Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm. 



CHAS. HARALSON, SUPT., EXCELSIOR, MINN. 



June 13, 1917. — Owing to the late spring and a great deal of 

 cold weather the small fruits are later than usual. However, the 

 outlook for a good crop is promising. 



The strawberries came through the winter in very good con- 

 dition; No. 935, No. 3 and No. 1075 promise a very good crop. 

 The same is true with a number of other selected varieties. 



The No. 4 raspberry is in good shape for a heavy crop of 

 berries. It came through the winter in perfect condition; the 

 canes are healthy and making a good growth. 



Gooseberries and currants promise a full crop, and the same 

 is true of a number of the seedlings. 



The hybrid plums blossomed very full this spring. A num- 

 ber of varieties have set a satisfactory crop of plums, many new 

 varieties are fruiting this year for the first time, and we hope to 

 have some valuable varieties out of this lot. 



The seedling apples are in good growing condition, but there 

 will not be very much fruit this year. The standard varieties, 

 such as Wealthy, Patten's Greening and many other varieties, are 

 setting a full crop, and the same is true of crab apples. 



The Beta grape seedlings came through the winter in good 

 shape ; they are in full bloom at this writing. 



Some tender varieties of apples, topworked on Hibernal, 

 Patten's Greening, Duchess and Gould crab, were hurt more or 

 less from winter killing. However, a number of varieties are 

 setting a light crop. 



Approximately 10,000 raspberry seedlings, grown from seed 

 this spring, have been transplanted to flats and into cold frames. 

 Some of these will probably be planted out in the field later on. 



Several bushels of plum pits were planted this spring, and 

 we have a good stand of seedlings at this time. 



The plant-breeding work has been carried on as usual during 

 the spring, and some interesting crosses in both plums and apples 

 have been made. 



A great deal of spraying, with lime-sulphur and arsenate of 

 lead, has been done this spring on plums, apples, gooseberries and 

 currants to check insects and fungous diseases. 



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