178 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Paynesville Trial Station in 1916. 



FRANK BROWN, SUPT. 



I am much afraid that this report will not be as optimistic 

 as some of the preceding reports have been, as fruit was so 

 nearly a failure in central Minnesota. 



One thing has been again demonstrated to the people of this 

 section, and that is, we cannot grow apples without spraying, 

 that is, no apples fit for market. 



Top-worked trees bore more fruit and better fruit than the 

 trees handled in the ordinary way, a dollars and cents demon- 

 stration that it pays to top-work, at least a part of the trees in 

 the home orchard. 



Plums, except a few varieties, were a total failure; the Han- 

 sen hybrids were beautiful, especially the Opata and Sapa, and 

 the quality of course was excellent. 



Of the plum trees sent here from the Central Station, were 

 two trees of No. 12 that this year bore for the first time. The 

 fruit was of the very best and the trees heavily loaded. We shall 

 watch these trees very carefully in their future development. 

 We might add that they are very thrifty. 



No. 21 also bore some very fine specimens of fruit, with a 

 very decided apricot flavor, but so far it has been a tardy bearer 

 with us. 



Of the raspberries sent to this station, No. 4 has won the 

 way to the front rank. It is a large berry, very firm, making it 

 good for shipping. It separates easily from the stem, seems to 

 be hardy, and the quality of the fruit is good enough for anyone. 



Minnesota No. 3 strawberry is still at the head of all the 

 June bearing berries. Not only is the plant healthy and strong, 

 and the fruit well up from the ground on long stems, but the 

 fruit is all that could be desired in a strawberry. It is firm and 

 a good shipper; it is a large berry, some of the best specimens 

 measuring one and three-fourths inches in diameter and ripe to 

 the center, with no green tip, as the Senator Dunlap has. Under 

 the auspices of your superintendent it has been tested on various 

 soils, and in different localities, and so far has the unqualified 

 approval of all. 



The plants and trees sent here from the Central Station the 

 spring of 1916 all lived and made a good growth. The raspber- 

 ries, Nos. 30 and 31, supposed to be of everbearing habits, grew 

 very well; No. 31 bore a few berries of a fair quality. This 





