 1 of cherries. At least 120 trees 

 will be added each year and in these additions, seedling varieties will 

 predominate. 



Trees are 15 feet apart east and west, and 10 feet apart north and south. 

 Every eleventh row running east and west, being of evergreen trees. 



I regard sixteen feet each way, as a suitable distance for such trees as 

 Duchess, while Transcendant crab, if it does not blight will crowd in 20 

 years at 20 feet each way. 



One object in close planting here, has been to test a large number of 

 varieties without covering too much space. Boards six inches wide have 

 been placed on the southwest side of more than 100 orchard trees to pre- 

 vent sun scald. One hundred and twenty-five shade and ornamental 

 trees were planted about the school grounds last spring; and though most 

 of them are alive, yet I regret to say, that the situation is much exposed 

 to sweeping winds, and the growth of trees has not been satisfactory. A 

 strong windbreak on the south and west is greatly needed. 



Fall planting will be tried. Several varieties were transplanted last 

 fall for that purpose. 



The Alpine bearberry of the heath family, from Wisconsin woods, may 

 have real merits as an ornamental shrub. It bore shining black berries, 

 size of blue berries, the second year, in great profusion. The fruit, as the 

 name indicates, is good for the bears, but good for nothing else unless it 

 may have medicinal properties or do for the ugly sparrows when they be- 

 come numerous. 



I have met with frequent failures in growing trees from seed, and I at- 

 tribute it largely to want of sufficient moisture in the ground, at and 

 soon after the time of germination. I have left a portion of this year's 

 appropriation unexpended, and will add enough from that of next year 

 to dig a well or obtain water by piping from the deep well of the State 

 Public School. 



I am under great obligations to the members of our society and to hor- 

 ticulturists generally, for kindness and material assistance in the work I 

 am trying to do. 



DISCUSSION. 



Wm. Somerville: Mr. President, I want to say in regard to 

 Mr. Dartt's experiment station, that I was at his place and he 

 took a great deal of pains to show me around, and it was the 

 most gratifying sight I have seen for years. He takes so much 

 pains that he can show you every seed he has planted and of 

 what quality it is, and he keeps everything in such good order. 

 I am expecting right from Mr. Dartt to get the coming apple 

 for Minnesota, even ahead of our Russian and Peerless. 



